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glassy_witchIt's that time of year again, where appraisals and objectives abound in the workplace.
I really don't have a problem with either of these things - it's nice to know what they want from you, and good to know you've done a passable job the previous year. Unless, of course, you haven't - but at least you know where to improve for next time?
No, all of these things are fine and dandy and all that. But the setting career progression plan things? No thanks. Honestly, it drives me right up the wall. I can't do it. I cannot sit there and tell you all about my great plans for the next 6 months, five years, ten years. Because I don't have any, and I don't want to lie to you.
I dont make plans. Not any more. I barely know what's likely to be going on by end of the week, so don't ask me about next year. I haven't made plans any more substantial than what's for dinner since 2007, when everything I knew categorically to be true about life was turned on its head in a heartbeat.
It's not that I don't hope for things any more. I do! I just don't plan on them happening because frankly, that's a luxury I know isn't mine to take for granted.
Also, I find I'm just not that driven by money. Again, don't get me wrong. It's useful stuff to have around, and there never seems to be QUITE as much as might be handy at any given moment - but it's not as endlessly fascinating to me as some seem to want me to feel it is. So discussions about bonuses (to note: they are discretionary and, as such, not something to which I am automatically entitled. It's nice when they happen, but I don't count on them), and what the pay uplift will be (or not) this year? Yawn.
I am so VERY fortunate. I work in the freaking SPACE industry. Now, that's pretty cool. Yes, I COULD pick up a role that pays me more. But it wouldn't be to do with Space, and might not have such a generally good bunch of people to work with. And atvthe end of the day, I need to like the people I work with, and the subject matter of the role has to be interesting, AND I need to feel like I'm making a useful difference. If any one of those three things is missing, that's when I move on. I've had roles where there was no (or next to no) payrise for multiple years. I left when the culture changed, and I no longer felt I fitted. In other roles, where bonuses were quarterly and basically guaranteed, and payrises each year were (in my eyes at least) stratospheric...I moved on when I no longer fitted in.
So no, I will not do the GimmeAPromotion Dance, thanks. I don't have any huge career aspirations about clambering on up that there corporate ladder. I took THIS job, THIS specific role, and I don't want to change, thanks. I'm happy here.
Not sure if it's actually me showing my age or if it's just how I've always been. It's not that I've never been promoted. I've been turned on to the management track more times than I care to remember - not because I wanted that advancement, but because it was decided that's where I could be more useful at that point in time. I've only ever wanted to do the beat I can do in the place that I am. For my own pride really, not just in search of the next rung. Is that really so terrible?
I really don't have a problem with either of these things - it's nice to know what they want from you, and good to know you've done a passable job the previous year. Unless, of course, you haven't - but at least you know where to improve for next time?
No, all of these things are fine and dandy and all that. But the setting career progression plan things? No thanks. Honestly, it drives me right up the wall. I can't do it. I cannot sit there and tell you all about my great plans for the next 6 months, five years, ten years. Because I don't have any, and I don't want to lie to you.
I dont make plans. Not any more. I barely know what's likely to be going on by end of the week, so don't ask me about next year. I haven't made plans any more substantial than what's for dinner since 2007, when everything I knew categorically to be true about life was turned on its head in a heartbeat.
It's not that I don't hope for things any more. I do! I just don't plan on them happening because frankly, that's a luxury I know isn't mine to take for granted.
Also, I find I'm just not that driven by money. Again, don't get me wrong. It's useful stuff to have around, and there never seems to be QUITE as much as might be handy at any given moment - but it's not as endlessly fascinating to me as some seem to want me to feel it is. So discussions about bonuses (to note: they are discretionary and, as such, not something to which I am automatically entitled. It's nice when they happen, but I don't count on them), and what the pay uplift will be (or not) this year? Yawn.
I am so VERY fortunate. I work in the freaking SPACE industry. Now, that's pretty cool. Yes, I COULD pick up a role that pays me more. But it wouldn't be to do with Space, and might not have such a generally good bunch of people to work with. And atvthe end of the day, I need to like the people I work with, and the subject matter of the role has to be interesting, AND I need to feel like I'm making a useful difference. If any one of those three things is missing, that's when I move on. I've had roles where there was no (or next to no) payrise for multiple years. I left when the culture changed, and I no longer felt I fitted. In other roles, where bonuses were quarterly and basically guaranteed, and payrises each year were (in my eyes at least) stratospheric...I moved on when I no longer fitted in.
So no, I will not do the GimmeAPromotion Dance, thanks. I don't have any huge career aspirations about clambering on up that there corporate ladder. I took THIS job, THIS specific role, and I don't want to change, thanks. I'm happy here.
Not sure if it's actually me showing my age or if it's just how I've always been. It's not that I've never been promoted. I've been turned on to the management track more times than I care to remember - not because I wanted that advancement, but because it was decided that's where I could be more useful at that point in time. I've only ever wanted to do the beat I can do in the place that I am. For my own pride really, not just in search of the next rung. Is that really so terrible?