Negotiating Your Future - Advocating for Yourself Beyond Money | Opening Doors for Career Development

Have you ever wondered how you can make the most of your current job position while also preparing for your next career move? In this post we will explore a few areas that might help in your journey.

In my career, I’ve seen many employees at different levels who are excited about what they do and ready for their next career move. They are always prepared to negotiate the standards – salary, bonus, and vacation. Employers want to offer their candidates and employees the stability and compensation they deserve, but they can offer much more. Often overlooked are opportunities for employees to make the most of their time with their current role, with their eye on their next career move.

I believe and I’m sure most of you do as well, that we all will always want job stability, flexibility, and growth opportunities. But don’t we also want a chance to offer creative solutions, have our voices heard, be challenged at work, and be a part of something bigger than just the job at hand. I feel that a great way to have job security and keep an eye out for the next opportunity is to negotiate now for the future.

In the roles I've held as the head of human resources, I’ve always been excited about people who are enthusiastic about their careers. I want you to love your current role AND be invested in yourself enough to ask for more. Yes, your career is your responsibility, but your employer will want to help you find fulfillment. Here are some areas where you can negotiate for your future, either during job negotiations or within your current position.

●???Negotiating Continuing Education: Stay Challenged. While salary and monetary compensation are essential to negotiate, what happens when you're in the middle of your pay grade and have maximum vacation time? Look for compensation opportunities that aren't monetary but are valuable to your career future. Is your company willing to reimburse expenses for a graduate degree or professional certification in your field? Working on your master's degree or sitting for a professional certification exam are expensive propositions; fingers crossed, they will pay off in the long run. Qualifying your employer to help cover these expenses benefits your bottom line and increases your value to your employer. Many companies are willing to help employees with professional growth and development under the condition that the employer can capitalize on your new skills. Ask what other kinds of reimbursement or benefits are available, and you might find educational opportunities at the top of the list.

●??Attending Industry Associations / Conferences: Will your company give you support for attending conferences or seminars in your industry? These events offer you the chance to expand your industry knowledge, present an innovated idea you’ve developed, increase your network with other professionals, or gain required continuing education credits to stay current in your career. Asking your company to sponsor you to attend these events would add value with your current job, introduce new industry practices to your employer, and broaden your future opportunities. Your current company benefits from your growth, and so does your future self. In addition, attending these events allow you to represent your company to prospective clients as well as the opportunity to be seen as a subject matter expert.

●??Looking for Cross-training opportunities and mentors: Not everyone immediately gets the job of their dreams. Sometimes you take a position more adjacent to what you want. Or you might become interested in a different department. If you see something exciting happening in a neighboring department, ask if you can get in on the action. Is there a mentorship program or opportunities to shadow someone from your interested department who can provide cross-training to help you gain experience in a new field? Taking this opportunity can put you at the top of the resume pile when you look to change fields because while you might not have been employed in that department, you’ll have a better understanding of what they do and how they operate. Also, jobs are often posted within a company before they are posted externally, so cultivating those connections and opportunities will give you an advantage when a position becomes available.

Many companies are excited to give their employees unique opportunities for growth when their employees demonstrate enthusiasm in career growth. Employees who are investing in themselves and their future careers are a benefit to their employer and their futures. With research and initiative, employees can find, present, and pursue these growth opportunities. If you keep your eye on the future and ask for opportunities to grow and learn, you will become a more valuable employee for your current company and be best positioned for career moves in the future.

Interested in my step by step guide on how to approach negotiations and conversations with your employer about professional growth opportunities? Comment below or share this post and I’ll send directly to your inbox.

I hope you find these insights helpful as you navigate your own professional growth. I firmly believe that investing in ourselves is one of the most powerful investments we can make. Remember, the career path you're on is not fixed, and opportunities for growth are often closer than you think. I'm eager to hear from you. Have you ever negotiated for non-monetary benefits? What kind of opportunities have you sought or been given that have fostered your professional development? I encourage you to share your experiences in the comments below.

To my peers in Human Resources and other leadership roles, your input is invaluable. Your strategies and insights could serve as a blueprint for others. I extend an invitation for you to share your successful programs and valuable experiences below.

If you found this article beneficial, please share it with others who might gain from it. Remember, growth isn't only about individual learning but also about the collective sharing of knowledge.