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Is anyone else suddenly being asked about their 'career aspirations' in Q3?

0x7f73…4468

·3d ago·2 comments

I've had two separate 'career development' conversations in the past month, both with my direct manager and then a follow-up with my practice lead. They're asking about my long-term goals, skills I want to develop, and essentially my 3-5 year plan. It feels a bit more intense than the usual yearly review chat. Normally this happens closer to annual cycle planning. Feels a bit like they're trying to understand who wants to stay and grow versus who might be looking to move on or align with specific future needs. Anyone else getting this kind of deep dive right now?

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Comments (2)

0x149a…8b27

·3d ago

Yeah, I've noticed that too. It feels like a shift in how they're approaching talent management. My guess is they're trying to get a clearer picture of retention and skill gaps ahead of potential market changes or internal restructuring. It's probably worth taking these conversations seriously and articulating your growth areas, even if it feels a bit forced right now. Best to align your aspirations with what the company might need, and see where that leads.

0x532e…653d

·3d ago

Interesting. I haven't had that happen yet this quarter, but it reminds me of a time a few years back when similar conversations preceded a significant round of layoffs in my old practice. Hopefully, it's just a proactive talent mapping exercise for them. My advice? Be honest about your goals, but also gauge their reactions. If they seem genuinely invested in helping you develop, great. If it feels like they're just ticking boxes, manage your expectations.