Career Conversations currently on hold for review
The university is conducting a review of Career Conversions to clarify the process for performance feedback across the university. As a result, the Career Conversions period will not occur during its typical April-June timeframe. Please plan for this process in August-October. More details will be shared in the coming months.
How Career Conversations Benefit You
Career Conversations are an important tool to help you take control of your professional development and career growth. Use them to explore career goals, receive ongoing feedback, and discover what learning opportunities can support your professional development.
LEARN & EXPLORE
Are you looking to enhance your job performance or pursue a personal interest? Career Conversations can help you identify the tools and steps to gain new skills and knowledge.
CHANGE & ADAPT
Are you ready to embrace change and take action toward achieving your goals? Use Career Conversations to update a process, implement a new tool, or discuss your job scope.
ADVANCE & LEAD
Are you prepared to embrace new challenges? Can you envision yourself in a leadership position? Take the necessary steps to prepare yourself for advancement.
Keys to Success
- Take time for you and your supervisor to get to know one another and outline ways you would like to work together for the upcoming year. How can you remain curious, open, and adaptable as you realign your work?
- Remain flexible. You may need to adapt to the process this year. Do what works best for you and your supervisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
All benefits-eligible staff should engage in the Career Conversations process. However, we encourage all University staff to engage in a form of career planning with their supervisors.
The formal Career Conversations process should be completed with staff who have been in their role for at least six months. That provides enough time for the staff member to understand their position well enough to strategically plan for the future.
Prior to six months, supervisors and their staff should engage in regular feedback about job expectations and success as part of the onboarding process.
It can be difficult to express disagreement with a supervisor, but honest conversations make for better working relationships. If the supervisor chooses not to change the comments following a conversation, the staff member may document the disagreement on the Career Conversations form.
Completion of Career Conversations is separate from pay decisions; however, performance issues discussed in the Career Conversations process, such as not meeting goals or addressing areas of needed and expected improvement, are part of the staff member's record. Career Conversations records would be evaluated to determine merit pay or potential disciplinary action.