Companies don't really care about your career… and that's okay

This is not intended to alarm you, or put you off. It’s just a fact. Companies don’t really care about your career. They care about their business, their customers (hopefully), and their bottom line. They care that you can deliver for them and meet their needs.

Hopefully this isn’t too controversial! Anyone who has worked in a company for a reasonable period will know that this is true. Even if your manager is the most caring, empathetic person in the world, they are still constrained by the company’s goals and objectives, and the reality of the business world.

Yes, companies may have well-being initiatives, training programmes, and so on. They may even have a “career development” programme. But these are all in service of the company’s goals, not always yours. They may align, but they are not the same.

And that’s okay. That’s just the way it is.

Ultimately, you have to take the future and your career in your own hands.

Before we dig into that, let’s take a look at what it would take for a company to really care about your career.

What would it look like if a company really cared about your career?

If a company really cared about your career, they would:

• Provide lots of flexibility and leeway to explore.
• Help you actually discover what you’re good at and what brings you joy.
• Make it very easy to move around to different roles, to find the right one for you.
• Invest in your development, even if it doesn’t directly benefit them.
• Provide you with regular feedback and coaching to help you grow.
• Celebrate your successes and help you learn from your failures.

All of these carry a cost, risk, and burden on a company, and especially on your manager. They would have to allow for — and encourage — experimentation, failure, under-delivering, inefficiencies and the likelihood of losing you to a better company.

Taking the future and your career in your own hands

Remember, the company’s focus is not on you, it’s on their business.

So you have to focus on you.

• Find and make opportunities for yourself. It’s up to you to create the conditions for flexibility and leeway so you can explore. This could be taking on new projects, strategically volunteering for new roles, and working on your side projects away from work, as well as continuously developing your skills.
• Discover what you’re good at and what you enjoy. This is a lifelong journey, and it’s okay to not know what you want to do. But you have to start somewhere — try things out, see what you like, and figure out what makes your tick and what you’re good at. No one’s going to figure this out for you.
• Move around. If you’re not happy in your role, or you’re not growing, you have to take some action. Speak to your manager. Carve out some interesting work for you and your team. Move to a different team, a different company, or even a different industry. Easier said than done, I know (I’ve been there), but it’s important to take some action.
• Invest in your development. This could be reading books, taking courses, and learning from your peers. You have to take the initiative here, and build lifelong habits of learning and growth.
• Seek feedback and coaching. This could be from your manager, your peers, or even a dedicated coach. But always bear in mind the availability, willingness and intent of those providing feedback. Not all feedback is equal. And not all feedback is personalised.
• Celebrate your successes and learn from your failures. This is important for your growth. You have to take the time to reflect on what you’ve done, and what you could do better. You have to celebrate every win and use it build your self-confidence and motivation.

Note that you still need to perform and deliver at the best of your abilities for the company you’re working for.

Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance. No one else will do this for you. It’s up to you to take the initiative and take the future and your career in your own hands.

If you’re interested in having a dedicated mentor, coach and trainer to help you develop your career, hit the button below to get in touch. I’d love to hear from you and see how I can help you grow and achieve your goals.