Liz Ryan Career Insight April 17, 2008, 3:43PM EST

When to Share Your Ambitions

If you're aiming for the top ranks at work, there's no need to spill the beans to colleagues whose interests may lie elsewhere

by Liz Ryan

Dear Liz,

I work in a large law firm where there are 12 people in the marketing department. I am third or fourth from the top of the heap, depending on who's counting. A major pastime in our department is talking about career plans, inside and outside the company. Almost every time a few of us get together—if the top marketing brass aren't around—the conversation turns to: "What are your career plans, and what are you doing about them?"

Some of the employees want to grow with the firm, and others are planning to move elsewhere. I don't have plans to leave my firm, but I do have aspirations here and wouldn't mind being promoted. I just don't feel comfortable talking about it with my peers. If I say: "I'm happy doing what I'm doing now" people roll their eyes at me and assume I'm withholding information. I guess they are right, but why should it be their business to know my personal career plans? Am I being too conservative by keeping my plans to myself? If I continue to keep my counsel, how should I explain it to my nosy peers?

Thanks,
Adrianne

Dear Adrianne,

Your instinct is on the money. Keep your career plans to yourself. The last thing you need is to hear from your boss: "So Adrianne, when were you going to tell me you had your sights set on my job?" When the group conversation turns to sharing career plans, you can say: "I like what I'm doing, and I'm looking forward to learning a lot more about [marketing strategy, branding, e.g.] before I think about taking on a new gig." If your workmates roll their eyes at you, there's no reason you can't ask, "What—you've mastered your job already? Tell me your secret!"

There is no advantage to sharing your career plans with your nosy colleagues, but it wouldn't hurt to sync up with your boss one of these days. Ask him or her how you're progressing compared with other people who have held your position, and where he or she sees you in your career a year from now. That kind of guidance is a gift. If you've got aspirations beyond the job you're doing now, why not enlist an on-site career coach (in the person of your boss) to help you get there?

Cheers,
Liz

Liz Ryan writes her "Career Insight" column and answers readers' questions every week at businessweek.com/managing. She is an expert on the new-millennium workplace and a former Fortune 500 HR executive.

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