Press Release

Most employees are not candid with their manager about their career aspirations, according to a nationwide survey of 476 employed Americans by global consultants BlessingWhite. Fifty-six percent reported that they seldom or never share their career plans with their employer.

How candid are you with your manager about your career aspirations?

I never share my career goals with my manager. 25%
I seldom share my career goals with my manager. 31%
I always share my career goals with my manager. 42%

The findings highlight the challenge facing organizations seeking to develop and manage talent, said Christopher Rice, CEO of BlessingWhite. “Companies devote considerable resources to career development, but if the great majority of employees won’t share their goals one wonders how effective such programs can be.”

Many employees do not take time to make career plans much less share them with an employer, Rice observed. “The real problem may be a lack of clarity about career aspirations, not so much a lack of candor. When employees are clear on their personal values and goals their engagement is greater, as is their performance. Encouraging career clarity should be a starting point for both employee and employer.”

Among the survey’s other findings:

• The strongest predictor of career reticence is age. The older the employee is, the less likely the individual is to share career plans. Seventy-four percent of respondents aged 65+ are seldom or never candid about their career plans. This compares to 65% for those 55-64, 61% for those 45-54, 58% for those 35-44, and 45% for those 18-34.

• Men are somewhat more reticent with employers than women, by 58% to 53%.

• The less education the employee has, the less likely the person is to share career
  plans.

Rice believes managers can play a greater role in helping employees clarify their career goals and their fit in the organization’s bigger picture. “Managers who take the time to learn what’s important to their team members are in the ideal spot to help bring employee and organizational goals together. Better alignment will result in greater contribution and career satisfaction,” said Rice.

The telephone survey of 476 employed Americans was conducted for BlessingWhite May 25-29, 2007 by International Communications Research, Media, PA. Percentages are based on total respondents currently employed full-time or part-time who have a manager or are not self-employed.

BlessingWhite is a global consulting firm dedicated to creating sustainable high-performance organizations. Based in Princeton, NJ, with locations in London, Chicago, San Francisco and Melbourne, the firm has worked with almost three million professionals in thousands of organizations since its founding in 1973.

Contact: Mary Ann Masarech, Director Research & Marketing, 203-368-6694, maryannm@bwinc.com