On June 1st, I had a feedback meeting with the Director of the tutoring center that I work at. The job I do entails supervising about six children at a time, who work on tutoring software on computers. I work with about 2 or 3 fellow tutoring coaches, along with 1 or 2 Directors. The shifts are only 3 hours long, and I work 3-6 days a week. The main emphasis of my job is to help the children at the center with any problems they are having with their own individual lessons, announce personal goals that have been accomplished, motivate the children and try to get them to really enjoy the 1 hour a day/2 days a week that they are at the center. The job is a serious mental investment, even with such short shifts- It takes a lot of patience, and we’re on our feet the whole time.
There are different ‘levels’ of coaches, based on promotions. Higher-leveled coaches have more responsibilities, and a kind of seniority in certain matters outside the Directors. Promotions are to the discresion of the Directors, but if a Coach has a vested interest in being promoted, then the Director will consider it at the next feedback meeting. A feedback meeting is a one-on-one meeting with the Coach to discuss the progress that Coach has made in the last 2 months.
Because of staffing issues, I haven’t gotten a feedback meeting in 6 months. Since then, the Director has mentioned they needed two level 2 coaches. One coach has already gotten promoted, that leaves 1 slot open. As far as I know, I’m the only coach who has shown a vested interest in improving myself and being promoted. I plan on giving the Director a pitch as to why I think I deserve to be promoted. I was wondering if there are any dopers out there who can give me some pointers, maybe some crucial things you did that really determined your own promotion? So far, I plan on getting a haircut the day of the meeting, and thinking of really pertinent examples of how I’ve made a significant improvement and contribution to the center.
You’re on the right track in planning to give specific examples of good things you’ve done, and planning to look your best for the meeting.
You may want to pay attention to the specific additional duties and qualifications of people who are currently higher level coaches, and be ready to talk about times when you’ve done similar things in other settings, or how you would prepare yourself for those roles.
I wish you success, but if it doesn’t work out this time, make sure to get a sense of what they feel you need to be promoted in the future, without being too pushy.
One little thing, I don’t thing the term “vested interest” is really what you mean to say, maybe just an interest. “Vested” has a connotation that your interest is for a hidden reason other than the reason you stated.
Prepare a list of your accomplishments, and your goals for the upcoming year; type it up on Word or Excel, and hand it to your supervisor at the very beginning of your meeting. Take charge of the review - be upbeat and confident. Accept criticism, if any, with grace and the assurance that you’ll work to rectify the problem.
Oops, I meant to say the meeting is on JUNE 1st…sorry if there was any confusion- the meeting hasn’t happened yet, its next week!
I didn’t know that ‘vested’ had secretive connotations. I had always thought of it meaning ‘personal’. I learn new things every day!
Thank you for the support. The fact is, the promotion doesn’t really have do much with money (I’d get a whopping .25 to .50/hr raise up from minimum wage), it has to do with the personal satisfaction of achieving goals, contributing to my place of work, and being recognized for my efforts. In reality, this job isn’t my livelihood- its a part-time job that I do in the afternoons. But it has made such a positive impact on my life, and it is so enjoyable, I don’t really think of it as a ‘job’ or ‘work’. Its something I do during the day. I go ride my bicycle, help some kids with multiplication and vocabulary for three hours, clean up, and ride my bicycle home.
