How to ask your boss for a different position. WOW Powerful strategy!!!

It helps to do your research and talk to people when making a career change (Shutterstock.com)

In an ideal world, telling your boss you want to move to a different position would be easy. You’d simply raise your concerns, and he’d make things happen. But in the real world, approaching your boss with this conversation is going to take some time, skill and delicacy.

Giving it time

Approaching the situation in haste will indicate impatience to your boss. Instead, when talking to your boss, make it clear that you’re considering the long-term development of your career, and you’d like to have an ongoing discussion.

Make sure to point out your interest in staying with the company. You can achieve this by saying something like, “I’d appreciate your input in my career path, especially the skills I must develop, and where in the company those will be most useful.”

Read: When it's okay to accept a promotion with no pay

Take a different approach to your skills

As soon you have a clear understanding about what it’ll take to make the change, make it known. This means that instead of focusing on what you do now or what you’ve done in the past, rather pay attention to where you want to be. For instance, if as a bookkeeper you want to branch into human resources, think about the relationships you developed and nurtured with your departmental managers whom you relied on for the financial information.

This is not to say you should overlook the transferable skills or values you acquired in your current role. If they make you more suitable for the career change, highlight them.

Be delicate

When looking for a different position, one thing you want to achieve is getting on the radar screens of managers in other parts of the company. They can have a huge impact in opening doors for you; doors that without their help, you would have never known existed.

However, before making the move, consider involving your boss. Approaching a manager in another department directly may raise concerns. He might wonder what your agenda is, and if your boss knows you’re in contact with him.

Once you’ve met and held conversations with your boss and with people in his level and above, it’ll be easier for your boss to let you go, even if you’re his star employee.

Also read: 9 secrets to make a great first impression everytime

Say thank you

Once you’ve moved into the new position, show gratitude to your boss and others who’ve helped you in the process. They’ll appreciate the acknowledgement and will be open to assisting you again. Also, make a point if finding mentors and a support structure. They will make it easier for you to grow in your new environment.

The bottom line is a career shift takes time, dedication and assistance from others. Although at first, you might feel awkward about asking for help, practice will teach you that people feel good when they can help where they can.

For more career growth tips and advice, visit our Career Growth column.