I just got an email from the VP of the small company I work for. He wants to "chat" with me about my future plans (with the company I am assuming) over lunch. I've been been a P/T employee for the past 5 years as IT/helpdesk... essentially my entire college career. I'm assuming that he wants to know if I plan on joining with the company full time when i graduate at the end of the summer.
The thing is, i don't want to work there for much longer. There is no room for advancement for me in the company. Also, I'm graduating with a graphic design degree and would like to pursue a career in that field. I'd like to continue working at my current job until I find a design job, but that might be a little while.
So if he asks me what my plans are, what should I say? I could be forthright about my plans to leave, but I'm concerned that would reflect poorly on me. I could withhold that I plan to leave (essentially making them think that i intend to stay longer than i really do), but I really don't want to do that either. They've been good to me these past 5 years and I feel that I owe them an honest reply.
So, what should I say?
Update:
So I took your advice and went into the meeting with an open mind and my mouth shut. It turns out that they were in the middle of creating a full-time graphic design position and wanted to know if I'd be interested in filling it. I'll be involved in various aspects of marketing, promotions, architectural graphics, etc. I was offered nice pay raise to boot! It goes without saying that I am very pleased with how things worked out. Thanks for all the great advice guys!
The thing is, i don't want to work there for much longer. There is no room for advancement for me in the company. Also, I'm graduating with a graphic design degree and would like to pursue a career in that field. I'd like to continue working at my current job until I find a design job, but that might be a little while.
So if he asks me what my plans are, what should I say? I could be forthright about my plans to leave, but I'm concerned that would reflect poorly on me. I could withhold that I plan to leave (essentially making them think that i intend to stay longer than i really do), but I really don't want to do that either. They've been good to me these past 5 years and I feel that I owe them an honest reply.
So, what should I say?
Update:
So I took your advice and went into the meeting with an open mind and my mouth shut. It turns out that they were in the middle of creating a full-time graphic design position and wanted to know if I'd be interested in filling it. I'll be involved in various aspects of marketing, promotions, architectural graphics, etc. I was offered nice pay raise to boot! It goes without saying that I am very pleased with how things worked out. Thanks for all the great advice guys!