You should divulge your personal aspirations because your company might actually help you achieve them. It pays to start thinking about how your interests whic

You should divulge your personal aspirations because your company might actually help you achieve them. It pays to start thinking about how your interests which you are a little bit afraid to share might help your career... because this is how you get your employer to pay for them. It depends on the employer. I wouldn't say "I want to quit this dump and become a water colour artist and photographer". But I /would/ say "I think that studying some art subjects would really benefit my front end design work here". I wouldn't say "I want to get away from you and write poetry" but I /would/ say "I would like to improve my written communication skills, which will really help the clarity in my correspondence with clients and in my detailed documentation and commit messages. Would work fund this course I have found" If there is any cross-over at all between where you want to go and what benefits your employer, it's in both of your interests to put that spin on it and get them to pay for it. The one-on-ones are only something to dread if you don't know how to ask for things in a way that is mutually beneficial. As you get older and more experienced in negotiation it becomes easier. Remember, its "career aspirations", not "personal aspirations".