Navigating Internal Mobility? Here’s What Worked for These BlackRock Leaders

You may not always be sure when – or how – to make your next career move, whether that means switching to a different team, advancing beyond your current position, or both. But you do know when it’s time for a change, usually once you’ve outgrown a job. And that’s why your next steps can be crucial to establishing an exciting long-term career.

At a “flat” firm like BlackRock, you can connect with tons of teams and leaders around the globe to figure out what you’d like to do next – even if it’s something incredibly different from your current role. But once you discover that next opportunity, you want to ensure it’s taking you in the right direction. Stephanie Epstein, a Managing Director on the Multi-Assets and Strategies Solutions team and Global Head of BlackRock’s Multi-Manager Platform, suggests asking yourself these three questions: “Does this add something to your portfolio? Is the content something that you’re interested in? And is the manager someone you want to work for? If you have three legs of that stool, it’s a pretty good opportunity. Two out of three? You have to think about it.”

Scroll down for more advice from four other BlackRock leaders who share how they’ve successfully navigated internal mobility to grow their careers at the firm.

Take on a short-term assignment

With numerous opportunities to move internally at BlackRock, it can be challenging deciding where to go next. How do you know if this new business or role is the right fit? KC Moss, a Vice President on the BlackRock Capital Markets team, suggests taking on a short-term assignment with another team – to offer support, gain visibility and get to know the business better. “I made a point to raise my hand and put myself in opportunities with teams that I thought were interesting.”

Build your internal brand

Cameron Skinner, a Director on the Aladdin Solutions Engineering team, recommends developing an “internal brand,” marketing yourself as the go-to colleague with a specific skillset. “Working to be an expert in a certain area or carve out a niche where you are known as ‘that person’ has been extremely helpful to me over the course of my career, and has actually teed me up for the successive roles that I’ve had.” And if you think your current skillset or experience won’t come in handy on another team, think again. You’re an asset, no matter how different your new title – or location – may be. When KC took a new role in a different department, she recognized that she didn’t yet have the same skills as her colleagues, so she capitalized on ones she did have in order to bring value to the team. “Coming from a more internal corporate role at BlackRock, I leaned on my project management skills and on my ability to navigate BlackRock, and I put those to use on my new team, while I got more exposure into capital markets.”

Cultivate relationships

Don’t overlook one of your most powerful tools: networking. From peers to senior leaders, those connections can provide insight and support for your professional growth. “Your network is one of the most valuable resources you can cultivate in your career,” notes Anusha Sriram, a Director on the Corporate Development team. “Your network is not just there to give you opportunities; it’s also there for support and to help you learn.” And with BlackRock’s 15 – and counting! – employee, professional and impact networks, it’s incredibly easy to meet colleagues from other teams, start building relationships and discover different areas of the firm you want to explore. You may even find your next mentor.

Be candid with your manager

Being candid with your manager is paramount to the process: you should aim to be open about your goals and where you see your career going. And once you do start interviewing for a new role, it’s time to have ‘the talk.’ Yes, it may seem daunting, but “it’s important that your manager first hears it from you, instead of somebody else,” says Mark Schissler, a Strategy Director for ETF & Index Investing. “A good manager would want to co-own the process with you and may already have a relationship with the manager you are interviewing with.” Cameron agrees, adding that fostering open communication with your manager creates space to have that frank discussion when you’ve outgrown a job – which is completely normal. “Candor is the biggest thing I think of when it comes to discussing and looking at internal mobility. Be candid about the reasons why you’re taking another role and why things have shifted over time.”

Make a plan

So you’ve officially made the move – congrats! Now let’s talk about some vital next steps. First, be consistent: remember that transitioning out of your current role is just as important as transitioning into your new one. Have a clear plan agreed to by both your incoming and outgoing managers; it will help make for a smoother transition. Second, be proactive: show your team that you’re eager, willing to learn and ready to be involved from day one – even as you’re still growing into the job. Third, be patient: it takes time to settle into a new role, both for you and for your new teammates. This can be true whether you’re moving to a new team or a new continent – just ask Mark, who spent two years in our London office! Either way, give your colleagues the space to get to know you and how your skillset best fits in. Fourth, be gracious: it’s essential to maintain relationships from your previous position, particularly with a manager who supported your move – and you’re likely to work with them again in some capacity. Lastly, be intentional: invite a new colleague for coffee or lunch to learn more about them and the work they do. Find ways to show that you’re genuinely invested.