We hope that all Bufferoos grow professionally (and personally!) as a result of being a part of the team. This comes in the form of learning new skills, experiencing new challenges, and solving new problems. We believe in the value of having long-tenured teammates; institutional knowledge, historical context, and deep cultural understanding are some of the benefits of having a long-tenured team. (However we also love our new teammates, who bring a fresh perspective!) We may even have a few “lifers” among us.
Additionally, while we love seeing teammates grow within our company, we also celebrate when teammates choose to continue their career growth after Buffer. We have a saying, coined by Katie Wilde, a former Bufferoo: “Buffer is a great place to be. But it’s also a great place to be from.” We understand that Buffer isn’t the only stop on the journey of a professional career, and teammates may want to keep the future in mind as they choose and chart their paths.
For people on both paths, here are some things to keep in mind as you manage your career while you’re a Bufferoo.
Professional growth takes a few different forms. Sometimes teammates will take on a larger scope in the field they are currently in. Sometimes teammates will expand their skillset to include a new area, or even change fields entirely. Because we are a small team and we don’t grow our headcount very fast, sometimes careers at Buffer don’t look “traditional.”
We expect teammates to manage their careers by balancing their interests with the needs of Buffer in the moment. We believe that by nature of being a part of a fast-changing business, all teammates will naturally learn and grow over time. Managers should also provide regular guidance and coaching in one on one meetings to help teammates learn a particular skill, apply their experience to Buffer’s needs, or identify areas to practice and improve. Beyond that, teammates may also choose to develop their skillsets through training programs and courses, external coaching, attending conferences and events, or mentorship. (To help cover the costs of these, see: Growth Mindset Fund.)
Managers and leads’ first priority is to the longterm health of the business. Through that work, and by getting to know their teammates, they will also often recognize opportunities to pair a learning opportunity that arises from a business need, with an individual’s growth goals.
Ultimately, your career decisions are your choice. We recommend communicating openly with your manager about your career goals, and hope you’ll stay open-minded about opportunities to expand your skill set, scope, or context, in a variety of forms.
Buffer’s system of leveling can be found here: Buffer Career Framework (Levels & Steps)
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