The Career-Boosting 1:1 Format I Wish I Used Sooner
A tested template for driving 1:1s for accelerating career growth
Most engineers treat 1:1s as passive check-ins. I used to do the same.
I'd show up with nothing prepared, hope it gets cancelled, and leave without clarity or progress.
But here’s the hard truth:
No one will care about your career growth more than you.
And 1:1s are your most powerful tool to shape that growth and build leverage
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Coming back to the topic,
🧱 What Changed for Me
I started treating 1:1s as my meeting, not my manager's.
And I now run two types of 1:1s:
🗓 Weekly Check-in (for visibility and trust)
📈 Monthly Growth 1:1 (for feedback and trajectory)
Within 3 months of using this format, I saw a clear shift:
I was communicating more proactively and clearly.
My manager and I were finally on the same page about priorities, progress, and goals.
Feedback wasn’t vague; it was tied to specific work and tracked over time.
I could spot patterns in what I was doing well and where I needed to double down.
It created transparency, momentum, and a shared sense of direction with no surprises during review cycles.
🔄 Weekly Check-in (25 min)
1. Personal Catch-up (5 min)
Don't underestimate small talk.
I build long-term relationships by talking about life, hobbies, and families, not just work.
Years later, I still chat with past managers because of these moments.
2. Project Updates (10 min)
Use this time to:
Share status, blockers, and timelines
Bring up help needed (e.g., resourcing or approvals)
Mention org-wide contributions and initiatives
Get real-time feedback and take notes
3. Mini-Growth Touchpoint (5 min)
Even in a status 1:1, add a short career moment:
Ask about stretch opportunities
Share an idea or experiment for the team
Pitch a course/conference you want to attend
4. Offer Help (5 min)
This changed everything for me. I started asking:
"How can I help you this week?"
Managers are overloaded too, and offering help builds mutual respect and opens unexpected doors.
📈 Monthly Growth 1:1 (25 min)
Once a month, I run a dedicated Growth 1:1 to:
Review feedback across performance areas
Understand how I'm tracking toward the next level
Align on what to focus on this month
At Meta, performance was judged across 4 dimensions, and I’d check in on each and adjust my priorities based on gaps.
Goal: Never be surprised during a performance review.
Outcome: Clarity, focus, and momentum.
🧠 Great Questions to Ask in a Growth 1:1:
What skill gaps do I need to close for the next level?
Where do you see my biggest impact right now?
Are there any upcoming projects I could take more ownership of?
📌 Final Tip
Treat every one-on-one meeting like a career design session, not just a status update.
If you consistently:
Build trust
Stay visible
Seek clarity
Offer help
You’ll accelerate faster than most of your peers.
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