Now that you have made the decision to go back to school, it's time to tell your manager about your plans to hit the books. Check out this list of five tips to make breaking the news to your manager easier.

Request a meeting with your manager

Be considerate of your manager’s time by calling the meeting well in advance of your return back to school and be clear about the subject of the meeting. This allows your manager to prepare any questions he/she might have in advance.

Come prepared to the meeting

Prepare some talking points and anticipate questions your manager may have. Some questions might be:

• Why are you going back to school?
• Where are you going?
• Will you continue to work here?
• What will your schedule be?
• When can you work while still being able to complete homework?
• How long will you be in school?
• Do you plan to continue working here once you’ve completed your degree?

Know your goal

What do you ultimately want to accomplish by going back to school? Is it career advancement where you’re currently working? If so, tell your manager what your development goals are and where you see yourself in the future with the company.

Define your needs and the needs of the company

Define what kind of support you may need from your manager in order to make your school dreams a reality. Shorter hours? Someone who can work part-time when you’re not there? Let your manager know. In addition, ask your manager what they might need from you to make this a success.

Pat yourself on the back!

Look at you, Hot Shot! We’re proud of your accomplishments and hope you are, too. Being confident in your decision to return to school will help you and your manager identify the best plan for your return back to school.