These days, every time I find myself speaking with someone in their early to mid twenties about their career challenges and goals, it gleams as an opportunity for me to reflect on some career decisions I’ve made in the last twelve years. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just a few pieces of practical advice I wish I had followed better in my twenties:
Leave College With A Clear Set Of Career Priorities – After stepping off the stage of the 2004 commencement ceremony at SUNY Oswego, the singular thought on my mind; move to Florida to get a great job using my college major. I never placed emphasis on the “how” or “why” by developing a clear focus. Neglecting to target companies that aligned with my career interests, skill sets, or work culture interests was a mistake. Write your priorities down and do your research. Read articles, industry news, join national associations, and attend networking events. These resources will help guide your early career road map and refine your interests.
A Career Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint – Before “millennial” stereotypes existed, I would’ve been a poster child. As a bright-eyed, professedly ambitious 22 year old in 2004, I sought the fastest route to a high-paying job. A sprinters mentality failed me several times. Our careers grow as we do. Priorities change, values shift, and skill sets become diversified. With that, be aware that the next best thing does not always come in the form of new job every year or two, in exchange for a few thousand dollars more. Companies value loyalty and they will help position you for advancement. Building a successful career requires patience, something I admittedly lacked in my twenties.
As Candidates, Ask Tougher Interview Questions – This is your opportunity to showcase initiative and ask the hiring managers challenging questions, too. Simply asking; “what do you love about this company?” isn’t going to connect the dots for them, only serve to reinforce their personal affinity for an organization they already work for. Ask what challenges this new person will face, or what the highest priorities are in order to become a successful addition to the team/division. It will show you’re a solutions orientated candidate intent on aiding in the company’s growth.
Limit Emotion In Career Decisions – Making career decisions based on emotion is just a bad idea. When you are frustrated at your current situation, seek out a healthy environment that will allow you to process these emotions in a rational, calculated manner. Even the most successful business leaders will tell you they make decisions by researching the facts, sifting through data, and by carefully observing their environment. Remove the subjective emotions garnished by assumptions and interpretations of others. Let your intelligence guide your decision making process.
Build Your Network, Stay In Touch Regularly – I cannot stress this enough. People in your business network who truly care about you are there to help! Keeping a healthy, active network is vital to your reputation and longevity. Take colleagues and mentors out for coffee, lunches and keep in touch regularly via email. This strategy will serve to benefit you in more ways than you can imagine.
Take Time To Understand Industries You Work In, Not Just Your Job – Performing periodic research on the state of the industry will allow you to prepare for your next career decision. Keep up with emerging technologies, attend conferences, subscribe to podcasts and follow industry leaders. This will help you keep a fresh pulse on potential opportunities to leverage your growing experience and advance into leadership roles.
Work In An Office Where You Have Friends – Healthy social interactions are critical to balancing the many demands of a busy job. If you work hard and can still enjoy the occasional happy hour, summer concert or round of golf with a group of coworkers, you’re more likely to feel a sense of fulfillment and trust on the job, among your peers. Just be careful what you divulge to your office buddies, as sharing sensitive information may come back to haunt your intentions to advance within the ranks.
Let Failures Motivate You, Rather Than Define You – How you choose to deal with adversity in life says a lot about who you are as a person. In times of personal peril I often look to inspirational stories and quotes to keep life in perspective. In the movie “The Dark Knight”, chronicling the life of Bruce Wayne as masked vigilante Batman, Wayne says to his butler, Alfred Pennyworth; “I wanted to save Gotham. I failed.” Alfred responds promptly, “Why do we fall sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.” Batman was a flawed, often conflicted hero that experienced many failures and times of great personal loss, but kept getting up and moving forward. Those very moments of despair, indecision, or even job loss should be the failures that you endure. In the long run, these will help you stay motivated and hungry for success. I used to think it was someone else’s fault for not believing in me, when the most important thing I should have realized was to get through adversity, you have to believe in yourself.
Don’t Get Distracted From Big Picture – It’s extremely hard today, with social media and the 24/7 news cycle to find true solitude and mental bliss. Facebook was just coming out when I graduated in 2004, but, AOL IM, Napster, and Myspace provided plenty of work distractions #tbt. Fast forward to today, many offices now have a laissez-faire attitude about social media usage, and many are beginning to institute more flexible work hours. Individuals choose to drown out the noise in different ways, but that’s imperative in order to accomplish timely and meaningful work that builds your career.
Are you currently experiencing, or have you ever experienced any of these things in your own career? Share your thoughts, or, just return to checking your news-feed now 😉