5 pieces of Career Advice I wish I knew 5 Years Ago
As I was traveling with my mom on our joint birthday vacation, I realized it was a rare occasion where I had no access to wifi on any of my devices. I had over 5 hours to reflect and write, which was nice as I was entering into that reflective mindset we all get a few days before turning a year older.
Asking myself questions like: What did I learn in the past year? What goals did I accomplish or fail? How can I grow my career? I took this opportunity to go beyond thinking about just this past year and began to think about the last 5 years.
What were some of the crucial pieces of career advice and honest mishaps that have developed my career? Considering I have changed jobs twice, moved from Chicago to New York, rented 3 different apartments, and added a dog to the mix.
1. Speak up at Work
As a self-identified introvert, this has been one of my challenges throughout my career. In the beginning, I spent so much time editing all my thoughts that I never had a chance to vocalize them to an audience. You do need to speak up at work because your ideas have merit, and your unique experiences should be known to your organization. People really do value your thoughts and contribution. The great jobs even pay you for it!
2. Go after your dream Job
Early into my career, I had become comfortable accepting the roles and projects that placed me in the background. Thankfully, I quickly realized that becoming more client-facing and strategically focused would allow me to lead larger scaled projects and ultimately increase my income. Moving forward, I only apply to jobs with qualifications that made me slightly uncomfortable. While I would never advocate applying for roles where you only meet one of a dozen qualifications, I do think to gain more experience, you should be looking to make career choices that take you out of your comfort zone. You might surprise yourself and be exceptional in that new role.
3. Be Open to Criticism
Ask for regular feedback from your manager and peers. If your manager does not set up monthly or quarterly meetings with you, take the initiative to schedule that time. When you have those meetings, come prepared with questions and ask for feedback on your performance. If you want to know the steps needed to get a promotion or if you are interested in taking on additional projects, that meeting is a great time to have that discussion. With peers, I think feedback can be received more casually over coffee or at lunch. These reviewers should be people who can speak on the work you deliver and whose opinions you value.
Also, remember to keep records of the feedback and the work you completed throughout the year. It will make for a more productive annual review with your manager.
4. Your Network is Valuable
I believe that your next opportunity is most likely a role that is open within your network, which is why I’m always surprised when colleagues tell me that they do not actively network. More specifically, they only focus on networking when they are looking for a new job. Personally, having an always-on approach to building relationships, instead of gaining connections specifically for a new role, allows me to focus on making more genuine connections. Also, you want to build relationships that are mutually beneficial so that no one person feels like they are always the person contributing.
Additionally, you should respond to recruiters’ inquiries even if you are not currently looking to change jobs. These conversations allow you to make contacts for future opportunities, as well as gain insight into what the market rate is for your role. I can honestly say that the majority of my career growth was a result of contacts within my network that I nurtured over the years.
5. Share back your Expertise
As you expand your skillset and gain experience in your field, be open to sharing your knowledge. Giving your time to be a mentor allows you to assist in the growth of another person’s career. And let’s be honest, helping someone new to your industry succeed is good for the soul!
What other advice have you learned throughout your career? What advice do you wish you had five years ago?