The Best Career Advice Ever?

The other day I was having lunch with a client and we were discussing the many twists and turns of her career. One thought led to another and I shared with her how excited I am about an upcoming opportunity to speak with high school students about careers.

We then started talking about things we wished someone had told us when we were freshmen in high school (or college), or just starting out in the workplace. We came up with these five things, for starters:

1. Know the Pareto Principle aka 80-20 Rule. In my client's business (sales), 80% of the business comes from about 20% of the clients. She said it would have been helpful knowing that "law" as a new sales representative at age 22 instead of as a "seasoned pro" at age 42. Her take on the 80-20 Rule is that it applies to everything in business (and life), whether you're a student, employee, partner, or owner.
2. Learn How to Public Speak. While I loved every minute of graduate school, learn public speaking was one of the best pieces of advice someone ever gave me. Even though I still get nervous, I have learned how to address a group of people without totally freaking out, passing out, or hyper-ventilating. Public speaking is a life-changing gift you can give yourself and nobody can take it away from you, even if you lose your job!
3. Find the Right Fit. We both agreed on finding life-work where you can do something that genuinely interests you, you're good at, enjoy (most days), and get known for it.
4. Get Unstuck. Don't keep doing something you hate because a. you're short-changing yourself and your employer and b. the people who love you the most get tired of hearing your same old story. Try to find something you love to do (or at least like) work wise, so hopefully, you'll be happier professionally, and personally.
5. Develop Resilience. When / if the bad times come knocking on your career door (as they have a way of doing from time to time), don't take it personally. Deal with it. Manage it. Move on. My client added to this...and while you're on top of the world in your career, don't let it go to your head.

What is the best piece of career wisdom you've ever been given? What's the one thing you wish someone would have told you when you were in high school, college, or just starting your career?

posted by: billiesucher

Comments

[Christine]

The best career advice I was ever given was to stop being so concerned about the people I was competing against when applying for jobs and not to inflate their supposed (or imaginary) credentials. Don't think that everyone in the pile has more experience than you, is better qualified, or has all of the requirements as well as the preferred. Just apply, because by talking yourself out of applying, you have disqualified yourself.

[billiesucher]

"Just apply, because by talking yourself out of applying, you have disqualified yourself."

Outstanding advice, Christine! I see this happening quite a bit. So just go for IT and ask yourself, what's the very best that can happen?

Thanks much for reading CareerHub and for posting your thoughtful comment!
Billie

[Julie O'Malley]

As job seekers, we tend to fixate on ourselves and our own need for a job. But the best way to get hired is to focus on the employer's problem. They have a job opening, which is like a hole in the organization. If you can convince them you've got the stuff to fill the hole, you're in. Oh, and one other piece of wisdom: likeability almost always trumps qualifications.

[billiesucher]

Julie, two excellent points you make...good fit and likeability. Appreciate your comment -- I think I used those very words in some of my WOW e-books contributions here on CareerHub.
Billie

[Paul Copcutt]

Best two pieces of career advice I received were;

"Always update your resume once a year and go interview for practice and to benchmark your worth"

and

"The customer is never bigger than you and you are never bigger than the customer" - my first ever retail sales job whilst still in school.

[billiesucher]

Paul, I really like this advice...a reminder to me that I need to do a better job of communicating this specific point to clients about updating their resume annually; and your second piece of advice is a treasure! Thanks for sharing.
Billie

[Helen]

To continually grow and boost your work performance, I cannot emphasis enough the benefits of updating your skills and qualifications.This can be achieved through distance education courses such as those provided by Thomson Education http://thomson.edu.au/ who provide a wide range of courses from Accounting & Finance, Business & Marketing to even Professional Development.