THERE A FEW PIECES OF ADVICE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL EARLY IN MY CAREER.
After completing an internship in university, I was ready to take on the world when I graduated. After nearly a decade in the workforce, there are a few pieces on advice I would pass onto my 22-year old self.
Your first job is only your first job
I spent eight months in my first job before moving to a new role (about as much time as I spent actually finding the job!) Graduating students put a lot of pressure on themselves to find the perfect company, perfect role, and perfect location when securing employment. But these days, millennials change roles and job a lot. More often than not, you will hop jobs sooner than you expect.
Try to take off the pressure and focus on finding the right role for right now. You are not signing an employment contract for life!
Make the most of every opportunityMy best learning opportunities came from being "volun-told" I was moving into a role that would have been farrrrr from my first choice. While on the outside I sucked it up and was a good sport in the workplace, internally, I was quite irritated. In hindsight, these roles accelerated my development faster than I could have planned and I am now so grateful for these opportunities.
Remember to embrace unexpected roles or projects and allow them to open up your eyes to areas that you likely would not have explored on your own.
Be skills, not title focused
Early in my career, I was focused on climbing the corporate ladder. I equated more responsibility, more oversight, or a better title to success. It ended being really exhausting and far too political for my liking. Along the way I missed out on diving deep into the intricacies of the job I was in and having some fun along the way (both professionally and personally).
Instead, remember to enjoy the journey (one of the quotes I need to remind myself of at times!). Find the benefit of lateral moves or opportunities in your own role to really stretch your skill set. By building new skills skills, you are making yourself an invaluable resource when the right move becomes available.
While these tips would have been helpful at graduation, the advice certainly transcends into how I manage my career today. What advice would you give yourself when you were first entering the world of work?
Grace.
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