What’s the Best Career Advice You’ve Gotten?
Often the best advice is the simplest advice. Whether it’s money or productivity , seemingly insignificant things can make the biggest difference.
Particularly in a career, one breath may be enough to get you on a path that brings you satisfaction. In Man Repeller, Harling Ross writes about the advice she received from her college counselor that changed everything:
She asked me what I think about when I’m bored and my mind was free to roam around and touch whatever it wanted. She asked if there was something in particular that buzzed on the periphery of my thoughts as I passed my day, or if it inspired me to open multiple tabs to view on my computer. She advised me to think about what the answer was and warned that it might take a while to figure out, because sometimes what you constantly think about becomes so ingrained that it seems like a real part of you, like a nose, an eye, or a name. …
“Once you figure it out, ask yourself if there is a job you could think about it to make your living,” she said.
It turned out to be the best career advice I have ever received.
With that in mind, here are some of the best advice that Lifehacker employees have received.
Virginia Smith, Managing Editor
It wasn’t really advice, but at some point the editor pushed me to write more stories about a more specific rhythm than what I was covering at the time. This influenced my next work (which involved exclusively covering the indicated rhythm) and a huge amount of experience. Since then, I’ve realized that specialized rhythm reporting – be it finance, transportation, real estate, etc. – is one of the best ways to carve out a niche for yourself and ensure you always have a job.
Josh Ocampo, staff writer
Never tell your employer that you often work late; I used to have a terrible habit of working at night because I wanted to finish work, although they could probably wait until morning. My boss told me that when they find out that you are working late, they will count on you to do this and know that you are available at any time of the day.
Claire Lower, food and beverage editor
Do not insult the current staff or the job of the place where you are applying. Share your skills and show yourself valuable without insulting others’ past work.
David Murphy, Senior Technical Editor
If you’re working on a large project, give yourself a buffer a day (or whatever) to think through the process at the end, review your work and make sure everything looks solid before submitting it. Much less stress than trying to complete something to meet a deadline and just hope you didn’t make any mistakes along the way.
Heather Huss, creative producer
Don’t work for free. I worked for free right after school, and I had a friend who told me that many companies are trying to take advantage of new graduates or people who want to get into the industry, but that supporting these companies is bad. It was the other way around for me, and I thought: “Hurray! I’m in! Someday they will pay me. It was in a cool place and I was filming a video, but it was free and it wasn’t cool.
I would advise if you are doing the job and the company is trying to give you the opportunity to say that you are working (for free), find it somewhere else. The free work basically perpetuates this system.
I also had a friend who told me something that changed my rates in terms of freelance work. I was going to work for his company and he said he would appreciate things like the big guys. This changed my pricing system. He also said not to give him a discount for a friend, which I am not doing now either. Work is work!
Nick Douglas, staff writer
When I was in my early 20s, a friend gently advised me to try and establish professional friendships before I needed anything from someone. I had to learn to be less selfish in my networking.
Alicia Adamchik, Personal Finance Writer
A colleague of my father’s remarried when I was in my freshman year in college, and since we’ve known him for most of our lives, I attended a small reception with a few other people from the firm. While we were catching up, the wife of another longtime colleague of my father asked me what I was going to do with my life. At that moment I had no idea and said about it. I will never forget what she said after. “As a woman, it is important that you look for something flexible.” She went on to explain that if I had children, I would like to pursue a career in which I could work from home or take time out and not be punished.
At the time, as a young feminist, I was put off by the advice. I smiled and nodded, but inside I thought she just didn’t understand it – women can have a responsible job too, right? Women can do everything! I now understand that her advice was far-sighted and more subtle than I thought at the time. Flexibility is really key and that’s what I’m looking for in a career. Not only because of the children I may have, but because it makes me overall a happier (and more productive) person. So thank you Mrs Labadie. I’m sure you don’t remember the conversation you had with the 18-year-old know-it-all, but I remember it.
What about you – what’s the best or smartest career advice you’ve received? Let us know in the comments.