6 career lessons that will be with me forever…
I’ve been longing to share content online for some time but I’d fallen into the trap of just chugging away with work and family life and not coming up to the surface to take a breath. I’ve committed myself that from 2020 I will post more content (I have a list of topics!) which I think will be super helpful for me to reflect and perhaps for others to relate. I have a ton of stuff to share so please Like, Comment, and Share!
The main objective for me is to share my experiences in short bursts (not super long posts) and provide some honest, clear guidance on how to navigate through a very competitive, brutal market to create debate, and dialogue etc.
I could write forever about my journey but I rather get to the point. In the time I’ve spent working I’ve learned a lot, I’ve listed some key learnings for those who are starting out or further along in their career which I think might be helpful.
Uncertainty doesn’t mean that you’re lost: It’s ok if you’re not sure what to do after University or super early on in your career, you have time to try new things. Take on some post-grad online courses, there is always time for career pivots.
Make some noise: Having a strong professional footprint is critical. It took me a decade to feel ‘ready’ to put content out. Get yourself out there earlier. Use the tools available (LinkedIn, Pateron, Medium etc.) to share the uniqueness that you bring to the table. Companies value bold people who demonstrate their work. Companies want to see evidence of your work before even considering you for an interview these days!
Find a mentor: I repeat, find a mentor (or multiple mentors)!! Don’t be a know it all, there is a vast amount of knowledge out there that can only be gained by going through the trenches, having someone give you a heads up about the pitfalls will help prepare you.
Growth mindset: You need to always upskill, be it that you want to be good with data, coding, or learning how to be a people manager. Constantly review your skillset and sense check it against the market by seeing on job sites, articles about what skills are in demand right now.
Demonstrate humility: This is quite important, but there will be times where this can work against you depending on your level in a company especially if there is a particular type of work culture (I'll be writing about company culture very soon).
Identify and focus on the core competencies: There are many of course, but the list below has helped me and are essential.
Make data-driven decisions (but don’t be paralysed by data)
Working collaboratively
Communicating effectively
