Best Career Advice

[susan silva]

Has anyone given you any career advice that stuck with you?  If so, who gave you the advice (boss, friend, mentor, counselor, mother..) and what did they say?

[Jackie G]

Be your own person

[Katie G]

Don't take it personally. 

Whatever it is, whether it's getting passed over for a promotion, or a criticsm (deserved or undeserved), or dealing with "mean girls" (and "mean boys").....While that's easier said than done sometimes, particularly "in the moment", it's saved me a lot of grief and upset and makes it easier to keep my perspective.

[Atlanta Z3]

Find a way to keep work and real life separate and have a real life.  My job is not who I am it's what I do. 

As I've gotten older I been getting better at leaving the job at work. I might talk about the day, but the stress level is not near what it used to be.

[raindance]

I have received three pieces of career advice in my (now long) career:

To leave my first admin job, which I did after six months.  It was a very nice job, but not a good fit for me;
To take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.  This encouraged me to think about myself as "Raindance plc";
What a person does outside work is at least as important as what that person does at work.  All work and no play makes a Raindance incredibly dull and introspective.  I don't have a huge amount of time for extra-curricular activities, but singing in a choir, doing some voluntary work, and a few social and cultural things makes life a little more balanced and pleasant.

The first piece of advice gave me the spur to seek work I really found satisfying and rewarding.  The second two pieces came from a manager I had more than ten years ago.  She was a great believer in that advice, and has remained a great friend over the years. 

My career, so far, has lasted over 25 years, and it's interesting to reflect on the things that stick with you. 

[Jackie G]

That first one must have been hard to hear Rain, or were you seeking confirmation that the job wasn't right for you? - sometimes even knowing that deep down, it's hard to make a step away.

[peaches2160]

I had a boss several years ago encourage me to branch out and apply for another role in a completely different side of the business.  I got the job, and have to admit it catapulted my career.  It rounded my experience and helped to develop me for the role I have now as an EA to two SR VPs. 

I too was told not to take things personally.  That is valuable information. 

I have also learned over the years not o fear change.  Use it as an opportunity to learn and expand your skillset. 

Another good piece of advice, Bloom where you are planted.

[diamondlady]

Don't take it personal.
Don't stress over things out of your control.

[raindance]

@ Jackie,  It was uncomfortable to hear because we all like to think we are very good at our jobs.  However, putting it in context was helpful. 

I had previously worked for a very high net worth and prominent person as a personal assistant (which in today's language means you do almost anything every time your employer is around).  My main duties seemed to be arranging an awful lot of travel, parties, dealing with household staff, appointments of all sorts, arranging flowers, shopping and some basic admin.  It was very hard work but tremendous fun, and my employer was both demanding and lovely to work for.  I then took a a longish period out of work to go to business college. 

Coming from that background to an "ordinary" office, where I was bottom of the career heap was not easy.  Office politics has never been my bag, so to speak, but we all learn to navigate the murky waters of offices.  Indeed, the company where I worked was quite Dickensian in its structures. The deputy in my department took three hour lunch breaks every day and always returned to the office totally spliced. We juniors would have been fired for doing that, but he was a manager and also jolly good at his job. 

So, I sometimes look back at the person I was in my first "proper" admin job and laugh.  They gave me a lovely gift when I left, which is probably more than I deserved.  I occasionally think of the manager who gave me that piece of advice and mentally thank her. I certainly wouldn't be where I am today without her!

[peaches2160]

Would like to add, remember, you have a circle of control. 

[countrigal]

Advice:  Always do your best.  Admit your mistakes, but have a solution when possible too.

But the best advice I have ever gotten... which I apply to everything in my life, is this advice my father gave me:  Nothing is impossible, the impossible just takes a little longer. 

So I never give up, find a way to do whatever I'm tasked with, looking outside the box if needed, and push through it all.

[msmarieh]

One boss told me, Never turn down a job you haven't been offered yet.