As my daughter leaves University and embarks on a her first full time job in the big wide world, I canvassed my LinkedIn friends and colleagues for their pieces of advice they would give her. After a huge response I have compiled the 36 valuable pieces of advice!
A big thank you to all the contributors!
- A motto for life in general and work specifically that I try to live by is “it’s never wrong to do the right thing.”
- You think everyone knows more than you but in reality everyone is also making it up as they go along!
- It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time. Learn something new every day.
- If something goes wrong or you make a mistake, which will likely happen at some point early in your career, apologise but also remember to ask yourself – will this matter tomorrow, next week, next month, next year? This helps keep things in perspective.
- Start your pension now.
- Prepare to go outside your comfort zone.
- There’s struggling and there is suffering. If you are struggling, you will usually find people to help you out, leading to growth. If you are suffering, the problem won’t go away despite the help you may receive. There is something inherently wrong and it’s time to escape for your health’s sake.
- Be a sponge – not just in the first few months or years of your career, but throughout. You can always learn from your colleagues’ different perspectives and experiences, both inside and outside of the workplace.
- Work is important, but so is your wellbeing – don’t be afraid to put your mental health first, especially before it reaches a crunch point.
- It’s great to have inspirational colleagues to aspire towards, but try not to compare yourself to others too much as everyone is different and has various strengths and areas for development.
- Kindness is the one that I want to carry me through. I love these two quotations from Adrienne Bankert: ‘Kindness shines a spotlight on others, without diminishing our own brightness’ and ‘Kindness produces the timeless power of a reputation, where people in your circle associate your name with being remarkable.’
- ‘Explore mindfulness’ – being able to watch our thoughts rather than be overwhelmed by them can be a super power when facing challenging times or just before that big presentation.
- Always listen to others’ ideas and arguments, even if they seem to go against your own beliefs. Never shut down debate but be open to alternative viewpoints and cultivate flexibility of mind as a core value.
- To lead with your passion and talent, what you can do better than anyone else and no one will be able to replace you even if they try.
- Have fun!
- Plough your own furrow. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, how much they are working, how much they are earning. Do what works for you and your family.
- Supporting / celebrating another person’s success will never diminish yours.
- And in the words of my 11 year old, that he came home from school with recently: “Be an upstander, not a bystander”.
- Work smart, not hard.
- Ask for help and remember that there is always a person behind an email.
- Never rule out a role because you don’t think you have enough experience or the right skill set, most employers don’t expect you to be the finished article.
- Find ambassadors who will help promote the work you do when you’re not in the room, and provide guidance when needed. Perhaps not one for day 1 but worth bearing in mind for down the road.
- People will make assumptions about you based on what you look like/ your age/ gender/ religion etc…you can’t control that but you can influence it by being intentional around your messaging and communication.
- Always be kind, patient and supportive colleague. ‘Dimming someone else’s light won’t make your own shine brighter.’
- ‘Feel the fear, and go out and do it.’ If you don’t try or take risks, you will never know what you were capable of. I can think of a number of times professionally and personally when I’ve been terrified, and boy I’m so glad I did it.
- Trust your gut instinct. Just because people with more experience might be doing / saying something one way, there is no need to follow if you have different ideas, principles etc.
- My 22 year old was having one of those days today, I said “Today is a challenging day, this will pass. Always remember you are important and loved.”
- Always have a goal, and something to work towards. But don’t worry if that goal changes at different times of your life.
- Get involved. Volunteer. Ask the first question. Try everything. Replace “What do you want?” with “How can I help?”
- If you think something’s not right, speak up. If you think someone needs to know something likely they need to hear it. Value yourself and others will do the same. Always ask for feedback on your impact- raising our self awareness is key, Everyone you meet is a potential ally – look after them.
- Stay connected with people – you never know who can help you find your next job years down the line!
- Value the first few years of work and be prepared to learn from your more experienced colleagues.
- You have never learnt enough – there is always room for growth.
- Don’t be afraid of a career change. Skills really can be transferable.
- Be authentic.
- Keep believing in yourself. Start to recognise your strengths and weaknesses and be prepared to think outside your comfort zone.
Zoe Sinclair
Founder, Employees Matter