Things I wish I knew at the Beginning of my Career.
Remember how you felt when you landed your first job? The rush of excitement, happiness, worries, and nervousness all felt simultaneously. We didn't know what to expect or how exciting things would be. As we go through that journey of self-discovery and finding ways to fit in, we go through mistakes and maybe successes. We didn't have guides or manuals on how to make the best out of it; therefore, those years are filled with: "I wish I knew this sooner" and "I wish I have done this differently."
Before you make any further wishes, I want to share with you 8 different things I wish I had known sooner when I started my career.
Get yourself a mentor.
Look at the surrounding people. Who do you admire or aspire to be like? They might be an immediate family or someone you met or worked with. Try to learn from them the key lessons and lessons they learned. What made them so different? What can you learn from their journey? Also, what you can further learn from the depth of knowledge they can share firsthand with you. If you can't find a direct mentor, look at inspiring people with inspiring stories. They can be leaders, CEOs of big corporations, or even YouTubers. You can learn a lot from their biographies or even the things they create or do.
Expect your career plan to fail.
We're living in a very rapid time. 10 years ago, we wouldn't imagine having an entire career on social media. Today career opportunities are popping up, and we'll see more of this in the future as new technological advancements are going through exponential growth. This means that whatever idea of a career you have in mind might likely be obsolete in the future. You need, in this case, to keep an open mind to the possibilities that the future might hold for you. Therefore, learning new skills can help a person pivot in their career.
Dedicate an hour of your free time to learning something new.
It could be something you've always wanted to do or something relevant to your career, such as training and development courses. The more you engage your mind in learning, the faster you can create cognition connections and become proactive in your job and life. Dedicating this time can be as simple as spending an hour a day learning. It doesn't have to be comprehensive or even demanding. Today we have a variety of online platforms that offer courses and modules to learn new skills that can help you accelerate in your job; or create a new venue to generate a new income stream.
Your thoughts and ideas matter.
Even if you're starting as an intern in a new organization or a start-up company, you should voice your concern when needed or be proactive in sharing your ideas and thoughts. The company has invested not only in your skills or educational background but also in your thoughts and creativity. Everyone is different and unique in how they think or process ideas. So, at the next meeting you attend with your colleagues and boss, remember to express yourself and do so where it can add value to the organization and yourself.
Put yourself out there to offer your services.
You might think: "I'm a rookie here; I don't know how things work." We believe whatever we do won't add any input or benefit to our working community. However, when our self-esteem is the lowest during that phase, we should put ourselves out there to engage with the people we work with. This can help us gain our seniors' trust and offer your services to gain momentum and confidence as you do your job.
Ask Questions.
We tend to think that by asking questions, we might look illiterate or unprofessional. But the more you ask, the more that it means you're a curious being, and even if you do happen to know a lot of things, there are things you don't, and you still want to uncover. By asking questions, you're actually working on uncovering deep layers of a thought or idea which can help you understand things better and serve you in the long run.
Work on your passion project today.
Not tomorrow. Starting a new job can sometimes be exhausting and daunting. As you experience new things, and your brain goes under so many stimuli, you come back home exhausted. All you want to do is rest and reserve your energy for the next day. As you go thru this never-ending loop, the days, weeks, and years pass by without getting your head started with your passion project. Does this sound familiar? This happened to me when I began my career. I planned to save a portion of my monthly salary toward a project I always wanted to work on. The only thing I regret not doing is starting. I thought, starting, it had to be perfect from the beginning. However, sometimes starting can be the only way forward, rather than being a perfectionist.
Start thinking about your financial security.
Staying in a 9-5 job doesn't mean you have financial security. It only means that you depend on your employer to make a living. They have taught us that financial security equals working for a corporation or living. However, this is not the case today. Financial security means putting your eggs not in one basket only but in multiple baskets. It could be passive income from selling second-hand items that you own, investing in stocks, or even providing your services and expertise by hosting workshops or courses.
Although these are some things that I wish I had the chance to experience early on in my career, it is never too late for anyone to do them. You will go through a learning curve as you find a good mentor, choose the best investment option for you, or even feel vulnerable when you ask questions. But, that shouldn't stop you from doing the things that can help you grow in your career.