10 things I wish I knew when I was looking for a career

1)    Employers won’t hire you based on what you know, they will hire you based on how you approach situations where you don’t know.

-     Employers will use experience as a building block for who they believe you can be, so don’t be nervous about not knowing something.  You won’t be the perfect employee on your first day, but be sure that you have a game plan and resources to tackle problems that you encounter.  Navigating tough situations and learning quickly will show everyone that you are the best person to handle whatever challenge may come.

2)    Personality is important, so don’t try to be anyone you aren’t or else the fit won’t be right.

-     You will be spending the majority of your waking time with your coworkers, so they want to know who you really are.  It’s important to just be yourself from the first interview, that way you will be comfortable and your potential employer will get a gauge on what things would be like with you in the office.  Too often people overemphasize the little things and get tense, just be your best professional self and show off your personality.

3)    Be sure to interview your interviewer, it shows confidence and ability to think critically, this will be your career after all.

-     Don’t be afraid to ask questions, a few good questions will go a long way for a few reasons.  Asking your employer about culture, stress levels, work load, responsibilities etc. show that you are thinking about what life will really be like in the office.  Be sure to find out as much information about the workplace as possible, it will lead to less conflicts later on.  Asking questions can also lead to better conversations and can help show your potential employer what’s important to you.

4)    Don’t compromise ethics for a paycheck.

-     Your ethics are who you are, and all conflicts come from differences in ethics between employer and employees.  It is important to find a job that fits who you are and what’s important to you, that way you can love what you do and be passionate about your work.  If you do what you love, then you’ll never “work” a day in your life.

5)    Don’t be afraid of a small salary if you have the potential for growth.

-     Not many people will get their ideal salary as soon as they start, be sure to put the job ahead of the pay check.  If there is a job that really is a great fit, money shouldn’t be the deciding factor.  There is always room to grow, and growth potential should be a huge part of your career choice.  Find your ideal job fit, prove to your employer what you are worth, and the salary will follow.  If someone offers you a seat on the rocket ship, you take it.

6)    A career is only part of who you are, don’t be afraid to take on additional commitments if they are important to you.

-     Obviously your career will be a huge part of your life, but it doesn’t have to be all encompassing.  Often finding something on the side that you are passionate about can actually boost your standing within the company, as it shows that you are well rounded and have lots to offer outside of work.  Commit yourself to your job, but don’t stop there, volunteer in the community, take on a side hustle if your work allows it, diversify your time and find other ways to make yourself useful.  You will find that doing more will improve your network, which can ultimately help your career in the long run.

7)    Find out about your future colleagues, and try to build relationships with them as soon as possible.

-     When you start out, you are just a resume and a name, try your best to get to know the people in the office and make an effort to get to know them.  This will ultimately make you memorable and help get some people pulling for you.  Once you start your job you will also be more comfortable asking for help, which you will do a lot of.  Not to mention that one of the most important things for job security is being liked, you want to have friends on your side in the office. 

8)    Ask about employee turnover, often this is a good barometer for the culture of the office and what it will be like to work there.

-     High employee turnover often means that there is conflict between employees and senior staff.  You want to avoid a toxic workplace and when there is a revolving door, it often can signal that others don’t want to work there, and they might be onto something.  Try to find a place where talented people stick, it will mean that the employer cares about wellness and wants to create an atmosphere where talent is happy and properly compensated.

9)    Don’t limit yourself to big companies in your search, often start ups or boutique style companies can be great for growth.

-     While it is attractive to be able to say that you work for a recognizable brand name, it can be equally as fulfilling to work for a small company in its initial stages of development.  Working for small to medium sized companies also comes with the potential for “getting in on the ground floor”.  You can experience whole new set of challenges that is often rewarded in the long run as long as you are hard working and committed.

10) Work hard and good things will happen.

-     You won’t always be the best at what you do right off the bat, but by working hard and being passionate, you will find yourself in good situations more often than not.  There isn’t always an immediate reward for your hard work, and often you won’t see the benefit for years to come.  By continuing to show that you can tackle challenges, work hard, and being committed, you will show those around you that you are a force for the company.  Keep it up, and good things will come your way.