{"id":427748,"date":"2020-08-23T13:00:53","date_gmt":"2020-08-23T11:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=427748"},"modified":"2020-08-21T15:07:49","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T13:07:49","slug":"8-advice-tips-i-wish-id-been-given-at-the-start-of-my-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/business\/427748\/8-advice-tips-i-wish-id-been-given-at-the-start-of-my-career\/","title":{"rendered":"8 tips I wish I\u2019d been given at the start of my career"},"content":{"rendered":"

You hear the question asked a lot: \u201cWhat advice would you give to your past self?\u201d Anytime I hear this question, I end up reflecting on what I have learned, both personally and professionally, writes Jessica Pellegrini at recruitment specialist, Glassdoor.<\/p>\n

Regular self-reflection is one of the best ways to remind yourself what continues to \u201cwork\u201d while you also move forward. The start of a new year, and a new decade, is a typical time for many people to pause and reflect on where they\u2019ve been and where they hope to go.<\/p>\n

So, as we kick off the new decade, I decided to put together the top eight pieces of advice<\/a> that I wish someone had shared with me when I was starting out professionally.<\/p>\n

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1. Network More<\/strong><\/p>\n

My first piece of advice? Start getting to know your community and peers early. Connections you make can impact you ten\u2014even 20\u2014years down the road. People are the best resource to navigate career moves and strengthen your knowledge base.<\/p>\n

The good news is that it\u2019s never been easier to network. Thanks to social media, you can join a virtual community of your peers at the click of a button.<\/p>\n

Whether you engage in a LinkedIn group that\u2019s tied to your industry, take part in a live Twitter Chat, or seek out local lunch and learns and meetups, taking the first step is key. Trust me, putting yourself out there is worth it. You\u2019ll thank yourself later.<\/p>\n

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2. Be a Problem Solver, Not a Problem Identifier<\/strong><\/p>\n

We all have that one friend or colleague who tends to see the glass as half-full. They have no problem speaking up when they notice something is wrong, but they seldom have a solution to offer. Don\u2019t be that person. You add value when you come to the table with an idea.<\/p>\n

If you notice something that needs improvement, think about how to fix it instead of just pointing it out. Don\u2019t be afraid to flex those problem-solving skills early. Your peers will notice, your boss will notice, and you\u2019ll be top of mind when new projects and promotions become available.<\/p>\n

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3. Always be Prepared<\/strong><\/p>\n

This piece of advice is timeless. No matter the stage of your career, preparation is the key to success. Show up to your meetings prepared. Set aside time to research who you are meeting with and prep any materials of use for the meeting at the minimum. If you are not sure what that means for your new role, ask!<\/p>\n

Being prepared is a sign of respect. When you come to meetings, prepare, and show up on time, you communicate that you\u2019re reliable, competent, and courteous. All of these traits will serve you well throughout your career and your personal life, too.<\/p>\n

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4. Attitude Goes a Long Way<\/strong><\/p>\n

Skills are essential, yes. But so is attitude. My advice? Having a chip on your shoulder makes you stand out\u2014and not in a good way. While navigating corporate life can be difficult at times, focusing too much on corporate politics will hurt you in the long run. Be pragmatic, not pessimistic.<\/p>\n

Build others up, don\u2019t tear them down. Look for ways to build consensus, not divide.<\/p>\n

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5. Have Measurable Goals, but be Flexible<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having goals for the future is a great way to stay motivated, but don\u2019t be too hard on yourself if you don\u2019t get that promotion within a year! It takes time to understand the ins and outs of a new company. My advice is simple: if you\u2019re looking for ways to grow, then take some time to understand your business and how each person and team contributes to success.<\/p>\n

Once you understand that piece of the puzzle, you can become a more active and intentional contributor. Just be patient and remember that every company is different. What takes three months in one place may take nine months in another, and that\u2019s okay. Just stay focused on your goals and do your best work.<\/p>\n

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6. Quality Over Quantity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remember that bit of advice about having a positive attitude. There is one caveat. Having a \u201cgo-getter\u201d attitude is great, but remember that it is not possible to do it all. Don\u2019t take on too much, or the quality of your work will suffer.<\/p>\n

Time management is critical. Talk to your leadership and find the best to prioritise your projects. It\u2019s better to do a few things well than many things poorly. Quality counts.<\/p>\n

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7. Ask Lots of Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n

As you\u2019re just starting out in your career, take every chance you get to learn from others. The best way to do this is to ask questions. Your more seasoned colleagues are an invaluable resource. Tapping into the situational experiences that they have navigated can provide the best starting point.<\/p>\n

Every time I have asked the question, \u201cWhat would you do in this situation?\u201d, I have gotten fantastic advice. And asking questions shows you\u2019re curious, eager to learn, and open to feedback. Those are all good things.<\/p>\n

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8. Learn to Identify the Difference Between Ego and Confidence<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve landed your first full-time role or scored a promotion. Congratulations! You should feel confident and proud of your hard work. But you should also stay humble. Things can change fast in a corporate environment. Celebrate a job well done, but don\u2019t let your ego take over and don\u2019t become complacent.<\/p>\n

Thank your team for helping you get where you are, and continue to check in with them and find new ways to grow and improve. Every new project or challenge offers the priceless opportunity to learn, help someone else learn, and ultimately become a more well-rounded professional. Never take those opportunities for granted.<\/p>\n

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Bringing it All Together<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I launch into the new decade, I find myself working with great leadership and teams (many of whom were integral in influencing the pieces of advice this list). Though I\u2019m no longer new to my profession, I continue to learn. How about you? Ask yourself, \u201cWhat advice would I give myself starting out in my career?\u201d<\/p>\n

Share that advice with someone who could benefit.<\/p>\n

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Read: The average starting salary for graduates in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You hear the question asked a lot: \u201cWhat advice would you give to your past self?\u201d Anytime I hear this question, I end up reflecting on what I have learned, both personally and professionally, writes Jessica Pellegrini at recruitment specialist, Glassdoor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":267145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9872],"tags":[7186,26],"class_list":["post-427748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-glassdoor","tag-headline"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=427748"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":427860,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427748\/revisions\/427860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/267145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=427748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=427748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=427748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}