Without asking, parents, family, neighbors and everyone else will offer young adults their unsolicited opinions and advice about their job search and career. They mean well. Unfortunately, although their intentions are honorable, their guidance is sometimes questionable. Here is some contrarian takes on what people starting their careers should do. Be prepared; your parents and relatives may disagree.
Starting your career can be an exciting yet daunting time As a young professional, you likely have big dreams and aspirations, but may not know quite how to get there
Having a solid career plan and seeking advice from others can help ensure you’re on the right track. Whether you’ve just graduated college or are starting a new job use this career advice guide to set yourself up for success.
Define Your Goals
Before doing anything else, take some time to think about your ideal career path. Consider:
- What type of work you find meaningful and enjoyable
- Your interests, values, skills and personality traits
- The work environment and culture you thrive in
- The lifestyle you envision for yourself
Getting clear on your goals and priorities is key. This allows you to pursue opportunities that are the best fit and make intentional career moves.
Be open to exploring new paths as you gain experience. But have an end vision in mind to work towards.
Build Your Skills
Next, identify the hard and soft skills needed for your chosen field. Look at job postings to see what qualifications are in demand.
Some skills to consider developing include:
Technical/job-specific skills: The specialized skills for your particular role—coding, accounting, healthcare services, etc. Seek formal education or training in these areas if needed.
Communication skills: Written and verbal communication skills are valued in any industry. Take a class or practice explaining complex topics simply and clearly.
People skills: Almost all jobs require collaborating with others. Brush up on your active listening, empathy and conflict resolution abilities.
Digital literacy: Become proficient with job search and productivity platforms like LinkedIn, Google Workspace and project management tools.
Business skills: Understand basics like budgeting, data analysis, sales and marketing—even if your role is more creative or technical.
Leadership skills: Look for opportunities to demonstrate leadership abilities such as public speaking, decision making and motivating others.
Continuously build your skills throughout your career. Stay current on the latest software, methods, and best practices in your field.
Grow Your Network
Networking may sound intimidating. But simply put, it’s about introducing yourself to people and building relationships.
These connections are invaluable for landing jobs, discovering new opportunities and getting career advice.
Ways to expand your network include:
-
Attending conferences and events: Get out from behind your computer screen! Conferences let you meet many like-minded professionals at once.
-
Joining professional associations: Look for associations focused on your industry, role or geographic location. Most have local meetup events.
-
Connecting on LinkedIn: Don’t let your LinkedIn connections sit idle! Regularly engage with your network by commenting on posts, sharing content and sending messages.
-
Informational interviews: Request 15-30 minutes of someone’s time to pick their brain about their career path. People are often flattered to share advice.
-
Alumni networks: Fellow graduates can relate to your experience and are eager to help. Use your alumni directory to connect.
-
Colleagues and supervisors: Build rapport with those you interact with regularly. You never know who might share an opportunity.
Treat networking as a lifelong practice. Nurture your connections by regularly staying in touch and sharing valuable information.
Gain Work Experience
There’s no better teacher than hands-on work experience. Seek out opportunities that expose you to the realities of your desired career:
-
Internships: Internships allow you to gain practical experience and audition a company or field while in school.
-
Entry-level jobs: Taking an entry-level or associate role helps you get your foot in the door and start building hard skills.
-
Side hustles: Freelancing, contract work and side gigs are a great way to gain broader experience and build technical skills.
-
Volunteering: Donate your time and talent to causes important to you. Nonprofit and community work looks great on a resume.
-
Informational interviews: As mentioned, most professionals are happy to share career advice over coffee or a video call.
-
Job shadowing: Ask to shadow someone in your target role for a day or a few hours to observe their work.
-
Leadership programs: Apply for a rotational or development program at a company you admire. These often fast-track your learning.
Try out different work settings and roles to clarify your preferences. Pay attention to aspects you find motivating.
Choose a Mentor
Finding an experienced mentor can supercharge your career growth. Mentors provide insider knowledge, act as champions and offer unbiased guidance.
Look for mentors who:
- Have 5-10+ years of experience in your field
- Hold roles you aspire towards
- Offer thoughtful advice and invest time in your growth
- Introduce you to their network
- Provide honest, constructive feedback
A mentor is not a buddy, but someone who challenges you. Be clear on your goals for the relationship and schedule regular check-ins.
If your company has a formal mentoring program, take full advantage. If not, identify potential mentors through your network. Send a customized invite explaining why you admire them.
Research the Job Market
Beyond building your skills, it’s critical to understand the current realities of the job market:
-
Growth projections: What fields and roles are expected to grow in the coming years? Focus your efforts on in-demand career paths.
-
Hiring trends: On LinkedIn and other sites, look for patterns in educational backgrounds, skills and titles for the jobs you want.
-
Salary ranges: Use resources like Glassdoor and Payscale to benchmark salaries for possible roles in your city. Consider the cost of living.
-
Competitive landscape: Who are the major players and emerging startups in your industry? Familiarize yourself with key companies.
-
Location hotspots: Some cities and regions offer more extensive opportunities depending on your specialty. Be open to relocating if needed.
Stay up to date by setting Google alerts for your target job titles and companies. Check job boards regularly to observe trends.
Polish Your Online Presence
In today’s digital world, your online presence matters. Be sure yours aligns with your goals:
-
Google yourself: Do the first pages of Google results for your name showcase your best self? Bury unflattering results with new content.
-
Update your LinkedIn profile: Showcase relevant skills, volunteer work and big projects. Get endorsements from colleagues.
-
Clean up social media: Delete old questionable photos and posts. Adjust privacy settings. Let your interests and personality shine through.
-
Start a website or blog: Use a portfolio site to highlight impressive class and work projects. Blog to share your expertise.
-
Watch tone: Don’t vent about work or post anything too personal. Assume employers will see it.
Google your name regularly to monitor and improve your online reputation. Leverage the internet to demonstrate your abilities.
Ace the Job Search
When you’re ready to apply for new roles, stick to smart job search strategies:
-
Customize your resume: Tweak your resume for each application using keywords from the job description. Emphasize relevant accomplishments.
-
Write strong cover letters: Address the hiring manager directly. Explain why you’re an excellent fit for this specific role.
-
Prepare for interviews: Rehearse your elevator pitch and practice answering common questions aloud. Review your qualifications for the role.
-
Follow up promptly: After applying or interviewing, follow up within a week to reiterate your interest and fit. Send a thoughtful thank you note.
-
Negotiate salary: Research typical pay for the role and location. Give a reasonable salary range based on your experience level.
-
Evaluate job offers: Don’t just accept the first offer. Compare the full compensation package and growth potential.
-
Keep applying: Until you accept an offer, keep applying and interviewing. Avoid desperation by exploring multiple promising options.
With persistence and a strategic approach, you can land the perfect role to launch your career.
Switch Jobs Strategically
As you gain experience, you may feel ready to make a career switch. First consider:
-
Why leave? Determine if the issues are specific to your company or field. Don’t make a lateral move to escape a bad boss.
-
Career goals: Will this move align with your overall career vision and progress you towards your goals?
-
Skills gap: Do you have the qualifications and track record to make this leap? Bridge key skill gaps first.
-
Job market: What are the job prospects and salary ranges for the new role/field? Is there growing demand?
-
Value proposition: How will you convince hiring managers that you’re a competitive applicant despite being new to the field?
-
Timing: Avoid switching roles during a probation period or before a big project wraps up. Give proper notice.
-
Networking: Use your existing network and start building connections in your target field. Look for
_2.png)
Switch Jobs When It’s Right
Baby Boomers and older Gen-Xers were taught to take a job and stay with the company for an extended period. Your parents will brag that they worked at the same place for over 20 years. For both generations, if someone left their position only after a couple of years, they’d be derided as a “job hopper.”
It’s different now. If you feel that youre not learning, growing and advancing, ask for a conversation with your direct manager to find out what plans they have for your future within the firm. If you are unsatisfied, it is perfectly acceptable to start searching for a new job.
The next role should offer better opportunities for growth and development, more money, a higher title and a sense of purpose and meaning with a firm that shares your values. This doesn’t mean you should incessantly switch jobs, as it could work against you. If you move too often, interviewers may become leery over why you can’t keep a job. Make sure that the reasons for quitting are valid and thought through.
At each new company, you want to cultivate a mutually beneficial network of people who can continually help with your career objectives. Reciprocate with advice and guidance when asked by others within your network. You’ll continue learning new technologies, gaining additional skills and progressing toward your long-term goals.
Stand Up For Yourself
Just because you haven’t been in the workplace for a “hot minute” doesn’t mean you can’t advocate for yourself. You’re in an awkward position. Almost everyone around you is older and you don’t want to make waves. Conflict is uncomfortable. You’ll have to get accustomed to talking with senior-level people to succeed in your career.
Before you speak up, get a lay of the land. You want to find out which folks are important and can make things happen and those who couldn’t care less about your situation. Feel out the vibe of who would be a strong ally, mentor and champion of your causes.
No one else will do it for you, if you don’t ask for a raise, lateral transfer or better assignments. Don’t use a combative or accusatory tone when you speak up. Think of how you’d like your boss to talk to you and use that demeanor.
Over time, you will feel comfortable speaking with managers. People will notice you and the cutting-edge, career-making assignments will be offered. The more you speak up, the greater your visibility becomes. MORE FROM
Pace yourself. In large bureaucratic organizations, its hard to enact change. Dont think they were dismissed if action isn’t immediately taken upon your requests, ideas and suggestions. Usually, an internal hierarchy needs to be considered and a review of new policies and programs. Politely follow-up to track the progress.
10 Career Tips for Young Professionals | Career Advice
FAQ
What is the best career for a young person?
|
Rank
|
Careers
|
|
1
|
Doctor
|
|
2
|
Engineer
|
|
3
|
Teacher
|
|
4
|
Lawyer
|
What is career advice for young professionals?
Career advice during this stage of your life could enable you to refine your processes and make wiser, more future-oriented decisions. In this article, we share 11 pieces of career advice for young professionals that may help you grow your network, advance in your career and build your skill set.
What are the best career tips for young professionals?
Here are our top career tips for young professionals. 1. Build a Healthy Daily Routine Establishing healthy habits at home now will save you a lot of struggle down the road. It turns out there’s a lot of wisdom in the old adage “early to bed, early to rise.”
How do I become a successful young professional?
There is no secret formula to becoming a successful young professional, but there are certainly things you can do to head in the right direction. Those are actions we focus on in these 10 workplace tips for young professionals. 1. Early Career Professionals Don’t (and Shouldn’t) Know Everything
What do you do if you’re a young professional?
Cultivate it. Cherish it. Believe in it. And believe in yourself. The world truly is your oyster, and being a young professional only means the best is yet to come. Lexi is the founder of HerTrack.com, where she also writes and edits. She is also a speaker and Director of Audience Development for Allure Magazine.
