Single best piece of career advice you ever received?

[Anonymous]

First Year Contracts Professor: “If you want to be an ethical lawyer, associate with ethical lawyers.”

[Anonymous]

All good advice that I think applies at different points in ones career:

- “Always make your boss look good.” Almost always applies, but especially in the earlier years.

- “If you aren’t being valued, leave.” Especially applies later in career, after the first few years of grunge work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perception is often more important than reality.

This is SO SO SO SO true.

Agree and this is what I tell new employees. I mistakenly thought being a team player and producing quality work was important, but advocating for yourself and projecting confidence is what will get you promoted. Don’t do the grunt work, you won’t be rewarded for that.

this is true

[Anonymous]

I find it really interested how these comments fall into two very opposing buckets, but really are different sides of the same coin: First, advice that comes from the position that your employer/workplace is always trying to screw you over, and second, advice that comes from the position that the workplace is a game to be won with good strategy.

In the first bucket are the comments that HR Is not your friend, and that "perception, not hard work" is everything, and they're just going to like the "cool" worker who doesn't work hard. And then there is the bucket of advice of "don't whine to anyone", and essentially "become the cool worker who works smart, not hard".

But it's interesting because the advice in the first bucket was presented on here as essentially "glass half empty" - like, "so long as you know the workplace sucks, you can keep your head up and muddle through". While the second bucket advice was presented as "glass half full" - like, "Here's how to succeed".

But it's the same advice, different side of the coin: One is "don't trust HR because they suck" while the flip side is "Be no-drama and you'll be liked". Another is "working hard isn't going to get you anywhere" while the flip side is "working smart will let you rise above the hard working grunts".

So basically the same piece of advice over and over, but one side sees it as "here's why the workplace sucks" and the other side sees it as "here's how to get ahead". I wonder if the perspectives come from experience, personality, outlook, etc. I'm assuming a bit of all that.

[Anonymous]

It also probably varies due to the role, level and type of experience, industry and size of company.

[Anonymous]

You dont get what you dont ask for.

I am awed by the fact that 95% of my kids peers have no concept of how to advocate for themselves. I am raising negotiators who know and can show their worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have connections things that can take some people days or weeks can take you a few hours.

I recall I once got asked to write a 40 page department policy at Citigroup. I had the exact policy in my laptop from my prior company, did find and replace in company makes, cut and paste into citi format in like one hour, spent a few hours customizing and was done in time for happy hour. Trouble is now boss thinks it can be done that quick

And accordingly one piece of advice I've sometimes gotten is to not make some things look too easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have connections things that can take some people days or weeks can take you a few hours.

I recall I once got asked to write a 40 page department policy at Citigroup. I had the exact policy in my laptop from my prior company, did find and replace in company makes, cut and paste into citi format in like one hour, spent a few hours customizing and was done in time for happy hour. Trouble is now boss thinks it can be done that quick

And accordingly one piece of advice I've sometimes gotten is to not make some things look too easy.

+1

[Anonymous]

NEVER seek to get someone fired no matter how much you think they deserve it. It will backfire.

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking your job as only as good as your direct supervisor. If you don’t get along start looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generally speaking your job as only as good as your direct supervisor. If you don’t get along start looking.

or alternatively network above or around your boss (half full vs PP half empty)

[Anonymous]

Sponsorship at work is far more important than mentorship.

[Anonymous]

Never quit your job right after maternity leave. Try to hang in there at least a year to see how you adjust and to let your hormones settle, and then evaluate with a clearer mind if quitting is really what you want.

I did this early in my career, and in hindsight wish I had just pushed through it instead of making a rush decision in the midst of new mom fatigue.

[Anonymous]

Toot your own horn. I'm female and this has been the hardest thing I have to do. Somehow I always think people will just recognize me on my own, but unless I openly brag, no one notices. I think men are much better at this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Toot your own horn. I'm female and this has been the hardest thing I have to do. Somehow I always think people will just recognize me on my own, but unless I openly brag, no one notices. I think men are much better at this.

Yes! A woman boss stopped me early in my career when she praised me and I kept saying “oh it’s nbd.” She said,”don’t belittle yourself. Say ‘
Thank you’ and take the praise and own it.” I have never forgotten that.