For those who "made it" career wise, what is your advice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three pieces of advice that I think are applicable to all (most?) career tracks:

1. Recognize that *you* brings specific skills to the table. You have specific value. You do not need to be like everyone else to be successful, you need to be the best version of you that you can be. Focus on your strengths and work towards constantly improving in those areas. Don’t ignore your weak areas, but do understand that you will never be able to improve on your weaknesses as much as you can bolster your strengths.

2. Understand that it’s okay to say “let me consider some options and get back to you” or “I’m not completely sure about that, let me confirm and follow up” and then actually follow up. Almost every powerful person I have ever worked with would much rather have someone quiet that they can trust to be accurate and dependable than some blowhard who always has a quick response.

3. Network. Every job I’ve had since my first I got because I knew someone. Build and maintain your network as if it’s part of your job.

As a lawyer who has also been on the client side, I agree with two. Sometimes calls are about starting the convo. Take a list of questions you need to answer. At the end of the call, send a follow up: “I will get back to you on these outstanding questions: ABC. If you have additional questions, please let me know.” Then reply all to the email once you’ve figured things out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a relatively junior in-house corporate lawyer at a large company. I want to be promoted to a higher level in the next few years (i.e. a more managerial level where your income increases a lot), but I struggle with confidence about whether I am "good" enough. I think I'm smart and can do the work on paper, but what I lack confidence in are my oral communication skills. I've never been one of those people who can hop ona group call and confidently offer unique viewpoints, or go on and on about my "opinion" about a complex issue. A lot of the time, I prep extensively for calls and think about what I'm going to say beforehand. I think I sound smart and confident when I prep, but I don't function as well when I have to think of things to say on the spot and I tend to stay quiet unless I feel like I have something to offer. Also, I'm not really a social butterfly who can comfortably chat up the higher ups in my group in a way that really gets them to like me or want to advocate for me. As in I will do it if I need to, but it doesn't come easily to me.

It makes me feel kind of down because I went to good schools, got good grades, got good jobs, did all the right stuff. I just don't know if I have it in me to get to the next level in my career.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

What makes you think that your behavior is not good? What makes you think it is a problem? What makes you think it is hindering your career growth? Have you been told at work that this is your weakness?
I’m here to tell you that this is your strength. Be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you are not.

It looks like you are very smart and very effective when you have time to process information before coming with answers and solutions. If your a answers and solutions are top notch, this is a great skill to have. Believe me, people will notice.
There is one coworker on my team like this. We know he always has great input but at meetings he would always mostly listen and not say a word. So, we wait and at the end of the meeting someone would say: What do you think John, you haven’t said anything. He would start talking and it often makes so much sense that we say: why didn’t we think about it?
He is our go to person for difficult problems and he is an invaluable coworker.

I don’t know in what field you are. I don’t know your career aspirations. But keep in mind that people with your personality will struggle in role that requires quick thinking and decisions on the spot. Find a spot for career growth that fits your personality and you’ll be happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Confidence. Believe that you deserve things, ask for the things that you deserve (if they are important to you).

Take ownership in your career. Be planning ahead. Make strategic decisions.

Make your boss's life easier, not harder. Don't whine, don't complain - it will never fix anything. Anticipate what your boss's boss wants from them -- and everything you do should be in service of that goal.

Have a high earning spouse. It takes tremendous professional pressure off. Both DH and I have been able to take dramatic risks in our jobs, knowing that we had the other as financial back up if something went wrong. Those risks were what made our careers. We are both now mid-40s, each have salaries close to seven figures, and work full time remotely, with good work life balance, in jobs we both find very satisfying.

All of this was true for me, too. Especially the having a cushion part. It doesn’t have to be as significant as “make sure you have a high earner spouse,” but if you have enough cash saved to cover a year or more of expenses, you really can take some risks and that’s when things get interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three pieces of advice that I think are applicable to all (most?) career tracks:

1. Recognize that *you* brings specific skills to the table. You have specific value. You do not need to be like everyone else to be successful, you need to be the best version of you that you can be. Focus on your strengths and work towards constantly improving in those areas. Don’t ignore your weak areas, but do understand that you will never be able to improve on your weaknesses as much as you can bolster your strengths.

2. Understand that it’s okay to say “let me consider some options and get back to you” or “I’m not completely sure about that, let me confirm and follow up” and then actually follow up. Almost every powerful person I have ever worked with would much rather have someone quiet that they can trust to be accurate and dependable than some blowhard who always has a quick response.

3. Network. Every job I’ve had since my first I got because I knew someone. Build and maintain your network as if it’s part of your job.

Those are fabulous advices. Thank you!

If you (or anyone) have tips on how to network, that'll be greatly appreciated too.

[Anonymous]

You are good enough. Most people have imposter syndrome regardless of their success

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three pieces of advice that I think are applicable to all (most?) career tracks:

1. Recognize that *you* brings specific skills to the table. You have specific value. You do not need to be like everyone else to be successful, you need to be the best version of you that you can be. Focus on your strengths and work towards constantly improving in those areas. Don’t ignore your weak areas, but do understand that you will never be able to improve on your weaknesses as much as you can bolster your strengths.

2. Understand that it’s okay to say “let me consider some options and get back to you” or “I’m not completely sure about that, let me confirm and follow up” and then actually follow up. Almost every powerful person I have ever worked with would much rather have someone quiet that they can trust to be accurate and dependable than some blowhard who always has a quick response.

3. Network. Every job I’ve had since my first I got because I knew someone. Build and maintain your network as if it’s part of your job.

Those are fabulous advices. Thank you!

If you (or anyone) have tips on how to network, that'll be greatly appreciated too.

I am the original poster of the 3 pieces of advice and just randomly saw this had been revived.

The networking question is a good one. I find networking to be really hard - I hate asking people to talk to me/do things for me. But I did not network when I was starting out and when it came time to make my first big job switch I had no idea how to do it. Building my first network was long and painful, so every time it would be easier to let my network lapse, I remind myself how much work it was to build! Start by asking someone you respect out for coffee. Ask them about themselves, how the got into their field, how they knew what they wanted to do, what they are most energized by, what challenges them the most. This seems weird, but I promise - people love to share their stories and pass on wisdom. At the end of the meeting, ask if they would be willing to connect you with someone else who (fill in the blank). They will. And then repeat with that person.

Ways to keep it going: be sure to send thank you emails after meetings. Follow up a few times a year with an article you think they’d find interesting or an introduction to someone you think could benefit their network or an invitation to a work event (happy hour, etc.). And pay it forward.