Single best piece of career advice you ever received?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s generally about fit, connections, and pedigree, rarely about merit or skill.

Most of us won’t live the American dream and move up a class from our parents without some extraordinary good fortune — just not a thing for the average striver.

This is so true, unfortunately.

I generally agree, but would add luck/timing as well, and caveat that you don't need all four at once. I have zero pedigree, pretty good connections that I developed (no family connections), pretty good fit (I know how to get along with most people but also don't suffer fools), but have been extrmely lucky/had good timing.

Did you grow up poor?

[Anonymous]

If you get fired for doing the right thing there will be three jobs waiting for you. Get fired for doing wrong thing you may never get a new job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the person who responded yes to Perception being more important than reality.

I work for a large organization that is full of office politics. In that environment, being competent and doing your job well is table stakes. What matters most for promotions is being the favorite of the senior executives and politics. There are all kinds of calculations that go into what that entails, but it's not about how hard you work or a meritocracy at all.

Just be aware that you can be a good, hard worker but if you aren't the SVPs's best buddy or seen as a cool person (let's face it, guy most of the time), it is challenging to succeed.

For women, the grunt work often turns into being saddled with all the "unpromotable tasks".

Meh, this is just another way of saying "work smart, not hard". The people you describe as succeeding may be the SVP's favorite - but they didn't get that way by being incompetent. They maybe also didn't get that way by working grueling hours and being technically the 'best' at their job. But they probably did become a favorite because they craft emails that are perfectly usable by the SVPs, they tee up information in the most user friendly way, they have solutions and not just problems. Again, maybe not the best, hardest worker. But favorites tend to have made themselves valuable to their bosses.

[Anonymous]

Everything you're describing is completely subjective. That's why it's part of office politics. If you are perceived as a "leader" you will be one, regardless of if you are one. The problem is, what goes into that perception is sometimes all these unconscious biases and other noise about exposure to projects, friends of friends, etc. That's why perception is what counts, even if it's not fair or you're objectively a harder worker.

[Anonymous]

Always keep an updated resume ready to send out. Even if you are not job searching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep IT on your good side. Always reboot your computer and try to solve issues yourself before you contact them. They also like snacks.

1000%

[Anonymous]

Don't be late.

[Anonymous]

Negotiate the most money upfront. Harder to get raises down the line.

[Anonymous]

HR is NOT your friend. Do not take any issue or concern or question to them. Ever. Never.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

So I need to dress like Ina Garten's husband?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everything you're describing is completely subjective. That's why it's part of office politics. If you are perceived as a "leader" you will be one, regardless of if you are one. The problem is, what goes into that perception is sometimes all these unconscious biases and other noise about exposure to projects, friends of friends, etc. That's why perception is what counts, even if it's not fair or you're objectively a harder worker.

Agreed. The additional challenge with this is that you have to periodically check in with yourself to make sure you're still being who you really are and haven't become an appearances-only bullsh*t artist. That's a high price to pay for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HR is NOT your friend. Do not take any issue or concern or question to them. Ever. Never.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Never burn a bridge. You will continue to run into/work with the same people in your industry for years.

[Anonymous]

You cannot come out ahead of you have a horrible boss. Best is to find another job.