If you could go back in time; what advice would you give yourself, as a fresh graduate (high school or university) about being in the workforce?
CTO in Software, 51 - 200 employees
Be patient and learn from other experiencesSVP of Partner & Business Development in Software, 201 - 500 employees
Chase the things you’re passionate about. Have some fun and ‘wonder’ in your work so it feels less like work. It’s something the younger generations do far better than those of us that have been around the block a few more times.President and National Managing Principal in Software, 501 - 1,000 employees
Try new things and don’t overthink what you are doing for that first job. Your career hasn’t begun to be defined yet. You have tons of opportunity to invent and reinvent yourself. Have fun!CTO in Healthcare and Biotech, 11 - 50 employees
Keep learning constantly, even at times when it seems there is no new knowledge to be learnedCMO in Software, 51 - 200 employees
Experiment and learn non-stop, get firsthand info from practice and don't be afraid to do monkey job - that will help you know the basics. Look for something you can learn in every executive, but once you become a manager, be The manager you'd want to work under. VP of Supply Chain in Transportation, 1,001 - 5,000 employees
Love this question. I have breached this question a few times when it has been posed to me on a podcast or during speaking engagements with college students in supply chain. My answer is:1. Learn to fail early and often, and not be fearful of failure.
2. Never become imprisoned by one company or organization.
3. Do what you are passionate about, even if it is not popular.
4. Never stop learning.
5. Find a good mentor who is willing to invest in your development.
6. No job is perfect, suck it up and tackle the challenging jobs/roles.
Director of Marketing, Self-employed
Work across a wide variety of roles early in your career.VP of Marketing in Services (non-Government), 5,001 - 10,000 employees
I would agree with that with one caveat/disclaimer: "but only for roles you know you'd enjoy the day-to-day enough to be excited/motivated to excel".
I've seen too many people trying things to get the checkbox on their perfect resume, until they end up in a job they don't like, so they underperform, and from there get set back several years.
VP of Engineering, Self-employed
Be CuriousCIO, Self-employed
Get a summer job at a new company no one has heard of up in Washington state. I think it's called Micro somethingContent you might like
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347 PARTICIPANTS
CTO in Software, 201 - 500 employees
Without a doubt - Technical Debt! It's a ball and chain that creates an ever increasing drag on any organization, stifles innovation, and prevents transformation.HR Manager in Government, Self-employed
I use Promotions / Average Headcount. We do not have clearly defined policies for determining when someone is eligible for a promotion, making the second metric difficult/impossible to calculate.
2. Networking is essential: Building connections can open doors
3. Develop soft skills: Technical skills are important, but so are soft skills
4. Don't be afraid to ask questions: Asking questions is a sign of curiosity and eagerness to learn.
5. Be patient: Success doesn't happen overnight
6. Find a mentor: Having someone experienced to guide and support you can make a significant difference in your career
7. Continuously update your skills: The job market is ever-changing
8. Embrace failure: Failure is a part of life and can often teach us valuable lessons.
Totally agree, and to round it up I'd add:
9) Don't assume others know what you know/learned. Even if they're more senior
10) Spend the time to learn, think, plan, set-up templates. This will pay back 10x later on.