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10 Pieces of Career Advice for Young Professionals

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Being a young professional in the corporate world is not very easy. Everyone has their share of ups and downs, some good experiences and some bad ones. Amidst all this, one never stops. You strive towards your career path and never stop looking until you find your calling. As a young professional, it is important that you make some smart moves in the beginning of your career to gain the momentum to stay in the game and achieve success consistently in the long-term. Here are some tried and tested pieces of career advice that will really help you get started towards the right path to achieve success in your career.

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Image Courtesy: Economic Times
  1. Create a stunning resume:

Resume is the very first thing that the recruiters see and good resume helps create a positive impression of the candidate. This is the document where you have to showcase your best self for the job in a very concise manner, and this needs to be very impressive. Resume building is not just for newbies to the professional world, even people who are in the corporate world for a longer period of time should timely update the resume with their achievements or other upskills. “Pitching yourself”, especially for the young professional, is an important aspect of corporate life and an impressive resume will build a path to do the same.

  1. Make a great first impression in the interview:

The first impression in an interview is a vital part for everyone, especially for young professionals venturing into the corporate world. This place is where the interviewer gets to judge the candidate and sees his/her fit with the job role. Not just that, even the interviewee gets an opportunity to know about the company, the people in it, and if the job role is what they signed up for. Be properly prepared for such interviews and be confident with your answers. It’s a 2-way street where both the parties involved need to make a connection and strive for their own value-addition.

  1. Think about your goals:

One should have a clear goal as to where they see themselves in 5 years or 10 years. You should have clarity about the long benefits of your job and accordingly, map out a plan for your future. This should be done in accordance with the current advancement in technology, market trends, and other variables that affects the job field. This mapped-out plan should be an incentive to boost your professional growth, acquire skillsets required to stick to the plan, and ultimately figure out what works best for your career prospects as you have seen for yourself.

  1. Build your network:

The importance of networking in the corporate world can’t be stressed enough. It is necessary to surround yourself with people who have the knowledge and standing from whom you can learn and foster a positive attitude. It is as important as to find advocates within the company as it is to find such people outside of the company. It is always a good idea to network with noteworthy people within the industry. This could help you in the future if/when you are looking for referrals, sponsors, etc. This kind of contacts can be made at company functions/retreats, or online through websites like LinkedIn.

  1. Venture outside your comfort zone:

There could be certain work that aren’t your strong suit. But this shouldn’t be a hindrance to your personal growth. You should always accept challenging roles. It gives us an opportunity to test our skills, understand what we lack and work on our shortcomings. Taking up difficult tasks could increase your credibility, expose us to new things, and help in honing your skillset. And you never know, such a challenging task might just surprise you, open up an entire world of opportunity you didn’t know about, and you’d actually end up liking it.

  1. Never stop learning:

The stage of the career path is not an indicator of how much one can still learn. Knowledge is the most powerful tool at one’s disposal. This is just to point out that learning never stops. It should never stop. There’s a vast ocean of knowledge and one should continue seeking it. This gives you a perspective, an improved way of approaching a problem, and looking at things differently. With continuous learning, you become flexible in your approach, more adaptive towards your surroundings, and gain new or improved skills. The hunger to learn is very well appreciated in the corporate world.

  1. Be a team player:

To maintain a certain dynamic with your peers, you should be a team player. This not only helps in the improvement of your work but also helps in fostering good relationships with people within the company. If you wish to be a successful leader in your future, teamwork is the most sought-after ability. You gain trust and respect from your teammates. It makes your work easier and more efficient. Helping people and getting help from your peers is part of your job description. You doing well encourages others to do the same and ultimately, everyone benefits from it all.

  1. Find a mentor & be a mentor:

While starting out your professional career, it is necessary to have a mentor to guide you through this world. You seek advice from your mentor, clarify any queries you have, and ask for help when stuck. Young professionals are always looking for career advice, and who is better for it than a mentor. Mentors share their insights from their vast experience to help you understand the bigger picture. They could also help in your networking as well. Having a mentor aids a lot during the initial phases of your career. When the time comes, you should also mentor youngsters to help them find the right path.

  1. Welcome feedback:

It is rightly said that one learns from their mistakes. Never be scared of feedback, rather welcome it. Positive feedback gives you confidence which is reflected in your work and your attitude. Criticism paves a way to improve yourselves. You realize what was wrong with your understanding, you rectify your mistake, and strive for a better outcome. You develop skills and learn from your shortcomings. Failure tells you what doesn’t work; you absorb it and grow from there.

  1. Figure out what you don’t like at work:

After some time in the company, you realize what works for you and what is it that you don’t like to work on. You figure out what you want to be and what needs to be done to achieve that goal- as yourself- if your current position facilitates the growth you wish for or keeps you down. The job shouldn’t just be a source of a paycheck. If this is something you aren’t passionate about, you should change your career path. Hash out the plans, set smaller goals, and work towards them. Once you understand what you don’t like, it becomes easy to filter out what it is you’d enjoy working on.

 

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