I'm at a point in my life when I think I can fairly claim to know a few things. I've had many years of work experience spanning restaurant, legal, academia, pharmaceuticals and the publishing/film industries . And th ere are things I wish I'd known So, here's a shot at bestowing some of that wisdom on upon the next generation . when I was starting out.
Reputation - people 's perceptions of you - aren't hard to create, but they're tough to change . A big part of reputation is likeability . So be cool, catch bees with honey, and for goodness sake, smile.
Keep Promises.
Having a chunky savings account can make you less afraid of change.
Don't l et others dictate where you go, they're motivations may not be aligned to yours.
Accept That You WILL Have Bad Days.
Many days you'll rush to work excited to pick up on yesterday's work, but many days you won't. Working hard can feel really good, maybe even give you a rush, but it's hard and it's work.
You might eat crow, you might get embarrassed, you might be tired, you might fail, you might be wrong, you might get fired, you might get laid off. It might not feel like it will, but I promise, it will all work out. Maybe not today, maybe not next week.
Here's the thing about people you meet through work... they're more likely to be different than you than the friends you meet at your kid's school or your neighborhood and you'll ultimately be richer with a diverse group of friends. You don't know it now, but some of them will be forever friends who can help you on those bad days and convince you that it'll all work out .
Take Feedback Seriously .
Principles are Worth More Than a Paycheck.
It's Okay to Not Know.
Learn to Tell the Good Witches from the Bad W itches .
I hope you make friends and you're likable and people answer your questions, but here's the reality: There are plenty of Bad W itches. The first step is recognizing them. The second step is believing that others will see it too, eventually. Eventually may be a long time. In the meantime...
Do a Good Job and The People Who Matter Will Notice.
You'll work for a long time , and most of that ti m e it's rewarding and fun and exciting. You'll learn and experience, maybe travel.
My wish fo r you, 20-something-Cindy, is t hat you' ll come out of this work thing smarter, savvier, financially secure, with a pack of friends and colleagu es who hold you in high regard and that one day you' ll be able t o help the next one in line.
This guest post was authored by Cindy Callaghan
Do you find yourself saying there are things I wish I'd known more often than you'd like? Tell us about them!
Ms. Career Girl was started in 2008 to help ambitious young professional women figure out who they are, what they want and how to get it.
