What I Wish I Knew: Real Career Advice

When I was fifteen, starting my first job at Old Navy, I certainly didn't think my mom or dad knew anything about what it was like to work in retail or how to ask for a $0.25 raise. Looking back, I probably didn’t think they knew much about the life of a fifteen-year-old at all because… well, hormones.

Fast forward a few years to my college graduation, and I vividly remember the question that followed me everywhere: “So, what are your plans after graduation?”

As the days ticked closer to my December graduation date, that question felt heavier and heavier. I didn’t have a fancy job lined up. I had interviewed for some consulting roles but ultimately decided that path wasn’t for me. I figured banking was the right direction. What else do you do with an Economics degree if you're not heading to grad school?

I didn’t land a spot in the big bank analyst program. (Plot twist: ten years later, I ended up working at that very bank, leading the analyst program I once hoped to join!) Instead, I started my career running the help desk of a small internet bank. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a fantastic launchpad for what has become a winding, meaningful, and rewarding career. One that required many small decision points and actions that led to some pretty amazing opportunities.

Coaching vs Mentoring

Today, I coach individuals through all kinds of career moments:

From navigating first internship interviews…

To figuring out what’s next in the second or third act of their working life…

To learning how to show up more effectively in their current role…

To navigating a job search with structure and purpose.

As a coach, I am not a wisdom machine. More times than not, a coaching prospect seeks the playbook to their career moment as if it’s written in steps 1,2, and 3. I smile because it is as much, if not more, about emotional intelligence and relationship-building as it is knowing the steps.

My goal is to speak at you as little as possible and instead ask the right questions to pull out your thinking, challenge your assumptions and fears, help you confidently pick the right path for you, and partner with you to bring your plan to reality.

And yet, I believe advice has its place, like a mentor. The best advice comes from those who have gone before us. It’s like finding a set of footprints – not to step in them exactly but to use as a directional guide and make our own unique set that fits us.

So I started thinking: What’s the career advice we share with our loved ones? And what’s worth passing on?

I have so many wise colleagues and friends, so of course, I asked them to share! Here’s a curated set of my favorite real-world advice pieces from moms, dads, managers, HR managers, and academics. They easily fell into five general buckets. Enjoy!

1. Your Career Isn’t a Straight Line

“Don’t go into your first job believing it will be your last or the 'perfect job.' Use it as a learning opportunity; be a sponge—it’s a time to build credibility (and NETWORK).”

“Careers aren’t neat little ladders. They’re more like a game of Chutes and Ladders, with detours, lucky breaks, and weird left turns that turn out to matter.”

“You don’t have to know the whole plan—just the next right step.”

“It’s called work because it’s hard, but if you can find a job you enjoy more days than not, that’s a huge success.”

“Economic security isn’t everything, but it makes a lot of other good things possible. Pay the rent. Buy groceries. Call your grandma. Bliss is important—but it doesn’t have to be your job. Let it live in other parts of your life: the playlist you put on while you work, the dinner you make on a Tuesday, the community of friends you build, the Saturday morning hike.”

2. Show Up & Step Up

“Learn to take ownership of your job. Don’t just wait to be asked. If you see the next step, take it. If something needs to be done, do it.”

“Look for opportunities to grow and learn something new outside your job description. Ask those ahead of you to teach you.”

“Be humble and have a strong work ethic. Have a strong handshake and always look people in the eye.”

“Work hard, be kind, and always read the fine print before clicking ‘I agree.’”

“If you're on time, you're late.” (Editor note: I'm still working on this one every day!)

3. Stay Curious

“Learn how to communicate – with your boss, your client, your colleagues. Speak in front of crowds and at meeting tables. Pitch ideas. Listen well and ask open questions with genuine curiosity. Communication errors are often at the root of so many human issues at work (and at home, so communicate with your loved ones too).”

“Don’t feel like you must know everything once you graduate and start your new job.”

“Always be curious and ask questions.”

“Follow your passions and stay curious! If you focus on what lights you up, the right career path and money will come.”

“Find something you’re passionate about and pursue it.”

“Find a mentor.”

4. Build Your Reputation (and Relationships)

“Create value. You will be an asset, and people will want you on their team. Perhaps more importantly, you will also find joy in building something worthwhile.”

“Help others with their career journeys and connect them with folks you know. It’s a small world, and your support of someone else’s career may help you one day too.”

“Watch your social media posts.”

“Network, attend career fairs, build a polished resume and LinkedIn profile, use your university’s career center—even as an alum.”

“There’s real joy in doing something well, in being valued, in supporting yourself.”

“Be a servant leader.”

“If in doubt, bring donuts!”

“Be likeable in an authentic way. No one wants to work with a jerk, even if you are talented.”

5. Believe in Yourself

“You really are talented and have so much to offer. Don’t be afraid to shoot for roles and companies that feel a little (or a lot) scary. Put yourself out there.”

“Everyone who knows you best believes in you and sees your potential… try to see it in yourself.”

“Don’t be afraid to ask for a raise.”

“If you are a white-collar employee, then you are the machine... that’s why they call it human resources :)”

“Take action. Lots of people can talk a big game and use big words."

Final Words

And finally, here is my advice that I share with others when asked. Maybe some of you could even quote me on these!

“Growth often happens in moments of discomfort. Just like muscles strengthen through stress, exertion, and breaking, you grow when you're stretched beyond your comfort zone. When you feel like you don’t belong or fear being exposed as an impostor, it’s a sign you’re pushing your boundaries. Embrace it and you will be rewarded. Those you admire have felt the same way (and often still do).”

“You'll learn from good teachers and bad ones, from great bosses and difficult ones, from supportive friends and those who let you down. Sometimes, the most lasting and important lessons come from the hardest experiences. Use those lessons to know who you want to be (and who you don’t want to be) when you are the teacher, the boss, and the friend.”

Be Well!

Interested in learning more about coaching and building human workplaces? Send me a note at Katherine@worksproutpartners.com. I look forward to hearing from you!