There’s a lot of career advice floating about online and sometimes it’s hard to know what to actually listen to. Weeding out tips from those who have a hidden agenda is a great place to start!
To help keep you motivated and find some job-related clarity, we asked 10 career coaches and recruitment experts to pass on the best piece of career advice they’ve ever received. Here’s what they have to say:
Caroline Stokes
“I’m always learning and receiving wonderful career guidance daily to feedforward, so this was a tough question to answer. There is one comment that has always stuck with me since childhood from my grandmother, my first colleague Patsy Chapman, and then again with Chris Deering, President of Sony and even my husband. They all told me ‘You can do anything you put your mind to’. Each person had seen me tackle and win new tasks and activities, and their encouragement wrapped in former challenges and accomplishments helped me elevate my vision to take a bolder step with every career or strategic challenge.”
@theforwardco (Caroline) is an executive headhunter & coach at FORWARD
Farhan Raja
“Ensure you get credit for any good work that you do. Don’t be afraid of telling your boss or colleagues about it! You have to be your biggest cheerleader because no one else is going to do it for you (within moderation of course).”
@interviewology (aka Farhan) is the founder, career & communications coach at jobinterviewology.com
Aimee Bateman
“You don’t own your job, the company does. You own your career. You’re just borrowing your job from a business, your career is yours to keep for the next 10, 20, 30 years. It’s yours to mold, to shape in the path you want it to do so. You can’t afford to take your eye off the ball, equally, always ensure you have options. “
@Aimee_Bateman is the CEO & founder of Careercake.com
Jon Gregory
“Find the most professional company you can and hitch your career-wagon to it. I refused to follow this advice when I was young, but when I finally worked for a leading company, I realised the wisdom in those words. I discovered how much more I could learn, and how much further I could develop in a well-managed environment. Previously, I’d mostly learnt how not to do things. Useful, but slower.”
@LetsFireWalk (aka Jon) is a job hunt coach at Win-That-Job.com
James Nathan
“I have received so much great advice over time, but the overwhelming theme is that what you achieve really is up to you. The only one who is truly invested in your career is you. To be the best you need to first learn from the best and never stop learning. It is amazing what you can achieve and how much better you can become if you are open to this. The world doesn’t owe you a living, but there is a great one out there for those who want to take it.”
@JamesNathan is the Managing Director at The James Nathan Experience
Rebecca Fraser
“To follow your passion. As canny as this may seem, it was more about providing holistic guidance that whatever my passion was, look at ways that I can integrate it in to my career or have my career support my passion. It works.”
@RebeccaFraserCo is a career coach
Liz Sebag-Montefiore
“I feel very strongly about networking and believe that not enough people understand how to network effectively and strategically. My piece of career advice would be to continue to build your network, it’s about the long-term relationships and adding value. No one advances their career by knowing fewer people. Research shows that senior executives are more relaxed about taking the time to network, precisely because they know it has previously brought them more career opportunities. To me the joy of networking comes through the challenge of listening carefully, finding a common area of interest with someone you’ve never previous met and asking good questions to find that connection.“
@LizSM10Eighty is a career coach at 10Eighty
Alison Cardy
“Networking matters! Join relevant industry organizations and get to know people. Keep in touch with old colleagues and clients. Put time and attention towards building supportive relationships with great people. Aim to be helpful and to make connections. These steps will help you to get access to new ideas, resources, collaborations, and opportunities.”
@CardyCareers is a career coach and author of Career Grease: How to Get Unstuck and Pivot Your Career
Lysha Holmes
“I have to cheat and give three pieces as they are all as equally important in my opinion and neither one can be singled out. “Two ears, one mouth” – use them in this order. Learn to say “No” and walk away from business that is not right for you. Believe in your own principles and do business with those who share those values.”
@LyshaHolmes is the owner of Qui Recruitment Ltd
John Feldmann
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. No matter how good you are at your job, no one will hire you if they don’t know you exist. Network, meet as many people as possible, and make a good impression on everyone. Otherwise, don’t be surprised if someone far more sociable but less competent gets the job.”
John Feldmann is writer, blogger and content developer for Insperity Recruiting Services
