“Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” - Bill Nye, the Science Guy
This week we reached out to all of our professional staff members and asked them what was some of the best career advice they had ever received. We want to pass on the advice and wisdom that others passed to us first:
Candace Phillips - “Don't spend all your time chasing money; money isn't the lone indicator of success. Job satisfaction and a healthy work/life balance are so much more important. It kinda ties into this: ‘Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.’ - Steve Jobs.”
Brittney Scott - “During my sophomore year of college I was struggling to choose a career path. One of my supervisors suggested I should pursue a career I was passionate about. However, another supervisor told me I should pursue a career that could financially support the lifestyle I wanted for myself. I thought both supervisors had valid points, so I decided to take both of their advice and pursued a career path I knew I could find joy in but also still realistically support myself. In my opinion the best advice comes from multiple people when you are able to combine more than just one perspective.”
Christopher Smith - “The things that excite you are not random. They are connected to your purpose. Follow them. Picking a career, while important, isn’t a final decision. It’s okay to change your mind along the way and decide you want to try something different.”
Sumer Swaim - “The best career advice that I have received was to push myself beyond my boundaries, reach for the impossible, and not stop moving forward. We are all MORE than a piece a paper, and it's all about how we present ourselves, and if we do that well, and build a strong network, the impossible can be achieved. With all that being said, don't stop moving forward until you have achieved all that you desire, the world is your oyster.”
Laura Taylor - “As a graduate with a liberal arts degree the best advice I received was to learn how to market the skills I gained in college to meet the needs of employers. With a liberal arts degree there isn't always as clear of a path from degree to career like there is with STEM fields. Instead, I learned from my professors to broaden my job search to focus on my interests and transferable skills and highlight how those would be an asset to a future employer in any type of industry.”
In your pursuit of a professional career, don’t be afraid to reach out to those who are more experienced in life. There is a lot of wisdom to gain from those who have done more than we have. We hope that you found some wisdom in this secondhand advice.
