Forty-Six of the Best Pieces of Career Advice To Help You Grow
Genevieve Northup, MBA, SHRM-CP, HCI-SPTD
Indeed Career Guide (2023, 5, 22 Updated)
Developing your desired career takes time, patience, and training, and keeping a positive mindset is important. Whether you’re at the beginning of your career or have been in your industry for years, there are always opportunities for growth and improvement. Reading career advice could help you build effective habits and make a plan to advance in your field.
In this article, we provide our 46 best pieces of career advice to motivate you when pursuing your long-term career goals.
46 best pieces of career advice to help you grow
Here are our best pieces of career advice to help you reach your goals:
1. Venture outside your comfort zone
When you try new things, you prepare yourself for your next role. You may consider taking on new and difficult tasks that initially feel uncomfortable. Embrace upskilling, which is the process of building more advanced skills for your role, and reskilling, which is the process of learning new skills to pursue a different role. You can pursue challenging new skills by volunteering for leadership responsibilities and working cross-functionally with different departments at work.
2. Meet new people
It’s best to view each person as valuable and worthy of your time and consideration. Opportunities, referrals and growth can come from unexpected places. For example, if you’re working a temp job outside your field, the relationships you build with colleagues could lead to a referral to a permanent role more aligned with your goals.
3. Show up early
Even if you become jaded in your position, do your best to show up early and be ready to complete your assigned tasks. Employers may appreciate and notice your effort, and you might continue to stay on good terms if you display your eagerness to work by showing up early.
4. Become a lifelong learner
You can continue to learn no matter what stage of your career you are in. When you learn continuously, you can gain more skills and become flexible and adaptable in your career path. Possessing a willingness to learn is an attribute that many people value in today’s workforce. Attend any professional development events and training sessions your employer may host.
5. Check in with your career path once per year
About once a year, refresh your network, study new opportunities and conduct salary comparisons. It’s easier to make strategic career decisions when you have real data to compare to the benefits of your current job.
You may also consider sharpening your knowledge of new industry trends each year to remain competitive in the job market in case you ever decide to leave your current workplace. It’s also a good time to conduct informational interviews with people you admire and review your career development plan to ensure you’re pursuing your goals.
6. Search for the value in feedback or criticism
Each piece of feedback you receive can help you grow and further develop in your career. Rather than focusing on the delivery method or the person providing you with the feedback, do your best to manage your emotions, take the value out of the message you are receiving and move on. Feedback is a critical part of growth.
7. Cultivate perseverance
It may take some time to become a top performer in your job. It’s important that you continue to persevere and develop to reach your career goals. For instance, if you’re a writer and an editor continuously rejects your pitches, try refining and developing your ideas before presenting them to the same editor or a different one.
8. Keep your promises
It’s essential that you match your words with your actions, and employers appreciate dependable employees they can trust. If you tell your leader you can finish a project by a certain date, then taking the necessary steps to finish the project accordingly is essential. Relationships are essential to any business, and trust is a key component. Once you become accountable, you might notice that you attract people who are also dependable.
9. Ask the important questions
Many successful professionals have become successful because they ask important questions. Maintain a curious disposition and ask questions in all professional environments. Asking questions can build your knowledge and contribute to your learning process and development. You may also consider asking questions about things outside your job title if you think it could help you better understand your organization as a whole.
10. Speak up
Many employers appreciate employees sharing their thoughts and ideas on important topics affecting the business. Try to get comfortable sharing your convictions with leadership when it’s appropriate. Learning to express your opinions in a professional way with accurate data to back up your claims can help you make a positive impact on your workplace.
You may also request a personal meeting with a manager to discuss a sensitive matter or ask for advice. When you participate and speak up, employers may notice that you care about your job and take it seriously.
11. Develop a work wardrobe that suits you
Each workplace has a different dress code, and many environments allow you to express yourself through your style. Slowly crafting a wardrobe of options that help you feel confident, poised and comfortable may help you excel at work, especially when giving presentations or meeting new people. The clothes and accessories you choose may reflect your dedication to your job and allow you to express elements of your personality, background, and goals to your teammates.
12. Pursue a job you enjoy
When you enjoy your work and the people you work with, it leads to higher job satisfaction. Finding a job that’s a good fit for you could take time, but having one that aligns with your interests may help you contribute more and feel motivated.
13. Say “yes” to opportunities that scare you
If you’re afraid of an opportunity, trying it may be a good idea. This could help you build confidence, and you may often find that you can do what you think you cannot do.
14. Set SMART goals
Setting goals can help to keep you motivated throughout your career. SMART goals are:
- Specific: Your goal is clear.
- Measurable: You can determine if you met your goal successfully.
- Achievable: Your goal is realistic, and you have the resources to achieve it.
- Relevant: Your goal aligns with your values, passions and long-term objectives.
- Time-bound: You have a deadline for when you expect to complete the goal.
15. Release perfectionism
Once you give up on trying to be perfect, you allow yourself the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and grow. Most managers and leaders expect people to make mistakes, especially at the beginning of their careers. Having high standards for yourself can be motivating, but it’s important to allow room for growth.
16. Find a passion outside of work
A job you enjoy can contribute to your purpose in life, but your life outside of work is also important. Remember to make time for hobbies and social relationships, as these experiences can help you find fulfillment.
17. Expect some challenging days
All jobs involve challenging situations that may frustrate you. Remember that these unexpected inconveniences are temporary. Develop effective stress management skills to move forward and regain focus after resolving a frustrating situation.
18. Improve your workplaces
Making a difference in an environment that needs structure and leadership can be fulfilling. One way to make a difference may come from stepping into a position that requires you to bring order to chaos. These environments can be challenging, but they highlight your value.
19. Find a mentor and be a mentor
Having a mentor and being a mentor can give you valuable insight and help increase your visibility in the industry. It can help you along your career path if you ask your mentor to introduce you to individuals currently working in the industry you are interested in. When you begin to mentor, you can introduce your mentee to others and help them grow their career, too.
20. Distinguish yourself by working hard
Work ethic often commands respect. Cultivate habits that can contribute to your performance and put in more time and effort than those around you. Doing so may show your dedication and result in respect from your peers and leaders.
21. Ask for help
You may face tasks or projects outside your scope of understanding. It’s best to ask clarifying questions rather than make unnecessary mistakes. Asking for help saves time and ensures that you can complete the task or project successfully the first time.
22. Rely on your strengths
By focusing on your strongest skills, you could become an expert at them over time. You may have stronger collaborative results by outsourcing your weaknesses to others who excel in those areas. Specializing in an area that utilizes your natural talents may help you become more valuable in your field and lead to greater job satisfaction.
23. Make sacrifices when necessary
Your career goals may require investment. You might extend your time and money for training; some careers require long hours, weekends, and evenings. These sacrifices could result in advancement and flexibility in the future.
24. Resist the urge to compare yourself to others
Everyone achieves their goals at a different pace, and peers in your industry may have unique advantages, challenges and skills that make their path different from yours. Instead of measuring yourself against your colleagues, measure yourself against your past self. This can help you retain your individuality and build your confidence.
25. Define your professional code of ethics
Integrity is vital at work, as it helps you make decisions that align with your values and beliefs. Acting with integrity may also help you earn the trust and respect of your colleagues, clients and partners. Develop and abide by a professional code of ethics to ensure you remain in control of your career decisions.
26. Stay open to career changes
You can switch roles or industries at any stage in your career. If you’re unhappy in your current field, reflect on industries that benefit from transferable skills. For example, if you’re a teacher and enjoy working with kids but want to work outside of education, you might consider earning a degree in child psychology.
27. Decline opportunities professionally
You may get opportunities in your career that you decide against, and it’s important to learn how to decline a job offer, partnership or meeting without offending the other party. When you’re disinterested in an opportunity or request, it helps to respond promptly, use professional language and suggest some people in your network who might be a better fit.
28. Maintain a positive attitude
People who can stay optimistic even during times of stress can be valuable leaders and teammates. Viewing challenging situations as opportunities to test and refine your problem-solving skills is important. Showing up to work with a positive attitude may also relieve stress for your colleagues and help the team stay focused on shared goals.
29. Use your intuition
Your gut or intuition often has the answer. Try listening to it to guide your decisions. If something feels right, like changing jobs, making a career transition or finding a new circle of friends, trust it. Use it as a foundation you can always rely on in moments of doubt.
30. Reward yourself when you achieve goals
Keep yourself motivated by rewarding yourself when you achieve goals. This may include short-term goals and small rewards, like taking a break or going for a walk when you complete an item on your to-do list. It also can include bigger rewards for long-term goals, like scheduling a vacation after you get a promotion you’ve been pursuing.
31. Prioritize your health
Work-life balance is vital to your health, happiness and productivity. When you’re busy with work, it’s important to schedule time for exercise, sleep and recreational activities you enjoy. If your employer offers wellness benefits, such as health app subscriptions or gym membership reimbursements, consider using these perks to protect your health.
32. Help others when you can
Lend your skills to others when it’s appropriate. For example, you might refer a former colleague to an open position with your employer, connect two people in your network with one another or offer to speak at a nearby college about your industry. This builds effective relationships and strengthens your network.
33. Establish efficient habits
You can be more productive by looking for ways to optimize your work routines. Using tools and software programs to automate some of your tasks, finding ways to focus more intently on tasks and creating a schedule that works for you might all help you work more efficiently.
34. Consider working with a career coach
If you’re unsure of your best career path, consider hiring a career coach to help you. Career coaches help clients analyze their strengths, interests and personalities to choose a career that suits them. Then, they help you build an action plan to reach your goals.
35. Research emerging technologies in your industry
Learning new skills and tools could help you stay competitive in the job market. Even if you’re happy in your current job, study the latest in-demand skills and take courses or practice independently to add them to your resume.
36. Resign professionally
If you leave a job, how you submit your resignation may affect how your former employers view you. If you want to protect your professional relationships, be kind, confident and respectful when quitting. It’s a common courtesy to write a resignation letter, give your employer ample notice and complete any project you’re currently working on before you leave the company.
37. Perform simple tasks well
Most jobs involve simple, repetitive tasks like entering data, sending check-in emails or gathering office supplies. Even if these tasks seem less satisfying than more complex projects, it’s important to be intentional and conscientious when doing them. This may showcase your attention to detail and respect for your job.
38. Be honest about your goals
Tell your colleagues and supervisors what you want to do. They may be able to assign you tasks that align with your interests and guide you toward developing your career.
For example, if you’re an administrative assistant at a marketing agency but want to become a copywriter, tell the creative director you assist about your career aspirations. They may ask you to create a deck for a client presentation or perform market research, which may help you learn more about marketing.
39. Attend company events
When your employer hosts social events, conferences or client events, make a habit of attending them. They can be great networking opportunities, showing you care about the organization. You can also learn more about the company culture. You could even volunteer to help plan the next company outing to grow your leadership skills.
40. Share your work publicly
When you create work, you’re proud of, display it on your professional website, portfolio or social media page. This may help attract recruiters, peers and clients searching for someone with skills like yours. However, ensure you have a client or employer’s permission before sharing your work.
41. Negotiate well
Negotiation skills are critical for many business jobs, but they can help people in any industry. Understanding how to advocate for yourself and support your claims with evidence may help you earn a higher salary, better benefits, and more favorable outcomes in workplace conflicts.
42. Practice interview skills
When you have the right qualifications for a job, your interview often helps distinguish you from other qualified candidates. Building interview skills, such as knowing how to research a company beforehand, learning how to calm your nerves and using the STAR (situation, task, action and result) method for crafting responses may increase your chances of getting the jobs you want.
43. Learn about different departments across the organization
All departments work together to achieve a company’s mission, so learning what other teams do could help you better understand your employer’s processes and goals. For example, if you work as a software developer, learning what the marketing team does could help you better understand the demographics of the users you’re targeting and how the company plans to brand the software you’re building.
44. Always send follow-up messages
When you meet a new person at a networking event, discuss business with a potential client or interview for a new job, send a follow-up note to thank the other party for their time. An effective follow-up might include a detail unique to your conversation to help them remember you and show your interest in the connection.
45. Listen intently
It’s more appropriate to quietly and actively listen to others in some situations. Developing active listening skills may help you better understand project requirements and gain powerful insights from your peers and leaders.
46. Choose workplaces that inspire you
If you’re searching for a job, refine your search by learning more about each company’s values and culture. This may help you choose between different employers. By choosing to work with teams that align with your personality, preferences and values, you may be able to find a role that fulfills you.