We encounter lots of advice throughout our careers, some bad and some good. However, we all have those stand-out comments that stick with us and may even impact the path that we take through life.
Here, some of our Intechnica team share the best piece of career advice they’ve been given and how they’ve implemented this into their mindset.
Never be afraid to ask
Confidence in the workplace is key. Some may be concerned that asking too many questions shows weaknesses, but in fact, it is simply a strength. Asking questions is a great way to learn and develop skills.
“Ask questions. Often in a new job, you’ll hear someone telling you there are no stupid questions, but you still feel too scared to ask the things you really want to know. Do it anyway. There’s no better way to accelerate your learning than simply to ask, and sometimes just by showing an interest in something you’re sewing the seed for more opportunities to come your way.
And definitely don’t be afraid to ask ‘why’. The biggest leaps I’ve taken in my career have been from gaining an understanding of why the piece of work I was doing was important and what effect it would have on other processes downstream. Once you understand the bigger picture you’re in a position to identify improvements to your own process, make suggestions, and explain its importance to others. As an added bonus, sometimes just by asking ‘why’ you can encourage your colleagues to stop and think about a problem in a way they haven’t before.“
Fiona Fairbairn, Consultant.
Learning from mistakes is better than not making them
Sometimes to succeed we need to take risks.
“The best career advice I’ve been given is to adopt a “what have you got to lose” attitude.
I have a tendency to overthink sometimes and keeping this in mind helps put things into perspective. Whether it’s asking for help or expressing my ideas or opinions, there’s usually always more to gain than to lose.“
Laura Ohela, Marketing Manager
Choose a career that brings you happiness
Research has actually found that positive workplace satisfaction can increase productivity by up to 31%, proving that doing something you love should be at the forefront of our career decisions.
"I was a contractor for 15 years and we don’t get a lot of career advice. But I can offer an observation! I worked alongside many unhappy permanent employees who were too scared to try a new company. The common theme underlying most people was a lack of appreciation from their employer, either by expecting them to work beyond what is reasonable or by simply not acknowledging the value they added. If you are not happy where you are, and your employer isn’t helping you, try somewhere new. It might not work out first time but keep searching for somewhere you are happy. As a contractor I moved around a lot, and I learned so much, even though it could be scary. The interview is your chance to see if these are people you could be happier working with, test them."
Fran Hoey, Technical Consultant
Since we spend much of our day at work, it is crucial to do something you are genuinely interested in.
“During my short career so far, the best piece of advice I have been given is to enjoy the work you do but also make sure that it challenges you every day and that you are able to continually learn new skills.”
Beccy Kusu-Orkar, Management Accountant
“I think the best piece of advice which I have heard and after putting into practice seen the rewards of is, pursue what you find interesting and don’t worry about taking a longer route to get there. Initially after studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at university, it was unlikely that I could start in a highly technical role, in particular in data science which is what I wanted. I took a leap and did a Masters in Data Science and Analytics, and haven't looked back."
Jack Foster, Data Scientist
Don't just choose a "good path", find what's right for you
Sometimes we have to make difficult decisions to determine our career paths.
“Whilst studying for my PhD in machine learning, I had considered becoming a University Lecturer, but several friends and colleagues had advised against it. Having experienced both worlds, I much prefer working in industry, where your hard work is reflected in the products you create and services you provide.”
Harrison O’Neill, Data Scientist
Whether you’re just starting your career or have been in the industry for a while, listening to the advice of those close to us, whether it be our colleagues or friends can be hugely beneficial.
It is easy to lose direction at some point during our careers but to make better decisions and get back on track, a great place to start is often the good advice that comes from those who have already been there.
