If You Could Give Career Advice To You Five Years Ago, What Would It Be?

It has often been said that the only constant thing in life is ironically change. People grow older and get more insight. People read articles, books and listen to the experiences of other people and are able to learn from the mistakes of others.

For women in business and careers, it is even more imperative that they learn from the stories of other women.

It is necessary that there be intentionality in building mentorship and relationships with women who have walked the career path they are currently starting. This helps to avoid mistakes in a given career path and instead provides confidence to the woman who took the advice.

In that light, Urban Woman Magazine recently asked some women to share career advice that they would have given themselves five years ago.

Read their responses below.

Joy

I would have worked harder at getting a 2:1, that’s the only tiny regret I have; though I read a very tough course which was Biochemistry.

Coming out with a 2:2 has withheld me from applying to certain opportunities like the NNPC job posting that was recently advertised. I know that I would have done well. But notwithstanding, I think and know that I have done right by myself. I made sure to serve in a good organisation for my PPA, switched roles a year after and now I’m climbing the stairs of my career path with clarity and a sense of self assurance. In summary, I would tell myself basically that things would get clearer and to not worry as much as I did back then.

Esohe

Esohe document everything. Keep copies of every deliverable from every project you’ve worked on. ALL OF THEM. That’s proof! You need that to make a good portfolio. No one is going to believe how well you write if you don’t have stuff to show them. This is the most important one.

Tess

Do everything that you want to. I can crochet. I can write. I can edit. I do book reviews. Now a project manager and a personal assistant. Have skills like mad. Let them call your name and you will say you can do this and that.

It’s beautiful, don’t be scared to start. Let them know you as someone who has skills. 

Polish that speaking skill like mad. Record yourself, and baby girl find a group of people who believe in you more than you, who won’t dare let you give up.

Yes, work might be slow and some days you feel like nothing. Give yourself grace and give yourself the same effort you do for others. Do it for you and watch your confidence bloom.

Do it scared and post that video that’s not perfect, you will learn rather than not doing anything. Also take your family along in your career journey, in the end, you are doing it for them and for you.

Precious 

Put yourself and your work out more! You know this skill like mad, don’t be afraid to let people know.

Esther

Do not invest your emotions in it, follow the rules and be straight with all. Document all, ignore verbal confirmations and request all documentation. 

Put your personal development alongside the job, do not make excuses for the job and miss opportunities, chase both. Go on that leave, they will be fine.

Delegate!!!! You are not a rock, they will make mistakes and they will be fine. Network more, open your mouth and talk.

Peace

Choose the lowest hanging fruit. Find the skill that has the lowest barrier of entry based on your available resources and do it.

Recent Articles

Related Articles