5 Pieces of Career Advice to Help You Progress

Updated June 17, 20221.3k

The right career advice can lead to a shorter job search and more success in your career. Here are some essential tips to help you land your dream job.

Career Advice

Whether you are looking for a new job or you simply want to progress on your current career path, seeking advice from experienced people around you is a great idea. There is no shortage of career advice to be found online, but not all of it is relevant to every job title. Here’s what you need to know about finding effective advice to meet your career goals.

Why You Should Seek Career Advice (And Who You Should Get it From)

If you are looking to find success and undertake career development steps with your next job, collaborating with people who have experience and knowledge is incredibly important. Advice from the right person can supercharge your career and lead you to job opportunities that you would never have had otherwise. Of course, a career coach or mentor can do so much more than introduce you to people. They can also give you advice on writing better resumes and cover letters, how to act in job interviews to impress recruiters, how to stand out in professional social media spaces like LinkedIn, and how to fit in with a team in your new job. You should ask for career advice from anyone in your industry that you trust, but some people are undoubtedly more suited to being a career coach or mentor. When seeking a mentor, look for people who:

Have the job you want to do in the future
Have been successful in their field
They are respected by their peers
Have years of professional experience
Have a high level of competency and know how

You should also consider what your career goals are. Do you want to seek objective successes such as promotions and raises, or are you looking to make a difference in your company culture and field? Your goals will influence who your ideal career coaches are.

5 Essential Pieces of Career Advice To Help You Get Ahead

There is general career advice that anyone can benefit from. These five pieces of career advice can help anyone improve their job opportunities and attain career success:

1. Set goals and review them regularly

In order to excel and meet your career goals, you need to know exactly where you want to be in the next two to three years. Know what your overall goal is, but set smaller, incremental goals and review your progress annually.

2. Network widely

While it is important to network within your industry and field, it can be equally beneficial to network outside of your department and industry. Many industries and career paths can benefit from a “boundaryless” approach to networking. Approach people from all walks of life in connecting or parallel industries. You can network broadly by inviting people outside of your direct workgroup to lunch, undertaking collaborative hobbies, attending conferences and seminars, or even via social media networks like LinkedIn.

3. Learn to take criticism well

This is the best career advice that you will receive. As you progress along your career path, you will come across supervisors and managers who will have criticisms of your techniques, abilities, or even your approach. Learn to take constructive criticism gracefully and learn from it, rather than viewing it as an obstacle. In most cases, people who offer criticism aim to help you improve. When someone has a critique to offer, ask them questions and take a collaborative approach to improvement.

4. Maintain a positive attitude

Though this is simple, it is very good career advice. Maintaining a positive, proactive approach to your career will help you open doors that might otherwise have been closed. Try to reframe failures and setbacks as learning opportunities and you will certainly start to experience positive career development.

5. Seek a good work-life balance

Burnout is one of the most common and concerning health issues facing the working population today. While hard work and consistency are crucial to success, your health is also important. Meeting your long-term goals means being able to sustain your efforts. Make a clearly defined line between your work life and your personal life to ensure that you do not burn out.

FAQ: Career Advice

What questions should I ask my mentor?

Taking steps to identify a mentor to work with is often the best thing you can do to get relevant pieces of advice about your chosen career path. Ask your mentor these questions to improve professional development:

-What do you love about your job?
-What’s the best decision you’ve ever made for your career?
-What is your biggest career regret so far?
-What would your next steps be if you were me?
-What types of interview questions should I be prepared for?

How do I know I chose the right career?

It’s fairly common for people to wonder if they have chosen the right career path. First and foremost, you should consider whether you enjoy or have a passion for your line of work. If you love what you do, you’re in the right career. Of course, not everyone has an overriding passion for work; however, if your resume skills fit your job description and you don’t find your work unpleasant or too stressful, it could be argued that you have found the right career.

Should I change my career?

The choice to change careers is a very personal and important one. There are a few good reasons to consider a career change, including:

-To seek better pay
-To get a better work-life balance
-To find a less saturated job market
-To follow your passion

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.