Avoid These 3 Worst Pieces of Career Advice

Career Insights Digest #2

Alina Okun

Jul 27, 2024

Today at a Glance:

Career Tip: The 3 worst pieces of career advice
Expert Insight: Job simulations boost hiring potential
Study Finding: The most in-demand jobs on LinkedIn (Q1 2024)
Book Lesson: Start preparing for your second career early
Cheat Sheet: 12 cognitive biases that are holding you back

Career Tip: The 3 Worst Pieces of Career Advice

Coach: Dora Vanourek

Bad Career Advice #1: Find a secure job and stick with it

Why it’s a trap:

Sticking to a job solely for security can lead to stagnation, missed growth opportunities, and dissatisfaction
No job is ever secure

A smarter move:

Regularly assess your job satisfaction and growth opportunities
Learn continuously
Be open to new opportunities that align with your skills and passions

Bad Career Advice #2: Hard work always pays off

Why it’s a trap:

Hard work alone doesn’t guarantee anything. It can lead to a lack of recognition, exploitation, and burnout

A smarter move:

Communicate your progress and achievements
Ensure that your efforts are recognized and rewarded

Bad Career Advice #3: Keep your head down and do your job

Why it’s a trap:

Lack of visibility will hinder your career growth

A smarter move:

Take initiative and seek out new projects
Make your achievements known
Networking and visibility are key to career advancement

To read 4 more worst career advice, click here.

Expert Insight: Job Simulations Boost Hiring Potential

Every month, I interview CEOs, business leaders, and industry experts on various career-related topics and the future of work. In this section, I share the most relevant insights from those conversations.

Expert: Andrew Gilfillan, General Manager at Pearson

Key takeaway:

Students using Forage make up nearly 20% of employers’ early talent hires.

Additional insights:

Virtual job simulations connect coursework with real-world applications.
Job simulations help students gain confidence and practical experience that can be highlighted in job interviews.
A good strategy is to blend traditional college degrees with different learning paths, including online courses and certifications.

Read the full interview: How Job Simulations are Revolutionizing Career Prep for College Students

Study Findings: The Most In-Demand Jobs on LinkedIn (Q1 2024)

Researcher: LinkedIn

Key findings:

Sales positions continue to grow

Top ten most in-demand jobs:

Salesperson
Retail Salesperson
Software Engineer
Registered Nurse
Project Manager
Sales Manager
Customer Service Representative
Full Stack Engineer
Business Analyst
Data Engineer

Read the full report here.

Book Lesson: Start preparing for your second career early

Book: Managing Oneself

Author: Peter Drucker

I read this book in my early 30s, and it changed my life. I never viewed my career the same way again. The ideas I discovered in the book have influenced everything I've done since then.

Key lesson:

Plan ahead and choose a new career that matches your strengths and interests

Additional takeaways:

Begin preparing for a second career long before you enter it, ideally 10-20 years in advance.
Develop parallel careers.
Understand what you excel at and how these skills can be applied in a new field.
A second career helps maintain mental acuity and purpose in later life.
Choose a second career that aligns with your values and provides a sense of meaning.