Dear Young Professional: Here are 10 things I would tell my 20 year old self about starting a career

Dear Young Professional focuses on uplifting young professionals and professionals that recently made changes to their career path. Deep breath, hold my hand, and let’s do this.

You may be asking, "Katerina, what can you tell me if you're a relatively young professional as well?" I may only be a few years older, but I often find hearing from someone who recently underwent what I am going through adds a lot more clarity. In this case, my experience may be helpful for you because the job market is still fairly similar and the feelings and memories of starting out my professional life are still fresh in my mind. So without further ado, let’s get into what I would tell 20 year old Katerina, and what I’m telling you now. If anything, I hope that gives you hope.

1. It’s okay if you don’t know

You don't know because you haven't tried enough things out. Meaning, we learn if we want to follow a certain profession by actually trying it out and gaining experience in it. I feel all you uncertain young professionals recoiling away from this one; I promise I was like you, so just hear me out. You’ll learn a lot more just trying a job out than by philosophizing about it as a possibility. Naturally, you should take some time before making a decision, but your young adult life should be composed of trying things out and giving yourself the freedom to change your mind afterwards. Take your best guess. Anyway, you’ll never know if another options would have been better; maybe another job would have come along, but you would have gotten hit by a car on the way to your first day, or your experience with that specific company company or boss would have been horrible.

Action item: Try working for that company and in that role before you decide it is or is not for you.

2. Pay attention to the company culture

I know in the job application and interviewing phase you want to impress potential employers. But just remember this, pay attention to the type of company you want to work for. Look for companies with cultures, leadership, and colleagues that are a right fit for you as much as you look at the company’s mission statement, success, and job description. Yes, every company has challenges and areas for improvement, but those challenges seem so much easier with the right culture and team by your side.

This point will also make more sense the more time you spend employed and the more experiences you acquire; you’ll start to realize what you personally do and don't mesh with.

Action item: At this stage, the main thing you should take away are notes of what you like and don’t like as you change companies, jobs, responsibilities, and careers. Then work toward combining the things you like and minimizing the things you don’t like.

3. You’re not solidifying your career with your first job

Looking at you high achievers. Let me say it one more time: you’re absolutely not solidifying your career with your first job. You are young, and although it may not feel like it now, you have decades to change your career and reinvent yourself. And I hope you do, because that means you are still inspired and excited to develop and grow. The ability to reinvent yourself and your profession does not magically go away the moment you first step into the job market.

Action item: Don't try to “keep up the with the Joneses”; I promise you they have their own problems. Stay in your lane and focus on your most valuable asset, you. Let others focus on themselves; they aren’t your business.

4. Be confident in your abilities

We spend the first 21+ years of our life in what essentially feels like working for no pay (shout out to all those hours of homework, group projects, presentations, and reports). Now it feels strange getting paid for it. It felt so arbitrary that I could get paid for doing very similar things I used to pay for (tuition, am I right?). It is arbitrary, and that’s just the value we as a society put toward someone doing the work to prove that they can and should get paid for doing it.

Getting paid now? Great! Believe in yourself. Believe that you can do the job, have opinions, and get paid for it at the same time. No need to feel like an imposter as long as you worked toward that position.

Action item: There is something to be said about working internally on your own confidence, but most of what will build a true sense of confidence in the workplace is being a trustworthy person. If you say you’re going to do something then do it; if you say you are going to get it done by a particular date, then follow through with that schedule. This will allow not only you to trust yourself, but for your team to trust you too.

5. Failure is inevitable and important.

You will get many more job rejections than you do acceptances. Yes, applying to 100+ jobs is pretty normal in some industries. If you are lucky, you will also have the opportunity to reject a few opportunities to pursue others you are more aligned with.

Action item: Be gracious and try to learn why you were rejected, particularly if you made it to the interview stage or were fired. I know it's hard, but be thankful because that role wasn't for you. Chin up; keep submitting applications.

6. Find cheerleaders, not harsh critics

This is your time to explore and learn from mistakes. This requires empathy from both you and others. As long as you are giving your career sincere effort, that’s what counts. I was lucky, nearly all my friends and family were supportive, but I know some people who encountered harsh critics from partners, friends, and family.

Action item: Distanced yourself (or at least your career moves) from nay-sayers as much as possible; they have their own thing going on that makes them this way. Go forward with those who back you up. Practice kindness and patience for yourself and others.

7. Navigating professionalism can be challenging, but you’ll get it

In the beginning it’s challenging knowing what it means to be a professional with your own unique personality. This requires some trial and error, especially for those of us from diverse cultures, norms, and/or those of us who weren’t trained in professional etiquette.

Action item: Be willing to receive feedback. Actively request feedback from those you admire professionally. Learning from feedback and giving feedback is an art, and something you can explore further.

8. Your professional career is ever-evolving

I mentioned something similar to point number 3 above. However, it’s worth reiterating in a different way here. It’s so liberating knowing that everyone has their own professional journey and you will feel most fulfilled if you humble yourself, listen to yourself, and follow your only path. Both ourselves and the job market is ever-changing; lean into this to be receptive to opportunities. Inspiration also comes at different times of our life, with more information we discover.

Action item: Look for opportunities to expand your career and/or be open to delving into new, aligned opportunities you didn’t previously think of.

10. Financial freedom is as great as you think it’ll be

It can take a little while to get there, but it’ll be worth it. I’ll cue you in to what it feels like: it feels like you don’t answer to anyone (especially if you like your boss!). And for me personally, that’s one of the best feelings I’ve experienced in life.

Action item: Work toward financial freedom; invest in learning how you can achieve it.

Which point did you connect with the most? What did I miss? Let me know!