The 5 Worst Pieces of Advice You Are Getting About Your Career

by Sophie Cummings

The 5 Worst Pieces of Advice You Are Getting About Your Career:

1. Apply to as many jobs as possible

• Before the age of computers, this advice may have been sound. However, this is the millennial era. Your resume is input into a computer, scanned for key words, and if your resume lacks them, it gets tossed. Therefore, you need to put as much work into writing a sound, catered resume and cover letter as you do preparing for the interview.

• One resume and one cover letter will not do. If you are applying correctly, you won’t have time to apply for over 100 jobs. I’ll say it again, cater, cater, cater to the job description.

• You need to follow up via email or in person with the hiring manager when applicable. (Sometimes hiring managers are out of state which makes it nearly impossible to follow up in person.) The more you communicate you want the position, the more likely you are to get the position

  2.. A job is a job

• Warrren Buffet says, “There comes a time when you ought to start doing what you want. Take a job that you love. You will jump out of bed in the morning. I think you are out of your mind if you keep taking jobs that you don't like because you think it will look good on your resume. Isn't that a little like saving up sex for your old age?”

  3.. It’s all about building your resume

• You should not be in a line of work that you are not excited about. Sure, every job has mundane tasks, but if you are spending more than 15 minutes per hour trying to not do your job, it’s time for a new line of work.

  4.. Being in the office 70+ hours a week is how you start your career.

• Not only does this amount of work affect your sleep, it also affects your health, social life, and general well-being.

• Breakdown: a 5 day workweek has 120 hours of total time. If you work 70 hours weeks over a 5 day period, that leaves you 50 hours to sleep, have a social life, eat, and workout. If you are getting the proper amount of sleep - 8 hours a night - you are left with no free time. Work balance is extremely important.

  1. Figure 1 shows unhealthy balance. Figure 2 shows proper balance. Note how all areas in Figure 2 are represented. Your first job should not force you into unhealthy habits due to an over work load. Please note there is a difference between working hard and over working. We advocate for working hard. We do not advocate for working so much that you lose sleep, workout time, and have difficulty finding time to eat/make meals.

Figure 1. Figure 2.

5.. Of course, you hate your first job and your boss sucks.

• Yes, your boss will place remedial tasks on your desk, but rather than thinking: “Why’d I go to college for this?” Think of it as your chance to learn and excel. The greater you do at remedial tasks, the more likely your boss will give you larger tasks. Also, take it as a chance to learn. You can spare an extra 30 minutes at the end of the day to learn more about what your boss does so you can become one.

• If your boss does not help you grow or sets you up for failure, then it’s time for a different job.

• A true boss for us is someone who when they ask you to climb a mountain, they place holds for you. They challenge you to grow while supporting your growth.

For more information, visit us at premiereonboard.com. We want to place you in the best career for your growth and success!