Don’t ask for career advice

Most of the time, most of the people you ask for career advice don’t know you well enough to usefully tell you what to do.

Most of the time, they will instead tell you what they did at that time and in that situation.

That’s useful to know too, but they are not you. While they will likely have more experience than you, and, possibly, more wisdom, there’s a bright line between “what have you learned?” and “what should I do?”

Ask them about what they have seen and understood. Ask them to share what the view looks like from where they sit. Ask them for perspective on what it takes to do the things you want to do.

But what you should do? That’s only up to you.

3 thoughts on “Don’t ask for career advice

  1. …and if all else fails talk to a career coach! People who are good at their jobs are good at them because that’s what they focus on. Career experts focus on the business world and are trained and certified to help people get noticed, get interviewed, and get hired into jobs that suit them and that they can be successful at.

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