Key Career Lessons for Early Professionals

Early in my career, a colleague from P&G left for a startup. The pay was nearly double. The decision seemed obvious. But when I mentioned this to my boss, his response made me changed how I viewed career growth: “In the first third of your career, don’t chase money—chase knowledge. You’ll leverage that better in the next third to make real money.” At first, it sounded idealistic. But over time, I saw a pattern among top marketers: They optimized for learning, not just earning, in their first five years. Why this matters: [1] The Compound Effect of Skill Stacking I’ve seen P&G marketers turn down high-paying social media roles to master brand fundamentals first. Today? They’re leading global brands while their peers are still executing tactics. [2] The “Career Equity” Principle That startup role offering double the salary? Look closer. Are you building equity in yourself (strategic thinking, leadership, innovation) or just executing someone else’s strategy? [3] The Learning-to-Earning Ratio Every marketing leader I know followed this trajectory: Years 1-5: Learn intensively Years 6-10: Apply & grow Years 10+: Exponential career acceleration “But I need the money now.” I get it. I’ve been there. But consider this: A ₹10 lakh salary bump today vs. learning that could unlock ₹50 lakh+ annually in a few years. “But I might fall behind.” Look at any CMO interview in AdWeek or Marketing Week—nearly all highlight their early-career learning experiences as crucial to their success. It’s not about falling behind. It’s about positioning yourself to leap ahead. Before taking your next role, ask yourself: “Will I learn something new every week, or just get better at what I already know?” The best investment in your 20s isn’t in stocks or crypto. It’s in your skills toolkit. #career #work #job

Let’s talk about the real education that happens after you step into the office — and why it’s the stuff that actually shapes your career. I still remember the first time I had to: ▪️Speak up in a meeting (even when my voice shook) ▪️Take responsibility for a mistake (and not blame the “system”) ▪️Juggle multie projects (without losing my mind) Here’s what I learned the hard way — lessons that no degree, no matter how prestigious, can teach you: 🔹 Deadlines wait for no one In college, you get extensions. At work, time is money. Every minute you waste affects not just you, but your team, your client, your brand. 🔹 Your attitude matters as much as your skills No one likes working with a brilliant jerk. Being helpful, curious, and respectful opens more doors than any certification. 🔹 Feedback is a gift — but only if you’re ready to hear it I used to take feedback personally, but then I realized: feedback is your fastest route to growth. 🔹 Learning never stops That “I’m done studying” feeling? It’s a myth. Every job — every task — is a chance to learn something new. This is the stuff that builds your career, one project, one conversation, one challenge at a time. 💡 Here’s what I wish someone had told me before my first day: 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙠, 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙪𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙎𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙪𝙥 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣. What’s one thing you learned at work that no one taught you in college? Let’s compare notes👇 LinkedIn LinkedIn News India LinkedIn Guide to Creating #FirstJob #CareerGrowth #WorkplaceLessons #EarlyCareer #LearningEveryday #ProfessionalGrowth

Knowing this would have saved me 5 years of struggle at the start of my career. 33 years ago when I entered the job market, I thought that the prestigious institutions I studied at would make me fantastic at my job. But soon, I realized that they only helped me get my foot in the door. Everything beyond that depended on my skills, talent, and mindset. 33 years later, not much has changed. Data suggests: → 48% of graduates feel unprepared to even apply for entry-level jobs in their field. → 68% say their degree did not prepare them well for their job. → Only 17% of graduates say the degree itself helped them in their job. As I worked my way up the corporate ladder, I learned these lessons the hard way. Today, I am sharing them so you don’t have to. 1. Early in your career, avoid saying “That’s not my job.” What you’ve learnt in college becomes outdated quickly. Spend your early years learning through action, the more diverse and challenging, the better. These efforts compound later in your career. 2. Seek feedback constantly. Embrace a growth mindset. Learn from people who excel in ways you want to improve, because you can gain the benefit of their experience in minutes. Accept the feedback with humility. 3. Don’t just have ideas. Execute them. Ideas matter only when people can see them in motion. It makes your ideas easier for others to support and ensures they remain yours. 4. Build relationships but protect your boundaries. Build a strong network, they open doors when it matters most. Help others grow generously, and be someone they can rely on. But learn when to say no, because not everything deserves your attention. 5. Each decade in your career has a purpose. Know it early. Your 20s are for exploration, your 30s are for exponential growth,, your 40s are for building future security, and your 50s are for fulfilling your purpose. This rhythm will give meaning to your career. Lastly, remember that no one has all the answers. No one has perfect clarity. Most people are figuring things out just like you. So stop comparing your journey to someone else’s and focus on becoming exceptionally good at what you do. Walk with your chin held high and stay humble as you lead yourself toward success. #MondayNuggets #CareerGrowth #BoundlessWithRamG

When Hard Work Isn’t Enough: The Career Lesson That Changed Everything Early in my career, I worked in the estate section of a large management company. My role was desk-based, but I aspired to something more analytical. When a new hire came in for that kind of role, I saw an opportunity. While she was being trained, I asked my manager if I could sit in on the sessions, provided I finished my work. He agreed. I came in early the next day, got my tasks done, and joined the training. Minutes in, the head of the unit walked in and said to the trainer: “Glory is just here to observe. Focus your full energy training the other lady.” That one sentence broke something in me. I realized in that moment that it didn’t matter how early I came in, how fast I finished my work, or how committed I was — I simply wasn’t seen as someone worth investing in. It hit me: If I wanted a sustainable career, I needed to do more than just show up and work hard. I needed to be visible. So I changed my strategy. Instead of going straight to my desk when I got to work, or having lunch at my desk, I started greeting people across departments. I learned what other teams were doing. I asked questions. I shared my interest in more analytical work. One day, the head of a different team approached me, she’d noticed I seemed interested in her department and wanted to know more about my background. We had a chat and a few weeks later, she told me about an internal opportunity. That’s how I moved into a role that truly challenged and stretched me — and my career started to take shape from there. Here’s what I learned: Yes, Working hard helps you build mastery. But if all you build is mastery, and no visibility, you may never get the opportunity to use it. If you’re always head-down, never head-up… If you’re not building cross-functional relationships… If no one knows what you’re capable of beyond your current role… You could work harder than anyone in the room and still be overlooked. Another key lesson is to know when your time in a role is up and not to spend time trying to change people’s opinions. Read the writing on the wall and plot your exit. Because sometimes, the boldest move isn’t to fight for your current space, it’s to walk toward the next one. Let them see you. Let them know what you’re capable of. And if they can’t or won’t see it, move. What lesson helped you nake a key move in your career? Please share with me in the comments

10+ years in tech. 2+ years running my business. Here are 9 brutally honest career lessons nobody told me: 𝟭/ 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆. In tech, I thought there was a “clear path.” In reality, it’s more like a jungle gym. You climb, you fall, you switch bars. The faster you stop expecting it to be linear, the less frustrated you’ll be. (And it’ll open you up to some exciting opportunities!) 𝟮/ 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗼 “𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻” 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. I prided myself on being the “quiet, reliable” one in meetings. But guess what? The visible people got promoted faster. Same in business — you don’t get clients by hoping they’ll notice you. Visibility matters. Even if it feels uncomfortable. 𝟯/ 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗲. Sometimes the flashiest numbers aren’t the most meaningful. Now I focus on: Did this activity bring in leads? Did it generate revenue? Did it strengthen a relationship? Not every big number moves your business forward. 𝟰/ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 — 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆. Burnout and the 24/7 hustle can seem like a badge of honor. In business, burnout means you have no backup plan. If you’re constantly exhausted, you’re making poor decisions. And poor decisions are expensive. 𝟱/ 𝗜𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗸𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴. From asking for raises to pitching clients. Growth never feels cozy. If you’re too comfortable, you’ve likely stopped evolving. 𝟲/ 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁. Filter your feedback. Not all opinions deserve equal weight. 𝟳/ 𝗦𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹. At LinkedIn and Prezi, I was scared to say no — fearing I’d seem difficult. In business, saying yes to everything buried me. Now? If it’s not a “hell yes,” it’s a no. 𝟴/ 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺. I’ve met 25-year-olds with sharper instincts than 20-year veterans. What matters is how often you reflect on and learn from your experiences, not how long you’ve been at it. 𝟵/ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱. Whether you’re in corporate or an entrepreneur, your brand will serve you ten times over. Titles come and go, your brand is forever. P.S. Which lesson above resonates most? Drop it below 👇 __ 👋I’m Lorraine—keynote speaker and bestselling author. I help rising leaders build an unforgettable presence and get noticed at work. Follow for more actionable career tips! ♻️ Reshare this post if it can help others!

7 career lessons I’ve learned from mentoring job seekers, reading widely, and spending years inside corporates. No theory. No motivational fluff. Just patterns I’ve seen repeat again and again. 1: If your manager doesn’t trust you, your career will stall, no matter how hard you work. Effort without trust only leads to exhaustion. Spend time understanding what your manager is actually accountable for. Solve that. 2: Make an effort to spend time with people who think differently, work differently, and come from different backgrounds. Most people avoid this. That’s exactly why it works. 3: I’ve gained the most by mingling across functions and hierarchies. Your learning curve will be directly proportional to how wide your circle is. 4: The most obvious career choice leads to average outcomes. Safe moves feel good in the short term. Uncomfortable moves compound in the long term. 5: Don’t get too comfortable in the same role for too long. If you’re doing the exact same work year after year, growth has already slowed. Take on different responsibilities - internally if possible, externally if needed. 6: Before complaining, ask one question: Is this something I can control? If yes, make it a data point and work on it. If no, it’s probably not worth complaining about anyway. 7: Ratings, reviews, and outcomes won’t always be fair. Internal reviews. Internal hiring. External opportunities. You will be judged - regardless of how good your work is. What else would you add to this list? Do let me know in the comments. #careergrowth #Jobsearch

The career advice I wish I had in my 20s. In my journey, I've learned lessons that would have been gold in my early career. Here's some of them, I hope they can help you gain some clarity: 1️⃣ 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 🥵 Fresh out of university, I joined roles that appeared low risk or COMFORTABLE to me. I was lucky with my choices as the international experiences and exposure they afforded me, were tremendous for an early career professional and actually did provide (many) CHALLENGES too! It took me years to realize that growth lives in the realm of challenges, not comfort. The moment I started choosing jobs that scared me a bit, my career trajectory changed. → 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: Embrace roles that push your boundaries. Comfort is a sign you're not growing, and I get it, Singapore is VERY comfortable. 2️⃣ 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 🧙🏼♀️ I discovered the power of mentorship haphazardly. It's not just about learning from someone's successes but also their mistakes, saving you years of trial and error. → 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: Seek mentors early. Who inspires you around you both in and outside your organisation? Reach out. Their guidance can accelerate your career more than any course or book. 3️⃣ 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 🤝 Networking felt like a chore until I learned to approach it with intention. It's not about collecting contacts but building relationships that matter. → 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: Quality over quantity in networking. Focus on genuine connections that align with your values and goals. 4️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 👨🏫 The world evolves rapidly, and what's relevant today might be obsolete tomorrow. I learned this the hard way when I had to play catch-up on digital marketing skills. → 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: Never stop learning. Your future self will thank you for the skills you acquire today. 5️⃣ 𝗕𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 🧑🏻💻🙊 I spent years being unsure how authentic one can be at work. Complete authenticity felt like a risk. The irony? Authenticity is what sets you apart. → 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: Be true to yourself in your career. It's your greatest asset and the key to finding work that fulfills you. 6️⃣ 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 📉📈 I played it safe for too long, fearing failure. But without risks, there's no reward. My biggest leaps came from stepping into the unknown. → 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: Don't shy away from risks. They're the stepping stones to your greatest achievements. In hindsight, these lessons are priceless. If you're in your 20s or at any career crossroads, I hope the above can serve as beacons. 💡 What piece of career advice do you wish you knew earlier? Let's share and learn together. 🔔 Follow me James C. to not just navigate but thrive in your careers! #genz #careerdevelopment #coaching [📸: Taking classes at ESSEC Asia-Pacific during the tail end of Covid]

Four years ago, I was navigating post-grad life, managing my finances and budgeting for my lifestyle, thinking about professional development, and charting my next steps (I'm always thinking about what's coming next 😅 ) If I could go back and tell Ang of 2021 a few things, here's what I'd tell her ⬇️ ✅ At the end of the day, you are in charge People will always have opinions about the job you have, the decisions you make, and whether or not you're making the right decisions for your future. Trust your instinct, lean into your values and boundaries, and remember that career advice is just that: advice. Use what serves you, and leave what doesn't. ✅ Your unique qualities are your competitive advantage Fitting into boxes that weren't made for you is going to get exhausting. The quirks, perspectives, and approaches that make you, you, are exactly what will set you apart in your career. Embrace them from the start, and activate your network as you work to make them stand out. ✅ Networking isn't about collecting names, LinkedIn connections, or business cards Networking is about building genuine relationships with people whose work you admire. Send that genuine LinkedIn message. Comment thoughtfully on posts. Attend events that pique your interest and your desire to nurture your network. Show up authentically, and opportunities will follow. ✅ Document your wins as they happen Keep a running list of your accomplishments, feedback, and impact. Future you (especially during performance reviews and job searches) will thank you for this. Your resume is important, but a running log of your achievements will pay dividends as you ask for a promotion, find your next role, or strive to stand out. I bet many of us would tell our early career selves something different if we had a do-over. What would you tell your past self about navigating early career life? 🤔 #EarlyCareer #CareerAdvice

Early Lessons That Make a Difference Occasionally, I have the privilege of speaking with new graduates or employees who have just started their first job. The question they most often ask me is, "If you could go back and give your younger self advice, what would it be?" I never have enough time to answer this question fully, and I always leave thinking of things I forgot to mention. With that in mind, I wrote down a few pieces of advice that would have made a difference in my career. - Speak up! Don't let being new stop you. The fact that you are new gives you a unique and valuable perspective. Even if something seems obvious, don't hesitate to call it out and voice your opinion. Having a voice at work will strengthen your influence and get you noticed. - Don't prioritize work over your health. You might feel pressured to skip exercise and sleep to complete more work. This is a lousy tradeoff that will ultimately negatively impact your productivity, work quality, and well-being. Well-rested, healthy people perform better. - If you find yourself stuck, step away and return to it later. Taking a break can help refresh your perspective and give your brain a chance to work on the issue subconsciously. It may seem counterintuitive, but doing something else might be the quickest way to solve your problem. - Talk to everyone you can. Now is the time to invest in building your network. The people at the desks next to you are tomorrow's CEOs and industry leaders. It's easy to do. Most people like it when you are curious about their work and are more than happy to converse. - Your teammates are invaluable resources. Get to know the folks around you. Wisdom abounds, so learn from them. Understanding what has worked and not worked for others can be a big career shortcut. - Start making decisions, and try not to introduce new ones. Only ask if you know you have to. "Can I do x?" introduces a new decision, and you risk getting blocked. Instead, do it. Take ownership. It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission, but always weigh the risks. - The best way to learn (from someone) is to offer help. Find someone you want to learn from and be useful to them. People are more inclined to invest in you if you offer them something in return. - Talk to the executives. As a junior engineer, I felt nervous speaking to senior leaders. As a senior, I notice people are nervous to engage with me. Those who do stand out, and we often have the best conversations where we both learn new things. So, be bold and make high-level connections. - Set clear goals. Having a waypoint on which to focus your career will help clarify what you need to do. The more specific your goals are, the better your chances of achieving them. - Success is a team sport. It's hard to be successful without the support of others. That means it's essential for you to be a good teammate. Listen to what others say, try to make others successful, and most importantly–don't be a jerk.

20+ Years in Tech: Lessons That Shaped My Career As I look back on two decades in engineering and leadership, I’ve realized that career growth doesn’t come from a single breakthrough. It comes from a set of habits that compound over time. Here are the lessons I wish I had learned earlier: 1. Ownership is the real differentiator Titles and roles matter less than whether people trust you to move problems forward. When you own outcomes beyond your scope, opportunities follow. 2. Clarity outlasts volume Loud voices may win meetings, but clear, structured thinking is what people remember. A simple framework delivered at the right moment will take you further than noise. 3. Curiosity keeps you relevant Every turning point in my career came from learning a new skill, exploring an unfamiliar space, or embracing a new wave of technology. Reinvention is a career-long habit. 4. Relationships multiply results Building trust across functions often has more impact than individual effort. Careers are accelerated by the people who vouch for you when you’re not in the room. 5. Mechanisms matter more than good intentions Processes, documentation, and repeatable habits create consistency. Mechanisms are what make leadership scalable. 6. Resilience is underrated Setbacks are part of every career. What matters is how quickly you reset, learn, and move forward. A tough moment often plants the seeds for the next big step. 7. Strategic risk-taking pays off The biggest leaps in my career came from saying yes to roles and problems that felt bigger than me at the time. Growth rarely lives inside your comfort zone. 8. Balance is fuel, not a luxury Burnout doesn’t create lasting success. Knowing when to sprint and when to recover is what makes a career sustainable. 9. Manage up with empathy Influence is not just downward. Learning to align with leaders’ priorities and communicate in ways that make decisions easier is a skill that changes the game. Looking back, the common thread is this: careers are not straight lines. They are built on choices, resilience, and the willingness to keep learning. What career lesson do you wish someone had told you earlier? #CareerGrowth #Leadership #EngineeringLeadership #FutureOfWork #MetaShift