10 Experts Share the Best Career Advice they’ve ever gotten
Top-notch job advice can help you make smart decisions, advance your career and keep your spirits high when work gets tough.
We tapped seasoned career experts, including college career counselors, authors and CEOs, for the best career advice they’ve ever received. Their edited responses are below.
Debra Lybyer, director of career and advising services, Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho
Treat everyone you meet as a potential employer, every task you complete as part of your interview and keep every door open. You’ll never know what is out there for you if you don’t allow every possible opportunity to come your way.
Jude Miller Burke, author of “The Millionaire Mystique: How Working Women Become Wealthy – And How You Can, Too!”
The best career advice I received was to be persistent and resilient and to not let detours or failures derail my career. Successful men and women frequently have failures and detours in their careers, but do not let those bumps dissuade them. In fact, for successful people, failures are seen as a part of success and detours are seen as opportunities to push your career further ahead.
Rob VanDorin, associate director of career services and employer relations, Central Michigan University
Do your research. You should know the ins and outs of every company that you apply to before you even submit an application or resume. If you don’t know them, then you don’t know how to make yourself fit.
Bob LaBombard, CEO of GradStaff
Don’t let your college major, previous jobs or money define your career choices. Focus on the skills you possess, the business ideas you are most passionate about and your ability to make positive things happen. This advice is based on input from a variety of people over the years that repeated a lot of the same themes, but I would attribute the most significant influence to my dad, who was a very strong believer in a liberal arts education and the importance of adding value or doing your very best at everything you do.
Keri Burns, director of career services, University of West Georgia
The best career advice I ever received was to ‘always leave a position or department better than you found it.’ Whenever I take on a new role, my goal is to make a positive impact and leave a legacy, either through process improvements, innovative programming, organizational structure or any area that might need attention. I always want my involvement in any position I have held to have made a difference.
Walter L. Tarver, III, director of the career center, Stockton University in New Jersey
The best piece of career advice I ever received was to take advantage of every single opportunity that an employer presents to you. Though you may be hired into one position with a specific set of responsibilities, do not be afraid to move outside of those areas of responsibility. Volunteer for special projects, volunteer to be on committees and always look for ways to expand your skill set. This will serve you well as you look to move forward and advance in your career.