Navigating the Early Stages of Career: A Note to My Younger Self
During a recent one-on-one with a junior colleague, we discussed the nuances of career progression, personal growth, and climbing the corporate ladder. The conversation was an eye-opener, making me wish I could time-travel to offer these nuggets of wisdom to my younger self, a novice starting on his tech journey 11 years ago. This blog post is an attempt to summarize that.
Understanding the Ebb and Flow of Progress
My co-workers concerns about his performance rating and the pace of his career growth weren’t unique. Most of us, at some point in our careers, have felt that our efforts aren’t being rewarded at the pace we expect. But careers, much like life, have their own rhythm. It’s essential to grasp that progress won’t always be linear. There will be highs, plateaus, and sometimes, moments where it seems like you’re moving backward.
If you’re at the start of your professional journey, patience is more than a virtue; it’s a necessity. The graph plotting your skills against your progress rarely aligns perfectly.
Consider a relationship between a company’s stock price and its intrinsic valuation. While the two may diverge in the short term, with market valuation oscillating above or below the intrinsic value, over the long run, they tend to move directionally in sync. Similarly, the pace of your growth might occasionally trail your efforts, but over time, rewards will eventually align with your contributions.
Embrace Every Learning Opportunity
During our chat, He mentioned working on tasks that “don’t count”. This viewpoint reminded me of myself not that long ago. Through the years I’ve learnt that no matter how trivial a task seems, it’s a learning opportunity. A person who asks “How can I help?” goes much further than a person who asks “What do I get out of it?”
Don’t dismiss tasks that seem menial or unrelated to your immediate goals. Instead, approach them as chances to develop a new skill or strengthen existing ones. It’s these accumulated skills that set you apart in the long run.
The Danger of Comparison
Our conversation touched upon the danger of measuring one’s journey against peers. Such comparisons can be a slippery slope, leading to discontent and the feeling of being trapped in a loop.
While it’s natural to look to peers as benchmarks, remember that everyone has their own path. It’s more constructive to focus on your progress, challenges, and growth areas.
Proactiveness is Key
Waiting for feedback is never a good idea. Instead of waiting, be proactive. Seek feedback, understand your growth areas, and most importantly, act on them.
One of the posters frequently seen in Facebooks offices. Don’t hesitate to initiate conversations about your career growth with mentors or managers. Show them you’re committed and eager to climb the ladder, but more importantly, that you’re keen on adding value every step of the way.
Conversations like these serve as good reminders that the road to success is rarely straight. Embrace every twist and turn, for they mold you into the person you aspire to become.
Originally published at https://www.rohitgandhi.com on August 18, 2023.
