The Career Advice I’d Give My 25-Year-Old Self

At 25, I thought a successful career would be pretty straightforward.

Work hard. Be dependable. Get more experience. Get promoted. Make more money.

Keep doing that long enough, and eventually you arrive at whatever “successful” is supposed to look like.

I don't think that anymore.

My career has taken me through public service, homebuilding, banking, finance, leadership and real estate. I've earned degrees and certifications, managed people, been promoted, changed industries, lost a job and started over.

And somewhere along the way, I learned that doing good work matters, but it isn't the only thing that matters.

If I could sit down with my 25-year-old self, here's what I'd tell her.

Your Career Probably Won't Be a Straight Line

I used to think changing directions meant something had gone wrong.

Now I think some of the most valuable parts of my career came from experiences that didn't seem connected at the time.

I've worked in completely different industries and roles, but I carried something from each one into the next.

Working with people.

Understanding numbers.

Managing difficult situations.

Leading teams.

Communicating with different personalities.

Solving problems when there isn't an obvious answer.

You don't have to know exactly where every experience is leading while you're in it.

Sometimes it makes sense later.

Being Good at Your Job Isn't Enough

This is probably one of the biggest things I wish I had understood earlier.

I thought if I worked hard enough, people would notice.

Sometimes they do.

Sometimes they don't.

You have to learn how to communicate your value.

That doesn't mean constantly bragging about yourself. It means being able to explain what you've accomplished, why it mattered and what you're capable of doing next.

Keep track of your wins.

Know your numbers.

Speak up when you've contributed something meaningful.

And don't assume the right people automatically know everything you're doing.

Build Relationships Before You Need Them

For a long time, I thought of networking as something you did when you needed something.

A new job. A client. An introduction.

I've completely changed my mind about that.

The best professional relationships aren't built when you suddenly need a favor.

They're built over time.

Join organizations. Volunteer. Serve on committees. Go to events. Introduce people to each other. Support other people's work. Follow up with someone because you genuinely enjoyed meeting them, not because you've already figured out what they can do for you.

Some opportunities will come from places you could never have predicted.

But those opportunities usually start with relationships.

Apply Anyway

I wish I could go back and calculate how many opportunities I talked myself out of because I didn't think I was qualified enough.

Women are especially good at looking at a job description, finding the two requirements they don't meet and deciding not to apply.

Meanwhile, someone else looks at the same description, meets half of it and thinks, “I can do that.”

Be that person sometimes.

You don't need to lie about your experience or pretend you know something you don't.

But you also don't need to reject yourself before anyone else has the chance to say yes.

Apply.

Raise your hand.

Ask the question.

Go to the interview.

Let them decide.

Learn How to Talk About Money

At 25, I wish I had understood how important it is to be comfortable talking about money.

Salary.

Raises.

Bonuses.

Benefits.

Debt.

Retirement.

Investing.

The actual financial value of an opportunity.

Don't accept a number simply because someone presents it to you.

Do your research. Understand what you're worth. Ask questions.

And remember that making more money doesn't automatically mean you're building wealth.

What you do with your money matters too.

Don't Let a Job Become Your Entire Identity

This one took me a while.

It's easy to attach part of your identity to your title, your company or the career you've spent years building.

Then something changes.

A company restructures.

Leadership changes.

Your position disappears.

You decide you want something different.

Suddenly, the thing you used to answer the question “What do you do?” isn't there anymore.

Your job is something you do.

It is not everything you are.

Build a life outside of it.

Build relationships.

Develop interests.

Get involved in your community.

Learn things that have nothing to do with your current position.

Your career matters, but it shouldn't be the only thing holding up your sense of who you are.

No Job Is Guaranteed

I wish this weren't something I had to learn firsthand, but I did.

You can do your job well and still lose it.

You can be valuable and still have your position eliminated.

Businesses make business decisions.

That's why I would tell my younger self to create options.

Keep learning.

Keep your résumé updated.

Maintain your professional relationships.

Save money when you can.

Pay attention to what's happening in your industry.

And don't wait until you desperately need another opportunity to start thinking about what comes next.

Your Reputation Will Follow You Longer Than Your Job Title

Titles change.

Companies change.

Industries change.

Your reputation follows you.

Be someone people trust.

Do what you say you're going to do.

Treat people well, including the people who can't do anything for you.

Don't burn bridges unnecessarily.

And remember that professional circles are much smaller than they seem.

Years later, people may not remember every project you worked on, but they will remember what it was like to work with you.

Take More Chances

At 25, I wanted to know how things were going to turn out before I did them.

I would tell her that's not how most worthwhile things work.

Sometimes you have to do something before you feel completely ready.

Walk into the room where you don't know anyone.

Apply for the position that feels like a stretch.

Take the leadership role.

Start the business.

Make the video.

Send the email.

Ask someone to meet for coffee.

Some of those things won't work.

That's okay.

A few of them might change your life.

Success Will Look Different at Different Points in Your Life

At 25, success might look like a promotion.

At another point, it might mean earning more money.

Later, it might mean flexibility.

Or meaningful work.

Or being able to pick your child up from school.

Or having enough control over your schedule to show up for the people who matter to you.

You're allowed to change your definition.

In fact, you probably should.

And Finally, You're Not Supposed to Have It All Figured Out at 25

I definitely didn't.

I'm not sure anyone does.

There are decisions I would make differently knowing what I know now. There are also decisions that didn't make much sense at the time but ended up becoming important pieces of my story.

That's the funny thing about careers.

You usually understand the path better looking backward than you do while you're walking it.

So if I could give my 25-year-old self one final piece of advice, it would probably be this:

Work hard, but don't just keep your head down.

Pay attention.

Build relationships.

Learn how money works.

Advocate for yourself.

Create options.

Take a few more chances.

And don't become so focused on building a successful career that you forget you're also building a life.