10 brutal career truths I know at 32 that I wish I knew at 22 | Shh I'm building something new 🎊

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👋 Hey, it’s Jean!

Welcome to the place where I share my best career tips and project management hacks and teach you how to be 1% better (just as I’m learning each day).

Today, I’ll talk about 10 Brutal Career Truths I know at 32 (I wish I knew at 22).

To learn these truths, It took me 10 years of:

• Pivoting 9 times (see how job hopping changed my life)

• Getting fired twice (how I left a job after just 2 weeks)

• Landing dream jobs & 5X my salary (learn why I left my dream job at Figma)

1. Good work isn’t good enough

• Good work alone will not accelerate your career.

• You need to advocate for yourself and share your wins.

• Optics matter more than you think.

2. Careers are anything but linear

• Careers are rarely a ladder and look more like a jungle gym.

• Embrace the journey and pivots; the destination will follow.

3. There is no such thing as a perfect job

• The grass isn’t always greener.

• Dream jobs, on paper, will have their faults (politics, toxic culture, poor leadership)

• Reset your expectations. It’s okay for a job to be a job.

4. Your boss can make or break your career

• Your boss has a greater impact on your career than you think.

• Foster a healthy relationship early and often.

• If you’re not getting support, consider leaving. You cannot change a person.

5. A paycheck isn’t worth your mental health.

• No person, job, or money is ever worth your sanity.

• You will find a better job if you allow yourself to.

6. Emotional intelligence is highly underrated

• There’s nothing soft about soft skills. EQ makes you a better leader.

• Make an effort to connect with people personally, support their work, and show up when they need you.

• Good deeds matter (you never know when you need their help).

7. Promotions and raises are out of your control

• You can be an A+ employee and still not get raises and promotions.

• These decisions happen above you, so don’t let them define you.

• Instead, focus on what you can control (ex. sharing wins publicly, asking for a raise, and doing work that matters)

8. Have performance conversations often and early

• Don’t wait until the last minute to have performance conversations.

• It’s your job to make sure you get clarity around expectations.

• Schedule monthly career syncs with your boss and establish a growth plan

9. Who you know matters more than what you know

• Your network can change your life. Talent isn’t everything.

• Build authentic relationships with influential people (your boss, their boss, leadership, cross-functional partners, clients, etc).

Career and business always revolve around PEOPLE.

10. It’s better to look for a job while you still have one

• You should always be looking for your next play.

• You will never grow by being complacent. Always be open to new opportunities.

• Have regular coffee chats, update your resume quarterly, and interview with companies to gauge your worth and sharpen your skills.

Which one resonates with you? Reply back and let me know 👇🏼

With love,

Jean

P.S. I’m building a curated job board for project/program managers and other adjacent roles like operations, strategy, product management, and more!

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