As a young career woman building and navigating the highs and lows of my working life, I would have relished being given career advice that stretches beyond ‘find something you love doing’. I feel like I have spent so much energy enthusiastically going after a career I can be proud of, I am still never truly sure what I am doing/have done has been the right thing.
Nowadays, women can do anything in the world of work and yet, the first thing to get sacrificed is our career when it comes to having children and raising a family.
But also the messages say that career women are too focused, too ambitious, or it goes the other way and we are made to feel inadequate if we don’t have lots of career aspirations. I’ve only been around 29 years but here’s the career advice I would share with my (slightly) younger self as a young career woman.
It’s okay to spend your twenties exploring multiple roles and industries
It is no longer the norm to train in one thing and stick with it for the rest of your life like it was in the olden days. Nowadays, it’s encouraged to explore a few different roles and industries before you find what it is you’re good at/want to do.
As a young career woman, it’s also the norm to move on from one employer to the next every few years, particularly when you’re still building up your experience and network. But be sensible, show logic and focus in your journey rather than moving on for the sake of it or because you got bored. Do you have an interview coming up? Here’s my five tips on how to nail it.
It’s okay to complete as many or as little qualifications as you like
As a young career woman, at 29 years old, I have: 9 (expired) GCSE’s; 3 A-Levels; 2 NVQs in Business Administration; a Dental Nurse qualification (National exam); a Bachelors degree in Media Communications; and a diploma in Copy Writing.
I just don’t think I’ll ever really shake off the feeling that I was never considered good enough at school, so I’ve spent the years afterwards getting myself qualified in everything I’ve pursued. But it’s not essential, a qualification shows you can apply yourself to something, experience demonstrates you can put your learning into practice.
As a young career woman, your twenties are definitely for getting yourself qualified in whatever you want to do before time and financial commitments prevent you from having that freedom. Recently got your A-Level results? This post is for you!
It’s okay to be selfish
As a young career woman, no one else is going to give you an opportunity if you don’t put yourself forward/make yourself known, you need to think of number one (that’s you) and work out what it is you want and go and get it.
I know it’s difficult to make moves and things when you have a partner, or a mortgage etc. but where possible, don’t be afraid to move to a new location for your dream job, and it takes time to climb the salary ladder so be prepared to start low, but climb high. This day and age, you can do and be anything.
It’s okay to be intimidated by highly successful women
I don’t mean this negatively, when I read about successful women who have climbed to the top of the career ladder before I’ve even got out of bed in the morning is inspiring, but it’s also intimidating.
We have to champion our female leaders and those young women who have made a name for themselves in the business world, but it’s okay to be a little overwhelmed by them too.
I’ve worked my damnedest to get to where I am now and while for many that might not look significant, but if you’re familiar with my Graduate experience you’ll know how long it has taken me to find my footing.
You and I have probably worked as hard as those women we read about, but their journey has propelled them further, quicker, but that doesn’t make them better.
It’s okay to want a family
It’s amazing how in the 21st Century, women fundamentally still have to chose between being a mother, or having a career. I say fuck society and do both if you want to.
But it’s okay to choose motherhood and spend some time raising a family because that’s still a crucial role to play. I am at that point where having a family beckons on the horizon but so does my want to still do well and do more in my career first.
I also have concerns about what will happen to my job once I go on maternity leave; will it still be there several months on for me to take back or will I begin a frustrating period of life whereby I am punished for having a family? Who knows.
But from what I’ve been told, by both men and women, is that you can’t ever know what life will look like managing a family and trying to hold down a career. If you want children, have them, you’ll make it work and there’s no point delaying it because you’re worried about the what ifs.
Have your cake and eat it
Because you can.
What I am wearing: Shirt – Dorothy Perkins; black leggings – ASOS; Shoes – Dorothy Perkins; Bag – Fiorelli.
What career advice would you pass on to your younger self?
Until next time x
