Career advice to my son, daughter, and all young professionals

Today, on #NationalInternDay, I’m reminded of what it was like just starting out in the professional world. I was a young engineering grad, eager to start my career.

I grew up in a hardworking family that sacrificed a lot to send me to college. I felt a great deal of pressure to become financially viable and independent. ?I also wanted more than just a job that would pay the bills. I wanted a family life I could be proud of, a spiritual life, lasting friendships, and a community where I felt connected. As I started work, I looked around, spoke to co-workers and supervisors, and wondered: was it even possible?

I believe it is possible.?It takes hard work, being true to yourself, and a little luck. As I watch many young professionals (including my 21-year old daughter) begin their careers, I want to pay forward some of what I’ve learned, the wisdom I’ve received from others, and tips I’ve come to rely on in my daily work and life. Disclaimer: some of these recommendations are shamelessly borrowed from leaders I’ve had the honor to work with and for along the way – you know who you are!

Pick the boss, not the job.

If you have two positions to choose from that are equally exciting, go for the one where the boss is a standout individual – deeply knowledgeable, well-educated, professionally accomplished, with a solid reputation. That person, and how they’ll help cultivate and develop you, will be a lasting asset.

Work in the field. Early.

Look for every opportunity to be in direct contact with customers. Seriously consider roles like sales or field sales engineer. Even if you’re not in a sales role, learn as much as you can from the outside in about a company. The more you know about its customers, the more valuable you will be to your company. That perspective is invaluable and will pay dividends.

Take and make lateral moves early on.

When you’re just getting started, expose yourself to different types of work – roles, functions, processes. Regardless of your degree or area of training, take every opportunity to determine what you like (and don’t like). The consequences of a poor fit early in your career are relatively low, and learning about your strengths, weaknesses, and true calling helps lay the foundation for a fulfilling and successful career.

Feedback is a gift.

The formal and informal feedback you receive from others in the workplace is incredibly important. If you can master the art of listening and incorporating constructive criticism into how you approach your work, you’ll be better for it and you’ll earn the trust and respect of the people around you. Even if you disagree with the feedback, avoid being defensive, consider it fully, and then determine the right next step.

Self-awareness is an underrecognized asset.

“Corporation” comes from the Latin root word “corpus” which means “body”. As part of an organization, you are part of something larger than yourself. Being able to step back, read the room and recognize the impact your actions and attitude have on those around you is paramount to being an effective teammate, peer, and leader.

Be a desirable mentee.

Mentorships are invaluable, but the best mentor-mentee relationships are a two-way street. Be a strong performer – someone your boss and team speak highly of, especially when you are not in the room. It will invite interest from potential ?mentors and make gaining strong mentorship easier.?

The org chart isn’t a map of who matters.

There are very important people at every level in an organization – top to bottom and everywhere in between. They’re the ones whose names you hear again and again when things need to get done or problems need to be solved. Utility players are not only good at what they do, but they are savvy, respected, and invaluable to an organization. They are central to the network of how information ebbs and flows throughout a company. Find out who they are, get to know them, and learn from watching how they get things done.??

Have a “Kitchen Cabinet.”

Many highly effective leaders maintain a small group of unofficial, trusted advisors they occasionally tap for input and guidance. It’s important to have people – other than your boss – you can talk to when things aren’t going the way you planned. Expressing your frustrations with your boss when times are tough can often have adverse, unintended consequences. Remember, they’re not your therapist. Instead, find a trusted person, or group of people, who can listen, empathize, and give you sound advice about how to navigate those challenging moments. Because there WILL be challenging moments!

Life is a four-legged stool.

What areas of your life do you consider the most important? For me, there’s faith, family, friends, and my career. I work every day at balancing those four things. If you put all your efforts into one area of your life and ignore the rest, you run the risk of losing an important part of yourself. It takes time and energy to maintain balance, and there will be times when some areas get more of your attention than others. You’ll feel like you’re not doing enough, but don’t give up. The reward of feeling whole is worth it, especially when your career feels particularly challenging. ???

Careers have hills and valleys.

Career progress matters. Putting in the dedicated work to reach your goals is worth it. But there are very few careers that progress without failures, miscalculations, embarrassments, and setbacks. Lord knows, I’ve experienced them all. There are moments when you’ll feel like you’re at the top of the mountain, but inevitably there will be valleys to navigate. These are the moments when it’s critical to take a step back, lick your wounds and move on. Having strong relationships and aspects of your life that are stable, secure and independent of your job success will help you gain perspective and move forward. ?They will help you keep perspective and remind you that your self-worth is more fundamental and valuable than your job title.?

I recently had the opportunity to talk to Illumina #interns about my career journey and what I’ve learned along the way. Want to learn more about what it’s like to work at Illumina ? Watch Scientist Intern, Cancer Diagnostics & Bioinformatics, Victory Yinka-Banjo's story here.