7 Things 20-Somethings Think Will Improve Their Careers That Probably Won't

I wasted my 20s in a dead-end, ethically sketchy job.

It took me until I was 29 to break out finally and set my life and career on the right path.

I made a lot of mistakes along the way. I saw many friends and colleagues likewise make decisions they thought would help their careers, which at best had no effect and at worst negatively impacted their mental and physical health and trapped them further in jobs they hated.

So here are 7 things that we're often told will improve our careers that may not hold the answers.

1. Getting a raise

What could possibly be wrong with getting a raise?

In itself, nothing. But getting a raise can often lead to us sticking around in a job for longer than we should. Time that could be better spent elsewhere.

We might be unhappy in our job, but know that finding a new job that is more aligned to our values or offers more opportunities is hard. So instead, we take the easier route and ask for a raise - temporarily making us feel better about our situation and leading us to stay longer.

Other times the raise is initiated by our employer. Our boss might not particularly value or care about us, but they know that they can buy our loyalty and hard work with a simple psychological manipulation called Favor Reciprocation. Our company gives us a raise, and in return, we feel indebted to our company.

Whether requesting a raise or being the surprise recipient of a raise, make sure you question the motivations behind it.

2. Chasing a promotion

Our bosses always like to keep us on the hook. Always reaching for the next rung of the career ladder.

As a result, we often go the extra mile, work weekends, or even take on the responsibilities of the next pay grade well before we're promoted into it.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to do a good job or proving yourself capable of progression. But be careful not to fall into the trap where your boss doesn't see any point in promoting you as he's convinced you to do executive-level work for intern-level money.

3. Having a career plan

Having no clear idea of what we want out of our work can leave us floundering in unsatisfying jobs.

But having too rigid a career plan can also be damaging. We can end up so blinkered on one path that we don't even notice new avenues opening up.

8 years ago I was working in a tech startup. Then I owned a wine business. Now I write about travel, entrepreneurship, finance, and personal development. None of these changes would have happened if I had stuck to a career plan.

Maybe an internal compass guiding you towards more meaningful work is more useful than a plan.

4. Building a solid resume

We're conditioned to believe that the secret to career success is having the perfect resume.

There was a time when hiring managers wanted to see nice neat career progression on your resume. Job-hopping or gaps on a resume meant instant rejection. And they wanted you to grovel to them about how much you want their job in a covering letter.

But those days are gone. Conventional hiring is dead.

In the smartest businesses, the best talent is getting hired without going through traditional job application processes.

A LinkedIn report found that the most important factor facing today's recruiters is identifying and engaging 'passive talent'. That is, proactively engaging directly with the people they think can make the biggest impact on their business even if those people are not applying for jobs.

The top talent is neatly sidestepping the need to ever write up their resume, let alone spend hours writing covering letters or complete tedious job applications.

The best way to advance your career is to show that you are already solving real problems that businesses are facing. The right people will notice.

In the words of Steve Martin, you need to be so good they can't ignore you.

5. Moving into management

You're great at your job. So what's the next step? Become a manager.

But management is an entirely different discipline. The very things that make you great at your job might make you a bad manager.

When I was 23, I was one of the top salespeople in my company and quickly progressed into a management role. But suddenly, rather than just paying lip service to my boss and getting things done in my own way, I had to toe the company line. I had to deal with conflict. I had to motivate my team.

I was terrible at all of it. And I've seen it happen to others many times since.

All of this is not to say do not try to progress or become a manager. But be mindful about whether a management role would really suit you. You may be better suited to a leadership role. Or perhaps to becoming a solopreneur. Or ditching the idea of "career progression" altogether.

6. Focusing on the job, not the people

We can often be tempted to take jobs in companies we know to have a toxic work environment for the caché of being able to say we worked there. Or holding out for what we think is the perfect job, regardless of where it is. Or taking a job just because the company is offering the best salary.

But working alongside the right people can be far more important than securing the perfect job.

The perfect job with a team of jerks, a boss who's only out for himself, and a toxic company culture can quickly turn your dream job into a nightmare.

Conversely, an inspirational team of colleagues, a nurturing boss, and a company with the right values can bring untold benefits. Even if the job description doesn't check all the boxes.

You may be encouraged to discover new skills and open up entirely new paths. You may meet people who go on to be valuable contacts or lifelong friends. In short, the right group of people could turn a meh job into your dream job.

It's important to strike the right balance, but I'd certainly rather choose a less than perfect job working alongside great people, than a job that looks perfect on paper but in the wrong environment, every time.

7. Putting work first

Burnout is not worth it. Trust me.

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Summing up

I wasted my 20s.

And a large part of that was because I didn't make the right career decisions. I stayed far too long working a job that didn't fit my values in a toxic work environment. I chased money, promotions, and a fairly disastrous progression into management.

Don't be like me.

• Consider whether a pay rise is really the answer or merely a distraction from bigger issues.
• Be careful with getting stuck on the hamster wheel of promotions.
• Be intentional about your career path but don't fixate on a particular plan.
• Remember that the best employers are looking for more than just a solid resume.
• Understand that not everyone is suited to management, and there are other paths you can follow.
• Focus more on working with exceptional people and less on securing the "perfect" job.
• Above all, don't burn yourself out. You can never get that time back.

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