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What is the best career advice you ever received?

Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA image

Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

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What is the best career advice you ever received?

For me one of the best pieces of advice was to think about my career in a series of 3 buckets and looking at how everything I have done supports or feeds into one of the three. It has helped me both with interviewing and getting really clear on my career goals.

I look forward to hearing what you have to share. #WednesdayWisdom

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  1. Barb Hansen

    "Ask for what you want in your career"

    - if you want a promotion, ask for it. If you want to work on a project, ask to join that project. If you want a raise, ask for it.

    And

    "Believe people ( and companies) when they show who they are" -

    If you ask for a raise and you don't get one (without a logical reason), it's time to find a new job.

  2. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Great advice Barb - not only asking but believe people/companies when they show you who they are. It is too easy to make excuses for the other person.

  3. Anonymous

    Early in my career I was told by someone I admired that no one could uniquely offer what I offered. I was a special package which has served me well when I've looked to be promoted, be offered a better job or be chosen for acknowledgement or an award. My mindset of being "special " helps to inform my confidence, my drive and simply provides a basis for expecting to get where I need to go in my career and in my life. It's the opposite of Imposter Syndrome :-)

  4. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    I love that!

    For all those out there - any advice on how to do this if suffering from Imposter Syndrome?

  5. Anonymous

    Yes, you have to first understand its universal and can define be conquered.

    You must first identify what is the root cause for the belief. Where does your imposter belief come from? There are reasons you've picked it up and why it's grown to a level where it impacts your self confidence and identity. Once you understand where the belief comes from the rest is a process of analyzing that founding belief and bringing it into the light. Then you replace that thinking with more accurate thinking/beliefs. There are tools to switch gears when it rears its ugly head. Therapy is the fastest and most effective way to expose this kind of thinking and to lay a healthy foundation of self knowledge in its place.

  6. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Thank you! I love those steps. I've also found that coaching can help too as it also provides an outside perspective and support as you move forward.

  7. Anonymous

    Agree with recognizing it is universal. The more you expand your network (even surface network) and have conversations where people naturally expose just how messy life is for everyone, the more comfortable you get being uncomfortable. But also, if imposter syndrome is roughing you up, take action. Take a class, find a confidant to ask for feedback. Best way to stop worrying if people can see through your BS is to make sure it isn’t BS! Growing into a role will create imposter syndrome because you kind of ARE an imposter. A deserving one, most likely, but you aren’t fully that role yet. That’s okay.

  8. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    This last piece "Growing into a role will create imposter syndrome because you kind of ARE an imposter. A deserving one, most likely, but you aren’t fully that role yet. That’s okay" is so very impactful. These is a reason you have been brought into a role. Show everyone why you are there!

  9. Clydene Horrigan

    once you realize nobody knows everything and that you have skills others don’t have, it gets much easier. For me, I have a team of 9 people who all have serious expertise in our domain and our software. There is almost 300 years experience amongst them at my company! It was intimidating to be given the responsibility to lead this team. I had to remind myself that I am there to help them get their job done by removing roadblocks, sharing information, advocating on their behalf, giving them opportunities to continue to grow, etc. It is not my job to do what they all do so well, and when I keep that in mind, it helps me from doubting myself.

  10. Claire McCabe

    How lovely, especially when the working world is set up to trigger imposter syndrome constantly!

  11. Anonymous

    When I started out I was told one day by my boss that he didn't hire me to teach me and to "go figure it out". While the comment and his attitude were callous towards an employee, I really took this as a lesson to not expect that there will always be people available or willing to help. At the end of the day, my career was up to me, and how much I Iearn and develop was my own responsibility. Of course, we need mentors and a network of support, but no one is going to hold your hand to get you to the next career level.

  12. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    You bring forth a great point; no one can want our career more than us. We have to be passionate about what our journey looks like and find those who will support us during the different steps along the way.

  13. Anonymous

    It’s unfortunate that poor management has become our baseline expectation.

  14. Anonymous

    Remember that you always have a say and a choice. Meaning: never play the victim - state your case, state your need. It may or may not work out, but then you choose what to do next. Accept and commit. Move on. Move out. Even if you are choosing the better of two sucky situations, if you recognize that is still a choice, you show up better and create better opportunities.

  15. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Great point about choices. Sometimes the situation sucks, but it is what you do about it/what you do next.

  16. Anonymous

    If you wouldn't do it, don't ask someone else to.

  17. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Impactful!

  18. Christine Jacques

    Interruptions are your job.

  19. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Such an interesting take. Typically if people are reaching out to you, it is because they need you. (There are always exceptions, but a good concept.)

  20. Jacquelynn Lucas

    Focus on what you can control. If you feel you are not gaining career development through your job, you can control other avenues to gain development through courses that typically the company would pay for.

    And - NETWORK!

  21. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Great points Jacquelynn! Keep learning and networking!

  22. Rocky Mills

    Can you expand about the 3 buckets? How are the buckets categorized? For example it could be 3 different careers or career paths, or maybe it's seeing what career comes to mind by tallying up how most of the things you've done reveal a career path not yet considered. In that way you'd categorize buckets something like this: 1 = Work History/Experience. 2 = Education/training, 3 = Personal life that feeds into a career field.

  23. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Absolutely and great question! The three buckets are your areas of expertise/strengths/who you are.

    Right now I would describe myself as an:

    -Education Advocate

    -Communication Maven

    -DEIB Champion

    I can then bucket my different roles and "extra curricular" activities into what I learned in them to build these as my strengths.

  24. Rocky Mills

    I like that! Thanks so much!

  25. Xu Jocelyn

    May I ask what is the 3 buckets you mentioned here?

  26. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Right now I would describe myself as an: Education Advocate; Communication Maven; & DEIB Champion

  27. Tasha L. Simmons

    Professional goals and personal matters reflect into each other

  28. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Great point Tasha - we are who we are everywhere.

  29. Anonymous

    What are your 3 buckets?

  30. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Right now I would describe myself as an: Education Advocate; Communication Maven; & DEIB Champion

  31. Diane J Huff

    I work in IT, in Infrastructure and ITOps, a very male dominated silo in IT. I spent years trying to be "one of the guys" thinking it was the only way to get ahead. But I hit the ceiling at VP and watching many less qualified men jump ahead of me to CIO, CTO and SVP. I tried everything - getting my MBA, consulting for more experience in certain verticals, being "less me" which meant less smiling, more stern, less positive, etc. But one day, at a conference, I met Sheila Jordan, the CIO and SVP of Symantec and former SVP at Cisco. I asked her how she did it, how she broke the mold and broke the ceiling in the infrastructure world. I told her my challenges, being upbeat, smiling, positive and constantly being told that "I'm not ready" or "I don't seem to have the gravitas." She gave me the best advice ever - she said "If someone tells you that, basically, screw 'em. Don't change for anyone. You know you're smart, savvy, organized, dedicated and decorous when you need to be. So what if you aren't polished to the point of no personality like a male leader - that's what makes you a great leader. You engage with your team, you show empathy and you keep a strong positive demeanor for your team. Good for you! Don't try to fit in that mold. There is a company out there that is looking for someone like you. Don't keep a chip on your shoulder about it. Trust me! Keep looking and be yourself in every single interview. It will happen for you!" And that changed everything for me! I decided to be as genuine as possible and stay exactly as I am - and it finally happened for me. I have the title I desired, a job I love, the company culture I have desperately searched for and the work life balance of my dreams - all because I stayed true to myself. Best advice ever.

  32. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Thank you for sharing this amazing advice and your experience!!!

  33. Bevin Marie

    The Answer to every question you do not ask is No.

    Meaning, ask for what you want and be ambitious. If there is a role or responsibility that you want, ask for it. Because rarely are opportunities just going to be offered to you

  34. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    So true, if you do not ask or let your intentions be known, they are invisible. We don't have our career goals stamped on our heads for others to read.

  35. Karen Taylor

    I used to work in a scientific research lab. I did this because it was what my degree was in and I assumed that is what I had to do for work. I had no passion for the work. It was ok mentally but no real social interaction with others. My boss called me into a meeting to chat. He told me that 1) I was not being let go, a fear I always had 2) just because I was good at the job did not mean it was what I should be doing. To find something I would be passionate about and do that work. His words shocked me but I really thought about it and my passion was helping people. I ended up getting a position as a Desktop Support technician where I could use my brain, socialize with people and most of all help people solve problems. Over the years I have been blessed enough to hold many different positions in the company which I work, each one challenging me in a different way. I am now a Product Owner for a Data Analytics team and I love it!

    I encourage each of you to find your passion, use your brains, be genuine to who you are as a person and use these as a base to build your career.

  36. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Thanks so much for sharing your story Karen!

  37. Jelisa O' Connor

    I'm sure that data analytics salary doesn't hurt neither... compared to what you would be making doing lab bench work. ?

    Thank You for the advice!

  38. Anonymous

    Get the job offer. Then make the decision. You never know.

  39. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Good advice; it is too easy to get stuck in the what-ifs that may not even come.

  40. Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | Recruiter

    Always be in a role that adds to the bottom line and doesn't deplete it.

  41. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    With burnout becoming so widely talked about, this is especially relevant.

  42. Milissa Jacobs

    Mine was similar to the advice to dress for the career you want, not the one you have. I was told that I should learn everything in every position at every job that I had so that I would become indispensable.

  43. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Yes! Learning everything you can in a role will give you tools and insights others don't have.#GrowthMindset

  44. Anonymous

    The more you make, the more they own you. Advice from dad..

  45. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Dad's can give the most should be common sense advice. :)

  46. Beverly Ruyle

    If you don't ask, you don't get.

  47. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Very true.

  48. Larry Watkins

    One of my first managers said, "Keep your head down and do your job." I forgot that twice, and it bit me both times.

  49. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Doing your job well is the ticket to play the game.

  50. Anonymous

    Yes! Very useful practice... But it does not always work for a growth mindset.

    I have realized however to master this one first, be observant, learn what you can and then take it from there.

  51. EMILY KIKUE FRANK

    Advice I pass along to my career clients: you never have to decide what you're going to do when you grow up, but at some point you need to decide what's next.

  52. Nancy Cincotta

    That's almost exactly what I told my HS senior daughter who is frozen with anxiety from the effects of the COVID pandemic. She's even having a hard time "deciding what's next". Great advice for all ages, for sure.

  53. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Such good advice. It reminds me of a piece I was given not too long ago that you should always have a career plan (not necessarily in the I want to have this specific title next - though that isn't a bad thing either) and be able to speak to where you are going.

  54. Sarah Hassaine

    Practice active listening - I was advised I needed to be better at it, since then I validate everything. It was a game changer in managing expectations and clear communication.

  55. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Yes! Listen to learn and understand versus to respond.

  56. Lori Schmitz

    The best advice I ever received in my career is that I don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There are colleagues with best practices I can learn from and save myself a ton of headache while building relationships with my teammates. People like help, let them.

  57. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Love this!

  58. Anonymous

    Work your plan. Say hello to everyone - even the custodial staff. They can’t take your birthday. Tomorrow is another day.

  59. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Being courteous and kind to everyone is great advice. It gives you an opportunity to build one of the best kinds of reputation. :)

  60. Claire Anne

    99%of stuff, errors mishaps, disagreements .. don't matter in the grand scheme of your life. Get some rest, let it go, and find some joy

  61. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Great advice! Rest is an under used tool.

  62. Claire Anne

    Also really loving Ted lasso's "be a goldfish"

  63. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    :D

  64. Anonymous

    Only you own your career and your life experience. So if you don't like something only you can change it.

    I have nevered allowed bad behavior to change my experience. I nip it in the bud or leave. Life is too short.

  65. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Great point. You always get to choose how you react to a situation. Choose wisely.

  66. Sandra Trolinger

    Get it done and sometimes the details don't matter but the outcome does. Always give credit to your team and say THANK YOU!

    Learn your job first and then make suggestions on how to improved processes once you've been there for six months.

    Take good notes because YOU might be training someone for your role as you move up in the company.

  67. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Sharing credit with the team and saying thank you makes the difference between people wanting to collaborate and not wanting to collaborate.

  68. Anonymous

    When considering a change make sure you are running to something, not away from something.

  69. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    A tried and true advice classic about knowing what you want!

  70. Susan

    Set boundaries, protect yourself.

  71. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Great point Susan. And for those who would like help saying no and article link: https://fairygodboss.com/articles/2-simple-ways-to-gracefully-say-no

  72. Roberta Rosenberg

    Don't be afraid to be bold. (This was said to me twice in my career when the supervisor who hired me was walking out the door to a new job.)

  73. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    This one can be hard to follow but very rewarding!

  74. Roberta Rosenberg

    Agreed and everyone needs to define what bold is for themselves.

  75. Tiana Mumford

    The best career advice I’ve ever received was to stay on my job currently on as needed basis for years .

  76. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    It is always a great idea to have an evaluation point to know what the right choice for you when it comes to your career.

  77. Anonymous

    Show up. On time.

  78. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Simple yet it is the table stakes!

  79. Elizabeth Ragone

    1) Always reach for opportunities, no matter how much you think you're not experienced enough. BUT--have a plan to succeed, whether that's a mentor in the field, mad skills they're currently lacking, your ability to learn quickly, classes, etc.

    2) Perfection is the enemy of getting it done. Deliver the best you can, but deliver it. It will never be perfect and no one will blame you for that. But you will be expected to deliver what you say you will.

    3) Know what success looks like: in a job, on a project, anything! Know how your boss defines it (ask them directly), know how your team defines it, and make sure everyone is aligned. THAT is what you need to be driving to, not necessarily what's on the job spec or what gets talked about day to day.

    4) Always be kind. Always give credit where it's due.

    5) Ask for feedback. Take it with a grain of salt. Don't take it personally. Perception is reality. Learn from it all, even if you don't agree.

  80. Krista Haugner Sieg, MBA

    Such great advice Elizabeth!

  81. Diane J Huff

    Thanks! But it took time. Lots and lots of time.

  82. Karyn Waller-Finkelstein

    What are the three buckets?

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