Episode 17: How To Pursue A Career You Love
This week we’re diving into some serious career #RealTalk! Some of you have asked us how we got our start in the Media and Entertainment industry, so we’re bringing you the good, the bad and the ugly of how we got to where we are today, and our biggest career takeaways.
We know it’s a really tough time in the job market right now, and these days, just having a secure job is a blessing. But we hope this happy hour chat helps inspire you to always keep working towards what you’re passionate about, even if that just means networking more, listening to career advice podcasts, or starting to build up your side hustle.
Gillian’s biggest lessons:
Never play small and always be yourself. Being unapologetically yourself in a role will allow you to grow and make a huge impact at a company.
Always leave a company with grace and on a good note. You never know where you’ll end up or who you might need to call up for a job. The best thing you can do is leave with dignity, hard work, and solid relationships, because it will open up networking opportunities for the rest of your career.
Pursue your hobbies even if they aren’t directly related to your career. Passions create balance and help to make you a happier, more fulfilled person. Plus, all of those skills and qualities you learn from your hobbies will end up helping you in ways you never expected in your day job!
Learn when to say yes and when to say no. It’s okay to say yes to opportunities that aren’t your dream job if they will align you with the future that you want (Think: networking opportunities & new skills!). And on the flipside, saying no to the wrong opportunities (especially any soul-sucking bad fit offers) frees up space to say yes to the right ones when they come along.
Don’t take advice from people who haven’t been there. Everybody and their Aunt Sue will have opinions on your career, but if they’re not aligned with where you’re heading and what you’re trying to do, then they are in *no* position to weigh in. If you’re going to seek advice, pick credible, supportive sources who are in your industry and can help you along your path.
Work towards finding your purpose. The world and workforce is changing at an unprecedented rate, and that “dream job” you’re chasing may not exist by the time you get to it. Pursuing a purpose or a vocation instead of a “dream job” allows you to find the WHY that’s behind that “dream job”. Ask yourself what it is that you truly value about the position you are striving for. For example, if you want to be the Editor-in-Chief of a magazine, is it telling incredible stories that fuels you the most? If so, find ways to pursue storytelling opportunities in any industry you enter. This small yet impactful mindset shift will keep you resilient, nimble, adaptable, and always working towards your underlying WHY.
Cailyn’s biggest lessons:
You’ll never feel qualified for your next role or promotion but trust us, you are. It is totally normal to feel uncertain when starting a new role or taking on a new project, but remember that you were hired for a reason! So kiss that Impostor Syndrome goodbye and step into your new position with confidence!
Don’t let work become your life. No matter how much you think that promotion, title, or company will give you the validation you are looking for, it is likely going to be short lived and never worth your whole life. We’re both guilty of putting way too much importance on our career as the main source of our happiness and identity. But we now realize that true validation and happiness comes from yourself and all the stuff that happens outside of your job. Besides, what’s the point of working 24/7 when you can’t enjoy the life you’re working for?
People are everything. People are crucial to an organization and the more you empower your peers and team to thrive both at work and in their personal lives, the better results you are going to see for your business. It is also VERY important to treat everyone with respect, no matter what title they have, because you never know where people will end up and who you might need a favour one day.
Negotiate! Negotiate! Negotiate! You have to negotiate your salary and prove your worth when you are first coming into an organization, because it is so much harder to ask for more money once you’re in. We’ll be releasing an episode on negotiation in the future, but in the meantime, DO NOT LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE! And remember that you can negotiate more than just your salary: If they won’t budge on your pay, negotiate more vacation, additional benefits, or a signing bonus. Fight for what you deserve.
The best career advice Gillian ever received:
Therapy helped Gillian learn to prioritize herself and never allow her identity and worth to be completely tied to a job. She was so passionate about previous jobs, that she put them before her own life and health and had no balance. So when she was laid off, her identity crumbled because she hadn’t focused on who she was without her career. Finally putting herself first allowed her to find her purpose and have the conviction to leave positions when she was in an environment that wasn’t a good fit for her.
The best career advice Cailyn ever received:
Cailyn’s career coach, Trevor Timbeck, gave her this advice when she was hesitant to go from being a people manager to an individual contributor in a new role: You don’t have to be a VP or manage a team to be a leader. Every day is an opportunity for you to show up as a leader whether you are managing a project, a campaign, an area of the business, or just a task for your boss. Take it as your opportunity to show what you can bring to the table. It’s like that Rachel Hollis quote, “Don’t compare your beginning to someone else's middle”. Shine in your own lane.
We hope you liked this solo episode and that it inspires you to keep pushing yourself to find the purpose behind your career journey!
