Photo credit: Wayhomestudio
You may not know it, but your career has probably been influenced by some of the following phrases you may have heard over the years, probably from parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, or even mentors:
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"A government job guarantees you job security."
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"Medicine, Engineering, and Architecture are the only lucrative career paths to follow."
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"Starting a business is the best way to be successful instead of being chained to a desk."
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"You just need to pick one career and follow it consistently."
If not these exact phrases, then maybe something similar. If you think about it, hearing these phrases may directly or indirectly have influenced where you are with your career right now. You may have focused more on the sciences at school to study medicine in the future or put less effort into the Arts because you were told artists don’t make money.
However, there has been a shift in how people are approaching their careers right now, and these myths we have come to believe are being thrown out of the window.
Let us debunk some commonly-heard misconceptions about career success to help you achieve your goals and maybe even set some new ones.
You need a government job to be successful
We have often been told that getting a government job is the only way to have job security. And while these jobs may offer competitive pay and excellent benefits compared to some roles in the private sector, anything can happen, and job security is not always a guarantee. You may also find a pay ceiling for some public service roles compared to the same positions in the private sector. The truth is you can also achieve career success in any job, and more people in the creative industry are proving this to be true every day. We have seen social media influencers, bloggers, and YouTube vloggers growing their careers using their social media accounts and even transitioning into successful roles in other fields from it. For example, Sharon Mundia, author of the lifestyle blog "This Is Ess," started as a blogger, went into vlogging, became a social media influencer, and eventually hosted her own TV show.
Hard work is the only way to achieve success
We have always been told to work hard in everything we do, and we will reap the fruits of our hard labor in time. Hard work is essential, and most employers value employees with a good work ethic. However, working hard does not always mean you will become successful or gain recognition. You can work hard in a particular job for years, and your boss will probably never even know your name. The key is to work smart instead of working hard; find new ways to work more effectively. This is a great way to get yourself noticed and make yourself more indispensable at work. Before you know it, your boss will be giving you more responsibility because you have proven yourself.
Education stops when you finish school
Many people believe as soon as you step out of the school gate with your degree or certificate in hand, you never have to learn anything else again. This couldn't be further from the truth. If you want to grow in your career and achieve success, you need to know that education is a never-ending process. Learn new things and skills through jobs, contacts, online courses, and experiences to help you become a better professional regardless of the field you are in. You can also attend seminars, read journals, and pursue certifications as you develop yourself professionally. It would be best if you always aimed to stay updated in your professional field.
As long as you have a job, you don't need to work on your career
Even if you currently have a job, always have it in the back of your mind that anything can happen (case in point, the Coronavirus pandemic). This is why you always have to manage your career and professional life continuously. Network regularly with the professionals in your industry and always keep your achievements up to date at work. Within your organization, develop a solid network with colleagues and become the person people go to when they need a solution to a problem. Consider volunteering more for any special company projects that require you to work with people outside your department. This ensures people get to know you within the company and grow to trust you as they gain awareness of your capabilities. With the help of a career coach, come up with a career growth plan to make sure you are constantly evolving in your career path and gaining knowledge and skills.
You will only have one career in your lifetime
Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to work in the same career all your life. We are always told to pick one job and stick with it, but people change, and so do their interests. It is possible to have several fulfilling careers. The key to switching careers successfully is to go about it the right way.
Your degree determines what your career is
Another myth we have to debunk is that you have to work in the field you studied, which is not necessarily the case. Today, most companies focus on a person's previous work experience and skills instead of what they majored in; unless they need someone who has studied a specific major required to perform the job's duties. Many professionals today find themselves in positions and careers that are unrelated to what they studied in school.
Now that we have sifted through these misconceptions which have been steering our career paths over the years, we hope you have gained some clarity to help you see what does and does not determine career success.
What other career-related myths have you heard?