Video: My Biggest Career Regrets In My 20s

I had big plans when I was in school and chased all the shiny objects that came my way. While going after prestigious jobs is not necessarily wrong, it didn’t lead me to the fulfilling career I had envisioned. Now, as a professional career coach with experience in HR, marketing, and management consulting, my perspective is different from when I first started my career. If I could hit the rewind button on my career, here are the things I would do differently.

Choosing Prestige Over Passion

My biggest mistake when I started out my career was chasing a path that others deemed “successful.” These fields typically include management consulting, investment banking, Big 4 accounting, among others.

While some people genuinely enjoy the work in these industries, I have found that most people gravitate towards them because of the money, status, and prestige. When I was in consulting, I did not feel like I was really making a difference with the work I was doing. If I could have a do-over, I’d choose a career from the get-go that sparked my initial interests in recruitment and HR.

Tolerating A Toxic Boss

This was a big mistake I made early on in my career. Over time, a toxic work environment can contaminate your mindset rather than help lay the foundations for a successful career.

So if you think you can influence your boss to become a better person, I’m telling you now that they have a bigger influence on you becoming toxic instead of them becoming a better leader. Toxic bosses can destroy your confidence and mental health so do whatever you can to leave their shadow behind.

Thinking There’s Always Greener Pastures

As a career coach and former recruiter, I can assure you that the elusive “dream job” rarely exists. Every job has its highs and lows. I would instead advise the younger me to look for opportunities that add value to my career and personal growth.

As you’re setting out on your career adventure, I want to share with you three valuable lessons I’ve learned from my own experience. I made these mistakes, so you, my friend, don’t have to.