35 Things to Do for Your Career by 35 - The Muse

35 Things to Do for Yur Career by 35 - The Muse35 Things to Do for Your Career by 35Were all for flexibility. Going your own way. Paving your own path. Doing what works for you (and not doing what doesnt).Were also big fans of not putting a timeline on things. Weve even said that there are plenty of things you dont have to have by 30 (or 40, or 50, or ever...). But when it comes to your career, there are some things that we do recommend getting started on sooner rather than later. Not because some all-knowing career god out there says you have to, but because youll make your professional future- not to mention day-to-day work life- a whole lot easier. So, do you need to check every box off this list by the time youre 35? Definitely not. But, consider it a list of suggestions that, if taken, can have a really big impact on your career. 1. Really Refine Your Elevator PitchWhile it will obviously change from time to time, you should never have a hard time answering, What do you do? In f act, you should be so good at it that people will never forget. So, really spend some time figuring out what message you want to get across when people ask about your career. Communication expert Alexandra Franzen has an exercise to help. 2. Know Your SuperpowerOr, in other words, know the one thing that youre truly amazing at. Serial entrepreneur Tina Roth Eisenberg says that all the most successful people shes met know exactly what theyre best at John Maeda, who led the MIT Media Lab and Rhode Island School of Design, responded with curiosity. Maria Popova, who curates the popular Brain Pickings blog, said doggedness. Eisenbergs own superpower is enthusiasm. See how to find your own super power, here. 3. Know Your WeaknessOn the other end of the spectrum, its key to know what youre not so great at. Not to make you feel bad- not in the least- but to help you know who you should hire and work with to complement your skill set and what tasks you should delegate (so you can spend mora time on what youre great at). On that notenzeichen4. Learn How to DelegateNo one can do it all, and especially as you climb the career ladder, youre going to need to know the difference between the things you should be spending your time on and the things you shouldnt. And, perhaps more importantly, be able to effectively and comfortably delegate to others- interns, staff members, your partner, your childcare provider, you get the picture. These 10 rules of successful delegation will help you do it right.5. Know Your Career Non-NegotiablesYoure going to have a lot of opportunities come your way in life, and you dont want to waste energy agreeing to things that really dont line up with what you want to be doing. So, really be honest about what you want and need out of your career, and then come up with a list of non-negotiables that you can use as a guide next time youre making a career decision. Writer Andrea Shields Nunez has some tips on creating them- and then actually enforcing them.6. Do Something Youre Really, Really Proud OfWhether or not its something youll be known for forever, something you get paid for doing, or even something you really want to do with your life, make aya you have something on your resume that, deep down, youre really proud of.7. Learn From Something Youre Not So Proud OfWe were going to add fail at something to this list, but thats silly. Because, lets face it, weve all failed miserably at one point or another. Whats more important? Learning from that blunder and taking that lesson with you productively into the next stage of your career. 8. Stretch Your LimitsYou know you can manage a 30-person meeting, but a 100-person multi-day travel conference? That might be stretching the limits of your skills. Actually- this is exactly the type of stuff that you should try once in a while. After all, youll never really know how good you are until you step a bit outside of what you know. 9. Do Something That Really Scares YouThis takes stre tching your limits a bit further- were talking going way out of your comfort zone here. Whether its speaking at a conference, going for a (big) promotion, or finally writing that memoir, why not try something that terrifies you at least once in the early stages of your career? As they say, big risks can lead to big-time rewards. 10. Get Comfortable With Getting FeedbackHillary Clinton once said that her biggest piece of advice to young professionals is Its important to take criticism seriously- not personally. Meaning Knowing where youre not meeting expectations is the only way youll learn and grow as a professional, but taking every harsh word to heart is a fast way to make your confidence crumble. So, take it from Hillz, and start taking feedback like a pro. Here are a few tips thatll help.11. Get Comfortable With Giving FeedbackWhether its telling your boss that his hourly drop-bys are really killing the teams mojo or letting your direct report know that arriving to meetings on t ime is, in fact, required, giving feedback is a necessary part of getting what you need and being a happy professional. Learn how to give it well, ideally sooner rather than later. Here are some pointers.12. Get Comfortable With Saying NoFor just being two measly letters long, no seems to be one of the hardest words in the English language for many of us to say. But its actually incredibly important for our careers (and our sanity) that we learn to use it and stand behind it. Heres how to say it to your boss, a friend, and everyone else.13. Have a Broad Network of People You Can TrustWeve said it before and well say it again (probably at least twice a week for as long as were in business), the greatest asset you have in your career is your network. And building relationships takes time, so start now. Heres how.14. Have a Couple of Specific Career AdvisorsWere not saying ratgeber here- because finding the right mentor shouldnt have a timeline on it and because there are plenty of way s to succeed without one- but having a couple of people in your corner who can advise you on everything from a terrible boss to a career 180 is incredibly valuable. And yes, this group of people can include your mom. 15. Scrub Your Online PresenceIncreasingly, what shows up in Google and on your social media profiles is the first impression someone has of you. So, take some time to clean em up Change the privacy on any old or questionable photos. Delete any Facebook or Twitter posts that could be incriminating. Game your Google results to make sure the things you want showing up at the top do.16. Perfect Your LinkedIn ProfileSpeaking of those things you want showing up at the top, your LinkedIn profile is perhaps your most prime piece of online real estate. When a client, future employer, vendor, or professional contact is looking for you, guess where he or she will turn? Yup, LinkedIn. So make sure your profile tells the story you want it to tell (our complete guide to a perfect Li nkedIn profile walks you through the process). 17. Have a Portfolio of Your Best WorkWhether its a printed collection of articles, marketing campaigns, or annual reports youve worked on or a personal website showcasing your skills, having a portfolio ready to go will make it easy for you to show your boss (or future boss) what youve got. Heres more on why you need one, plus some easy ways to get started today.18. Know How to Sell (Yourself or Something Else)Yes, even if you never envision a career in cold calling. The truth is, whether youre pitching an idea to your boss or writing a cover letter about why youre the perfect candidate, youre going to be selling something to someone at some point. Get started on your own personal sales education with these tips. 19. Know How to NegotiateBecause, in most cases, its the only way youre going to get what you want and deserve. If youve never done it before, we recommend starting small (asking your boss to, say, pay for a pricey upcoming co nference), and checking out these articles that are jam-packed with actionable advice (and motivation). 20. Know How to Manage UpIts a common misconception that you have to grin and bear it through a superiors assignments, working style, or way of doing things, paying no regard to whether his or her demands are reasonable. In fact, being able to manage up- or, communicate with your boss and advocate for what you need to do your job best- is a crucial job skill. Molly Donovan offers some tips for doing it well. 21. Know How to Send a Killer EmailYou should never send an email that youre not proud of (or wouldnt be proud of if your boss saw) again. So make sure youre really putting care into the professional messages you send Erin Greenawald has some tips from an editors perspective on how to write ones that are flawless. It may sound like a lot of effort, but we promise its worth it (and will get easier the more you do it). 22. Master Your HandshakeThis sounds small, but a handshake is the quickest way to make (or break) an impression. (Fact A Fortune 500 CEO once said that when he had to choose between two candidates with similar qualifications, he gave the position to the candidate with the better handshake.) Learn how to do it right from an expert. 23. Find a To-Do List System That Works for YouWhether you need your list synced across all of your devices or youre more of a pen-and-paper kind of guy or gal, commit to finding a to-do list that helps you manage your workflow in the best way possible. Yes, you might change methods as you switch jobs or new apps are launched over time, but knowing what works, what doesnt, and what you like and dont like will make sure that you always have what you need to be your most productive self. 24. Know Your Energy Levels- and Use ThemTheres nothing worse (or less productive) than trying to work when youre not at your best. You shouldnt spend any more time wasting your peak mental hours- or forcing yourself to work when yo ure in an energy slump. So, really understand and accept when you work best, and then use productivity expert Alex Cavoulacos advice to map out your ideal day.25. Know How Much Sleep You Need- and Commit to Getting ItWe hope you learned this lesson in college, but if not Sleep is important. Whether you need seven or nine hours, know your number, and get it regularly. Your health and career depend on it.26. Know How to Manage StressStress can really rule and ruin your life, something you dont want to let it do for long. If stress is an issue for you, nip it in the bud as early as possible. Career coach Lea McLeod has some advice for how to start mitigating your stress, but if its really becoming overwhelming, consider talking to a professional who can give you strategies. 27. Stop Over-ApologizingYou may think youre being polite or strengthening your reputation, but apologizing too much, especially for small things or things out of your control, could inadvertently instill doubt in y our abilities and undercut your professionalism. Make sure youre saving your apologies for when you really messed up- not when your co-worker asks you to go back a slide in your presentation. Check out Lily Hermans tips for making sure youre saying what you really mean.28. Get Over Impostor SyndromeWhether youre just getting started in a new field or youve been climbing the promotion ladder at your company since graduation, impostor syndrome can plague any professional. But the truth is, its hurting your career (not to mention your self-esteem). Heres why- and here are a few ways to get over feeling like a fraud and start feeling like the badass you are. 29. Have a Career Emergency PlanWhat would you do if you got laid off tomorrow? If you dont have an answer (or your answer is Freak out Panic), its time to come up with a career emergency plan. A crisis, like being let go or having your company go under, isnt something you ever want to think about, but if it happened, wouldnt you ra ther have a ready-to-go action plan than be running around like a crazy person trying to get anyone to hire you? Heres how to get yours started ASAP. 30. Pick Up a Side ProjectEver wondered how youd do at consulting? Thought about opening up an Etsy store or restoring and selling old cars? Try it out. At best, youll find a new career or source of income, and at the very least youll have some variety in your day to day. Heres how to make time for a side gig.31. Invest in Your RetirementWe know In the early stages of your career, it can be hard to fork over any of that precious paycheck. But savings compounds over time, so starting early means youll have exponentially more in your later years (to, you know, live it up on a boat sipping mai tais all day). Heres everything you need to know to get started.32. Invest in YourselfTodays working world is changing faster than ever, and to stay on top of your professional game, its important to continue to grow your skills. Oh, and this doesnt have to mean going to grad school. Here are 45 free online classes you can take to add some professional development into your routine. 33. Invest in the WorldWhether its volunteering your skills to a nonprofit in need or mentoring a junior employee, little feels better than giving back to the world. Here are a few ideas you may not have considered.34. Know What You Dont WantYou dont have to know what you want to be when you grow up by 35 (or, hey, 95). But, assuming you want to have a job and career you love, its important to at least keep thinking about it- if not actively chasing it. And, often, the first step to knowing what you do want is ruling out what you dont want. Dont want a dictator for a boss? A sales role? A management position? Great. Whittle away some options, and youre at least getting closer. 35. Give Yourself Permission to Go After What You DoOh, and if you do know what you want? Start taking steps to go after it. Yes, careers are long, but why spend one more day than you have to not doing what you want? You have our permission. We hope you have yours, too.