Skip to main content

25 Things Every Young Professional Should Know By 25


If you want a job straight out of college, don’t knock on Kirk McDonald’s door. McDonald, the president of a tech company in New York City, wrote a brutally honest op-ed in The Wall Street Journal called “Sorry, College Grads, I Probably Won’t Hire You.” He believes most college graduates don’t have the one skill that’s in high demand: computer programming.During your first few years in the real world, what else should you take time to learn? Here are 25 things every professional should know by age 25:

25. “Definitely” is not spelled “definately.”  Spell-check always.
24. You should read an entire apartment lease before you sign it. 
23. An Excel PivotTable will change your life. Nothing is lesser.
22. A cover letter should add color and personality to your resume—not summarize it. 
21. Everyone likes to receive praise, but the smartest young adults actively seek constructive criticism. 
20. The days of a college syllabus are long gone. If you’re waiting for someone to give you direction, have a seat. You’ll be there a while. 
19. Multitasking is great, but some moments require your undivided attention. 
18. Take LinkedIn seriously. 
17. Understand the pay-stub that accompanies your paycheck. 
16. There’s no such thing as an overnight success, but people who do break through tend to start their days while everyone else is still asleep. 
15. There’s a difference between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA. Know what it is. 
14. Even though college is over, you should still find extracurricular activities. Among many reasons, clubs and organizations are terrific places to network. 
13. You’re never too busy to write a thank-you note. 
12. Learn how to negotiate your salary. 
11. The ability to follow through on assignments can take you from a 25-year-old newbie to an essential team member. 
10. You’ll make more money than some of your friends, and less than others. The only thing that matters is that you pay your bills on time. 
9. Bring a lunch to work. It’s healthier and cheaper than eating out. 
8. Don’t step into an interview room without having done research on the company and thought of questions for the employer. 
7. Learn to use Dropbox and love it. 
6. Treat interns with respect. They’ll provide you with management training and ease your workload. 
5. To impress older business associates, ask about their career paths. You may also learn a thing or two. 
4. Under-promise and over-deliver (vvi). 
3. The less you write, the tighter the message. The less you talk, the stronger the speech. 
2. The only failure in your 20s is inaction. Everything else is trial and error. 
1. You’re halfway through the most formative decade of your life. You don’t need all the answers, but you must keep asking questions. 
Start with this one: What’s something new I can learn right now?

 (from jobbuzz.timesjobs.com)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top Skills Professionals Need to Master

What do professionals really need to know? All working individuals and professionals need significant competency and skill in all of the following eight areas in order to be successful, and most are sorely lacking in several if not most of them. Research shows that most are lacking in at least three of these skills at the same time. 1. Communication Skill In order to be successful in your job and career, you must communicate powerfully and effectively with confidence and clarity. There's been  much written about introverts as leaders and managers, and how they can use their innate skills and gifts to succeed as leaders. Your  personality type and level of introversion/extroversion aside, if you can't communicate your ideas in an empowered, clear and engaging way, you  simply won't perform or progress as well as your counterparts who can communicate with ease and strength. 2. Building Relationships So many professionals don't get this one basic point until it...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dumb Things Smart People Do That Limit Their Careers

 [ BY   GORDON TREDGOLD , FOUNDER AND CEO, LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES ] Just because we're smart doesn't mean that we're not going to make dumb mistakes, mistakes that can hamper our career and hold us back. No matter how smart we are, we won't achieve your full potential until we stop making this seven stupid mistakes. 1.Thinking and Talking are NOT THE SAME as Doing. Planning and preparation are important ingredients in achieving success, but the most important thing of all is action. We cannot think your way to success no matter how smart you are. At some point, we need to roll your sleeves up and make it happen. 2. Waiting to be promoted before Doing the next level job. If we want to be a Leader, then we need to start leading . Leadership isn't a title or a position; it's about action, influence and the ability to drive results. Throughout my career, I have seen hundreds of smart people wait to be offered a leadership position before they start to lead. But that...
Post a Comment
Read more

Most Common Interview Questions...

Prepare for the below questions generally asked in the job interviews. Tell me a little about yourself Why are you looking (or why did you leave you last job)? Tell me what you know about this company. Why do you want to work at X Company? What relevant experience do you have? If your previous co-workers were here, what would they say about you? Have you done anything to further your experience? Where else have you applied? How are you when you're working under pressure? What motivates you to do a good job? What's your greatest strength? What's your biggest weakness? Let's talk about salary. What are you looking for? Are you good at working in a team? Tell me a suggestion you have made that was implemented. Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with? Is there anyone you just could not work with? Tell me about any issues you've had with a previous boss. Would you rather work for money or job satisfaction? Would you rath...
Post a Comment
Read more