2 answers
Lily
Student
Audubon, Minnesota
1
Question
Updated
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How will I know when to take career chances vs when to just deal with everything?
I am a senior in high school in the middle of nowhere, North Minnesota. I am also quite stubborn, so how will I know when to just let things happen? #Fall25
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2 answers
Jenny Sullivan
Editorial Standards and Content Design standards for our digital teams
2
Answers
Louisville, Kentucky
Updated
Jenny’s Answer
This is a really tough subject to navigate, and most people have to learn the hard way. When you know in your gut that it's time to go, find something else and then go. There's also a big difference between a job and a career. If it doesn't have a future where you can grow, that's a job. If there is a way for you to use your skills and brain to move forward in a company or field, that's a career. Sometimes jobs are the right answer and can help you land on a career path. Sometimes jobs are all that's available and that's okay too. Jobs helped me find my career.
General career advice to make sure you never feel trapped:
- I was told to never leave a job without something else lined up and that's held true in my experience.
- Find career mentors and ask them to review your resume, which you should ALWAYS keep updated, even if your job is great. These don't have to be people in "high places" but might be a leader in a different department who handles problems the way you want to handle them. My current mentor talked about the way she leads people with compassion, which sold me. My mentor for next year had me hooked after seeing her not take "we don't know what happened" as an answer to a big problem.
- Tell your leaders what you want to learn or new areas you want to explore, like a class or training you want to take or a career opportunity/path that interests you.
- Don't burn the bridge. It's tempting, but I have benefitted many times in my career by remaining above reproach and being sure to leave rooms (and roles) on good terms. If everyone in my department was fired tomorrow, I know I could count on good connections built in past roles to help me find something new.
General career advice to make sure you never feel trapped:
- I was told to never leave a job without something else lined up and that's held true in my experience.
- Find career mentors and ask them to review your resume, which you should ALWAYS keep updated, even if your job is great. These don't have to be people in "high places" but might be a leader in a different department who handles problems the way you want to handle them. My current mentor talked about the way she leads people with compassion, which sold me. My mentor for next year had me hooked after seeing her not take "we don't know what happened" as an answer to a big problem.
- Tell your leaders what you want to learn or new areas you want to explore, like a class or training you want to take or a career opportunity/path that interests you.
- Don't burn the bridge. It's tempting, but I have benefitted many times in my career by remaining above reproach and being sure to leave rooms (and roles) on good terms. If everyone in my department was fired tomorrow, I know I could count on good connections built in past roles to help me find something new.
Heidi Kraemer
Employee Engagement
7
Answers
Rosemount, Minnesota
Updated
Heidi’s Answer
This is such a great question and one a lot of adults still ask themselves the same thing! What I’ve learned is that taking career chances becomes easier when you pay attention to three things: being open, being flexible, and being willing.
1. Be open
Stay curious. If something new comes along, an idea, a project, a class, you don’t have to commit to it forever. Just be open enough to explore it. Opportunities usually show up when you’re looking for them.
2. Be flexible
Career chances often don’t look “perfect” at first. Maybe the timing feels weird, or the team is different, or it pushes you outside your comfort zone. If you stay flexible, you’ll spot possibilities other people miss.
3. Be willing
This one is huge: be willing to ask for more. Ask for responsibilities that stretch you. Ask to learn something new. Ask to be part of something interesting. Some of the best chances come from raising your hand, not waiting to be chosen.
So how do you know when to take a chance vs. when to stay put? A simple test:
If something helps you grow, teaches you something new, or gets you excited (even a little nervous) that’s usually a chance worth taking.
If something is just uncomfortable because it’s hard or boring, but you know it’s temporary or necessary, that’s usually something to work through.
Most of my career success, and even my happiness, at work came from following those three beliefs. They don’t require special skills. You can practice them anywhere, anytime. Good luck—you’re asking the right questions already!
1. Be open
Stay curious. If something new comes along, an idea, a project, a class, you don’t have to commit to it forever. Just be open enough to explore it. Opportunities usually show up when you’re looking for them.
2. Be flexible
Career chances often don’t look “perfect” at first. Maybe the timing feels weird, or the team is different, or it pushes you outside your comfort zone. If you stay flexible, you’ll spot possibilities other people miss.
3. Be willing
This one is huge: be willing to ask for more. Ask for responsibilities that stretch you. Ask to learn something new. Ask to be part of something interesting. Some of the best chances come from raising your hand, not waiting to be chosen.
So how do you know when to take a chance vs. when to stay put? A simple test:
If something helps you grow, teaches you something new, or gets you excited (even a little nervous) that’s usually a chance worth taking.
If something is just uncomfortable because it’s hard or boring, but you know it’s temporary or necessary, that’s usually something to work through.
Most of my career success, and even my happiness, at work came from following those three beliefs. They don’t require special skills. You can practice them anywhere, anytime. Good luck—you’re asking the right questions already!