What is one thing you wish you knew before starting your career?
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87 answers
Heather’s Answer
Alwyn’s Answer
Dr. Ray’s Answer
Dear Mirela,
Your question really made me stop and think. I had very little idea of what it meant to work as a psychologist on a day to day basis. I originally wanted to teach at a university level but couln't get a job there. However, in retrospect I am glad i didn't go this route. Academic positions as a rule don't pay well and the politics and infighting among faculty members can be really vicious. After working in several mental health centers I went into private practice, which was immensely rewarding. However I wish I had known more about running a business. In addition to working with my clients I had to think about marketing, billing, paying taxes, etc., none of which was ever addressed in my training.
One of my professors told me "a degree is as good as your first job." Even if you are well prepared in a given field there will be many things you never thought of and have to learn once you start working, but this can be fun and needn't be unpleasant.
Douglas’s Answer

Leanne’s Answer
Kim’s Answer
I love your questions!
I work helping people to find jobs. What I wish I knew is how focused the social services are on "measurements."
1. How many customers did you help today?
2. How many job referrals did you give?
etc etc etc
Unfortunately, it is more important to give out a bunch of job referrals than it is to make sure the client has a good resume or is able to hold their own in an interview. That is because whoever funds us desires "accountability" so everything has to be measured. It's not possible to measure the effect of talking with someone for 20 minutes and boosting their self-esteem, or helping them develop a resume that will get them to the next step. I love what I do, and get a lot of positive feedback from my customers. I could do without the statistics!
Kim
Jasanpreet Kaur’s Answer
career careerplanning
Kimberly’s Answer
John’s Answer
I wish I had taken more time in Highschool to better understand student loans, schooling options and career paths. I went to college based on a dream of playing college football and less of a vision around what I wanted to do for the next 40 years of my life. I tried finance, then international business before selecting Architecture as my major. When I came out of school I went into Sales and Entrepreneurship before landing with a corporate company where I found my passion is really in people leadership and development.
Looking back, I would have liked to taken some time to pull back, job shadow careers and then make a more educated decision on what I needed to enter that career field based on degree of choice and school. That would have saved me time and money and ultimately, lead me to my passion sooner. Hope this helps!
Jason’s Answer
Jon’s Answer
I wish I knew how to ask the right questions when interviewing for a company. Make sure to ask all the questions you want to know while interviewing. Be very curious and if something doesn't sound right, follow your gut. Make sure everything you say in an interview is positioning yourself in a positive light.
Gaurav’s Answer
Swathika’s Answer
What a brilliant question you've asked! I truly admire the way you think. To be honest, there isn't just one thing I wish I had known before embarking on my professional journey. Instead, there's a handful of valuable insights I wish I had grasped earlier. Here they are:
1. The art of being street-smart.
2. The knack for managing people effectively.
3. The skill of blending in with colleagues.
4. The courage to say "no" when it's necessary.
5. The confidence to express myself and stand my ground.
Thank you for such an insightful question. I hope my response sheds some light on your query.
Ronald’s Answer
Narrowing it down to one thing I wish I knew would be hard. I would want to be told that communication skills are one the most important skills beyond the technical knowledge needed for the career you choose. Effectively communicating what you want and comprehending what the other people are trying to communicate to you, will better your quality of life. Understanding vocal tones and the body language of the people you are conversing with, will help you avoid misunderstandings and problems.