Jared Dalton

When did you get your first Big Break? How did you get it? How did it go?

When I graduated university I really wanted my first job to be in a hospital setting which in my field is quite competitive. I emailed the department manager at a local hospital to come in for an informational interview and he offered me a job interview instead. The result was a full time contract position which eventually went permanent. The position had been previously posted but they lost the successful candidate and didn’t want to go through a lengthy hiring process again. The job was challenging, but my eagerness and earnesty as a new grad meant that others were more helpful and forgiving when I inevitably made some mistakes. I stayed there for 2 years, despite the position not being a perfect fit, as a token of my appreciation for their giving me my first job.

When you were a student, did you do anything outside of school to build skills or get knowledge that has helped your career?

I volunteered, a lot. As an aspiring Social Worker this had immense value in both my application to graduate school and later when I applied for positions in my field. Although my grades suffered a bit for it, it was well worth it.

What is it like when your job gets tough?

Usually it’s office politics that bother me the most. Often very petty things can become a big deal when you spend so much time with people day in and day out over a long period of time. I find talking about things openly, listening for what’s being said and not said, and trying to avoid participating in venting sessions or backtalk helps to quickly address these issues and prevent them from escalating further.

How did you start building your network?

Keep in mind that from the day you enter your field, as a student or new employee, everyone you interact with could potentially be a future coworker, collaborator, prospective employer or consumer of your services and people will remember you not just for the quality of your work but for the way in which you treat them and make them feel. Treat everyone like you value them as indispensable to your future success, you’ll be surprised how many of them will be.

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. The best moves in my career have been the most risky, but I always had a backup plan and carefully considered the risks and potential benefits.