About a month ago, a friend of mine back in Portugal, asked me to take a few pictures for her article. She works for a magazine back home and the article was about outfits in the work environment. As soon as she did, I had the idea of doing a whole week of posts dedicated to the subject: career. Shortly after, I saw this and thought I must been on to something. So this entire week, here on I Life You, is going to be about career, work and jobs.
Let’s start with the best career advice I’ve been given throughout the years. For those of you who might be new to the blog, I’ve had a different array of jobs since I finished my Master’s, and even before. I’ve worked in restaurants, promotions, sales, graphic design and marketing. My parents always taught me the value of making your own money and how that grants you a certain independence. Up until I was 19, my mother had a summer kiosk, where I would help out. Making crepes, sandwiches, milkshakes, juices, coffees, cleaning up tables, washing dishes. It was very tiring but quite fun. I would get to meet a lot of people and hang out with my mother – whilst stopping to take quick dives on the beach.
Not too shabby! Then I went to college and, to be able to buy things I wanted (not necessarily needed), I got jobs promoting products. Going to schools, universities, stores, malls. Giving out samples, explaining the sale. It wasn’t my favorite, but some of them were very fun to be a part of. One of them even took me to a music festival!
When I finished my Master’s Degree and was looking for a job, I moved to Dubai. And did the same there. It was fast enough to find a job, but not one I wanted to keep. The first one I got, I felt very undermined. She was very cruel and raw but, at the time, I didn’t see how good that was for me. The first career advice I ever got was that, no matter how good you are at selling yourself, you’ll always get caught in the overselling. Not that I oversold myself, but I was desperate for a job, and asked her for a chance because we all had to start somewhere. Not long after, I quit.
#1 No matter how good you are at selling yourself, you’ll always get caught in the overselling.
Then I had a few other jobs but the best one was freelancing. It was very easy to freelance in Dubai. Being on your own, turns you into anything you need. So I was my own accountant, project manager, graphic designer, marketer, copywriter and so on. Whilst working with hard clients that would not give up and negotiate $5 with me, I was given my second career advice, people are never going to see your real worth unless you demand it.
#2 People are never going to see your real worth unless you demand it.
When we went back to Portugal, my hunt for a job continued. It was unsuccessful, but I did get by with freelance jobs. One of them was through a friend and I would work at her office. It was one of my favorite but I felt too restricted. I had to do graphics for their Facebook page and other platforms but had too many guidelines. Which ultimately end up constraining your creativity. The third advice I ever got was, people can see when you like to do a job, the end-result is always better.
#3 People can see when you like to do a job, the end-result is always better.
Moving to New York was a whole other experience. Not an easy one so far. But after getting a job at a place I truly believe and feel so connected to the people, I got my most important and recent advice. You are better than you think and have incredible talent at what you do, you’re just not seeing it yet.
#4 You are better than you think and have incredible talent at what you do, you’re just not seeing it yet.
I would love to know if you’ve gotten any advice worth sharing and how that changed your life!