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Someone Asks People To Share The Worst Career Advice They Ever Got And They Deliver (35 Pics)
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Whether you're at the top of your career game or just starting out - somewhere along the way you have probably asked someone older, wiser or just with more experience for some advice. Sometimes we receive advice from a mentor that becomes gospel we will pass on to others we meet - or in the case of the people on this list - advice that could have or did hurt instead of help.
Adam Grant, a psychologist and New York Times bestselling author, asked Twitter: "What's the worst career advice you've ever received?" and shared his top three worst nuggets to start it off. Turns out he's not the only one, people hopped on the thread and shared some painfully bad career tips - even Monica Lewinsky responded and we all know how that went. Scroll down to check them out and don't forget to upvote your favs!
Image credits: AdamMGrant
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Not everyone is blessed to have a mentor to give them sound career advice so below are some tips from the masters. From Forbes Agency Council members to CEOs of the biggest corporations, here are some words of wisdom they have shared over the years. The first comes from Karen Wickre, former editorial leader at Google and Twitter, who told Business Insider: "I didn't get this advice, but I learned it by doing, and now it's what I tell others: Always be building your brain trust. This is the web of contacts you can call on when you have questions or need expertise beyond yours."
working overseas you get audited and if you work pass your time required, they can fire you for timesheet fraud, best to NEVER work pass your work time and be a team player during work hours only!
It's hard not to get disheartened when someone rejects your idea. Freelance writer and New York Times bestselling author, Sara Bliss, says she received invaluable advice from Tony Freund who was a staff writer for Town & Country magazine, that has helped her defeat this mindset. "If an editor rejects an idea, do not scrap it. Instead, he suggested refining and repitching it to the same editor or trying a new one.
How long will it take, till everyone get´s that girls and boys can do anything they want to?
You might think that showing off your mental prowess is the key to impressing everyone at your job - but sometimes acting like a know-it-all can hinder you. Said Jacob Hanson, PR with Panache! to Forbes: "Oftentimes, leaders feel that they need to be the "smartest guy or gal" in the room, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Good leaders are the smartest one in the room, great leaders surround themselves with smarter people that will challenge ideas, bring new perspectives to the table and drive innovation.
I see this a lot in the healthcare industry. People get pushed to their limits.
We've all had those days when we feel overwhelmed as if the work keeps stacking up - well Nicole Rodrigues, NRPR Group, LLC said to Forbes embrace it. "I was told by a mentor very early on that I should never complain when there’s a lot of work to do. I agree and tell my team the same thing. Be thankful there’s work to do. When something becomes easy or routine, it’s a clear sign you’re not growing."
It's great to get career advice from people you admire but in the end, you should make sure you're the one in control of your destiny. Said Gina Michnowicz, Union+Webster to Forbes: "One of my mentors always said don't let others manage your career because you will be unhappy with the results. What he meant by management is focusing on what skills and experiences you need to ultimately be in your dream job. I managed my moves carefully, making sure that I built the right skills to be a CEO. In the end, he was right and I am happy with the outcome."
Not counter-intuitive at all. I know tons of people who loved their hobbies so much they started a business. They were plenty successful, but unhappy and started to hate what they used to love. Not saying it will be that way for everyone. Maybe you will be different. Me? I learned the hard way.
This one really depends on the workplace. My first work environment was friendly on the outside, toxic on the inside (took me a while, to realise that, always thought the problem was me). My now workplace is really friendly and I made actual friends here, and, oh my, I can feel the difference.
Or worse, talk about children when you don't have any. Kudos for quitting!
Yup! I have experience with that. I found it is because the other employees are lazy. The boss or supervisor is either not around much or lazy as well. Nope. Those companies and myself parted ways quickly. I'm here to work, not partake in drama.
Just because they're in the teaching profession doesn't mean they will be supportive of your dreams. You do you. To hell with anyone who says you can't be you.
Let me see... I recall quite a few facial hairs on more than a couple of very successful people. I absolutely loathe people who let their ignorance and racism shine.
Risky? What's risky? Oh wait... I get it now. Someone explain to them that "mentor" is not a sexual thing like slapping a backside. Geniuses. I'm surrounded by brain surgeons in search of a brain to call their own. LOL. Damn straight it's hogwash!
I hear it all the time. I also see it constantly. Good for you! Another victory for critical thinking! Critical thinkers don't get Darwin Awards.
Ahh. Good old critical thinking. I really miss the days when everyone possessed it. Did you know it's on the endangered species list? But hey, look at who we have as president!
Ha! I've gotten the opposite career advice. I mean, "we", it was something a professor told the class. Something like "do not stay at the same workplace for 10 years / do not accept a 10 year contract - it's a waste of life, you have to gain various kinds of experience." I think, in the end, it all depends on the individual and the job(s) they do.
As long as you are fully aware of the ramifications, chase away my friend. I always looked down on dream smashers and nay sayers. Doom and gloom just because they are unhappy, or think they know it all.
I was told my math skills were so poor I would never be able to work in computer industry. Wrong. Glad I never listened.
Right on, sister! I personally have found the most rewarding things I've done have been out of love. Love for my brothers and sisters and love for what I am doing.
Why? Because you couldn't possibly handle coming to work and actually putting forth effort? Don't listen to that advice.
Note: this post originally had 57 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
I think Lewinsky wins this round.
Yup I agree! Made me laugh really loud!!
She was the worst of all. If she had character, he would've hit on someone else. Keep you legs, and lips, tightly sealed for married men ladies. Life is about choices.
And she made a wrong one. At 22 years old. Nobody is denying that. But that doesn't make the public humiliation that has been going on until basically now, justified. Especially considering that Bill Clinton as an older married man in the position of power should have been the one to say no. And not only he did not do that he most definitely didn't get the punishment she did. It's not a discussion of "did she do the right thing or not"? It's a discussion about public humiliation and empathy.
‘Eagle Girl’, what’s with the sexist advice? Why not address males and tell them to have the intellect not to hit on someone if things could go sour one way or the other? Your advice, since it is aimed at women, indicate that you do believe that all males are lacking in thought and have no control over themselves like animals do. Basically, you’re being unjust towards all women AND the actual men (that are capable of controlling themselves and of having intellect) out there, all at once.
You really don't know what you're talking about, girl go kick rocks!! Lmfaooo
Every time your boss says "look at this as an opportunity!".
I have been told many times to change who I am that people see my passion for a projects as intimidating. Unfortunately I listened and now I am battling a severe round of anxiety and depression and have lost who I was. I was funny, outgoing, friendly and not afraid to take chances. I wish I had just walked away from those who gave me that advice.
Hope you find yourself again soon, keep looking, you're not far away x
So many of these made me think "what an asshole"!!
You have to go straight to college after you graduate. If you don't you'll be behind all your life. Told to me by everyone. I started college when I was 23, got my MBA at 30 and now make just as much if not more than most people my age. For those 5 years I lived on my own working in the kitchen. Found myself and found a women who complements me so well we could be twins. Been married for 10 years in December and we both still make each other ugly laugh daily.
"Don't work for peanuts" in my opinion the job should come first money second I'm not denying myself a great job opportunity because they pay low
As an artist, my worst advice I received was that I had to " pay my dues" and do the most demeaning and badly paid jobs in order to gain experience... Doing unskilled work while my skills and education were ignored only served to push my confidence down, leading me to believe that my work wasn't "good enough" ( I now realize that the artist I was working for was probably envious of my skills and threatened. He eliminated me by destroying my confidence)
Unfortunately, I was told I wasn’t good enough in math to be a veterinarian,. I’ve been an entrepreneur instead, but I always regretted not at least trying to become a veterinarian. My math was good enough to start three successful companies.
I remember the horrible days I worked at an A&W fast food chain. The supervisor was a bitter old man who was an absolute horror or an individual. One day he told me I would never be able to do anything better than that job there flipping burgers lol Now I work in an ER and love my job!
I just had a professor that told me that doing an internship is key to getting a job..that people with 4.0 gpas can sometimes not get a job snatched up by a 3.0 student that did an internship that looked better on their resume. Then..two days later...I'm reading a chapter out of the book he assigned for the class that says "Many companies aren't even looking at resumes anymore..but are putting forth quizzes and tests to see if the person will be a good fit for the culture of the company and their job." Uhm..excuse me?
I didn't even finish reading them, I'm sure Monica's can't be topped!! Hahahaha
I think Lewinsky wins this round.
Yup I agree! Made me laugh really loud!!
She was the worst of all. If she had character, he would've hit on someone else. Keep you legs, and lips, tightly sealed for married men ladies. Life is about choices.
And she made a wrong one. At 22 years old. Nobody is denying that. But that doesn't make the public humiliation that has been going on until basically now, justified. Especially considering that Bill Clinton as an older married man in the position of power should have been the one to say no. And not only he did not do that he most definitely didn't get the punishment she did. It's not a discussion of "did she do the right thing or not"? It's a discussion about public humiliation and empathy.
‘Eagle Girl’, what’s with the sexist advice? Why not address males and tell them to have the intellect not to hit on someone if things could go sour one way or the other? Your advice, since it is aimed at women, indicate that you do believe that all males are lacking in thought and have no control over themselves like animals do. Basically, you’re being unjust towards all women AND the actual men (that are capable of controlling themselves and of having intellect) out there, all at once.
You really don't know what you're talking about, girl go kick rocks!! Lmfaooo
Every time your boss says "look at this as an opportunity!".
I have been told many times to change who I am that people see my passion for a projects as intimidating. Unfortunately I listened and now I am battling a severe round of anxiety and depression and have lost who I was. I was funny, outgoing, friendly and not afraid to take chances. I wish I had just walked away from those who gave me that advice.
Hope you find yourself again soon, keep looking, you're not far away x
So many of these made me think "what an asshole"!!
You have to go straight to college after you graduate. If you don't you'll be behind all your life. Told to me by everyone. I started college when I was 23, got my MBA at 30 and now make just as much if not more than most people my age. For those 5 years I lived on my own working in the kitchen. Found myself and found a women who complements me so well we could be twins. Been married for 10 years in December and we both still make each other ugly laugh daily.
"Don't work for peanuts" in my opinion the job should come first money second I'm not denying myself a great job opportunity because they pay low
As an artist, my worst advice I received was that I had to " pay my dues" and do the most demeaning and badly paid jobs in order to gain experience... Doing unskilled work while my skills and education were ignored only served to push my confidence down, leading me to believe that my work wasn't "good enough" ( I now realize that the artist I was working for was probably envious of my skills and threatened. He eliminated me by destroying my confidence)
Unfortunately, I was told I wasn’t good enough in math to be a veterinarian,. I’ve been an entrepreneur instead, but I always regretted not at least trying to become a veterinarian. My math was good enough to start three successful companies.
I remember the horrible days I worked at an A&W fast food chain. The supervisor was a bitter old man who was an absolute horror or an individual. One day he told me I would never be able to do anything better than that job there flipping burgers lol Now I work in an ER and love my job!
I just had a professor that told me that doing an internship is key to getting a job..that people with 4.0 gpas can sometimes not get a job snatched up by a 3.0 student that did an internship that looked better on their resume. Then..two days later...I'm reading a chapter out of the book he assigned for the class that says "Many companies aren't even looking at resumes anymore..but are putting forth quizzes and tests to see if the person will be a good fit for the culture of the company and their job." Uhm..excuse me?
I didn't even finish reading them, I'm sure Monica's can't be topped!! Hahahaha