Mentoring and coaching others was one of the best parts of my job as a vice president of engineering at Google, and I tried to spend as much time on this passion as I could afford. Through countless conversations over a decade, patterns emerged and I found myself dispensing the same three pieces of advice.
Pick your next job to prepare for the one after
Identify the gaps in skills, experience, etc., you will have for that job
- Recruiters and hiring managers look for candidates who have already demonstrated success in the skill or role they need
- If that aligns with your long-term goals, great – but if it does not, you need to proactively pursue jobs that help you close the gaps
Consider the 3 most important aspects of your next job
Your manager: a lousy manager will make the best project a nightmare, and a great one will uplevel all aspects of a job.
- Team members and peers: also hugely important, both from a social perspective and from one offering an environment where you will be able to learn the skills you need for your next jobs.
Try the “look back on your life” rule
When faced with a tough or scary career decision (or other life decision)-like moving to another country, or switching industries-picture yourself old and gray, telling your grandchildren about your life.
- In that reflection, if you take the path you’re considering, will you be more likely to regret that path or regret not having taken it?
