Unspoken Career Advice from My Parents
I think my siblings would agree with me when I say that our parents are the hardest working people we know. To say they are dedicated to their careers would be an understatement. For example, my dad has worked in maintenance at the same hospital for more than 40 years, and my mom makes a living cleaning houses (most of her clients have been her clients for nearly 25 years).
Although they are both hardworking, their career advice to us was relatively minimal. Obviously, like most parents, they always encouraged us to find a career in something we are passionate about and to work hard always. However, I think the unspoken career advice that my parents bestowed upon us was more valuable than anything they could have said.
In honor of Parent’s Day, listed below are the valuable non-verbal lessons, wisdom and advice that my parents unknowingly shared with us throughout the last three decades:
Complaining doesn’t help: I am certain I’ve never heard my dad complain. He wakes up every week day at 5:00 AM (or earlier) and never once have I heard him say, “I am so tired!” He is always mentally prepared to go to work and face whatever the day may bring him. On the other hand, my mom previously worked as a Workers Comp Collections Specialist and did not enjoy it. She wanted a career that provided her with more flexibility and allowed her to spend more time with her family. Instead of accepting her 9-5 fate, she quit her job and decided to start her own cleaning business. Obviously, there are some days that my parents don’t want to go to work (who has fun at their job every day?), but it’s important to enjoy the work you do. If you’re in a job that you hate, you should make a change! Complaining won’t fix anything. Do your homework and find an industry or career path that sounds interesting to you and take the next step.
Take pride in your work: Whether you are a server or a CEO, taking pride in your work is so important. My mom has never been ashamed to tell anyone that she cleans houses for a living. If anything, she’ll tell you why it’s a great gig (flexible hours, no “boss”, etc.) If you can’t take pride in your work, then chances are you’ve lost interest. Think back to when you applied for this job and remember what made you want to work there. Was it the staff, the mission, the benefits? Remembering these things help reignite the passion behind your work.
Give it your all: One piece of career advice (and general life advice) that my parents consistently instilled in us was: Do not be lazy. Laziness was considered a cardinal sin in our household. Therefore, when we hit double digits, my siblings and I had to take “odd jobs” around the neighborhood to pay for any toys or gadgets we wanted. On behalf of my siblings, I will say that we did not enjoy this; however, it definitely sparked a strong work ethic in all of us (that we arguably needed). It’s so important to give 100 percent in any job (big or small). After college, I worked in retail for a few years. I knew it wasn’t my chosen career path, but I had to make a living. I discovered that I got out of it what I put in, which was a lot. And lo and behold, the skills I learned in retail continue to help me in my current role of Communications Manager at National Able Network.
I’m so grateful to my parents for leading by example and showcasing us how to be successful in both our professional and personal lives.
