S3Corp. Tech Blog

There is a large amount of career advice circulating, most of which you have probably heard before: Go the extra mile, do what you love, always be the first one there and the last one to leave. While these may have their merits, they are commonly repeated and may not offer new insights into advancing your career. Recently, a thread on Quora posed the question, “What are a few pieces of unique career advice that nobody ever mentions?” In response, many shared fresh and valuable perspectives that are often overlooked. These ideas can provide useful guidance for anyone looking to make real progress in their career.

1. Embrace Social Invitations in a New Job

When starting a new job, it’s easy to focus solely on the tasks at hand, but the importance of building relationships should not be underestimated. Laura Cooke offers an important piece of advice: “In a new job, accept those first few invitations to lunch or happy hour. If you decline them, for whatever reason, they will stop, and you may find yourself an inadvertent outsider.” The early days in a new role are a chance to bond with colleagues and build rapport, which is often more difficult to do later on if you miss these opportunities. Networking inside your company can often play a key role in your long-term success, and it’s critical not to overlook these early chances for connection.

2. Avoid Appearing Overworked

Being busy is often seen as a sign of dedication, but it’s not always beneficial in the long run. Mira Zaslove points out that working too hard and appearing frazzled can actually hinder your progress. “Don’t look too busy,” she advises. “I’ve seen smart and dedicated employees fail to get promoted because they have taken on too much, working too hard, and appeared too frazzled.” If you look overwhelmed, others may perceive you as unable to handle additional responsibilities, which can limit your opportunities for growth. Instead, try to manage your workload in a way that allows you to maintain focus and still take on new, exciting projects that will advance your career.

3. Steer Clear of Fish in the Office Microwave

While some career advice may seem trivial, certain actions can have lasting consequences. Ryan Harvey offers this simple yet effective rule: “Never, ever cook fish in the office microwave.” It’s a small act, but it has the potential to make you unpopular among your colleagues. In a professional environment, maintaining positive relationships with your peers is vital, and avoiding situations that could create tension, even inadvertently, is important. Fish in the microwave can be an unwelcome smell that lingers, impacting the office atmosphere.

4. Take Initiative Beyond Your Assigned Tasks

Moving up in your career often depends on going above and beyond your assigned duties. Victor Wong highlights that those who succeed in the workplace are often the ones who take on responsibilities that weren’t assigned to them. “As you move up, your future success depends on doing unassigned work and responsibilities. Anyone who made it past the hiring process can do the assigned job at the company, but it takes a lot more to deliver value to the company that wasn’t assigned or even thought of.” By proactively seeking out opportunities and adding value in areas outside your role, you will demonstrate your initiative and contribute to the company’s success in ways that others might not even consider.

5. The Impact of Prioritizing Your Communication

Communication is a key factor in career success, and your approach to responding to calls or messages can say a lot about how you value your relationships. Mike Leary advises paying attention to how you manage your communications: “Understand when people see you check your phone at every call, then don’t answer when they call, they then know you put them on a low priority.” If you frequently ignore calls from colleagues, it can create the perception that you don’t prioritize them or their needs. By ensuring that you’re responsive and communicative, you can strengthen your professional relationships and avoid any miscommunication or negative assumptions.

Read more: 7 skills you never knew you needed for a career in IT

6. Help Others Without Expecting Immediate Gains

One of the most important ways to grow in your career is to help others, even when there’s no immediate benefit to you. Scott Wainner emphasizes the long-term value of assisting colleagues: “Help others even if there is no direct benefit to yourself. It takes so little energy to answer questions, provide referrals, open doors, etc., for people who need your help, even if doing so offers you nothing immediate in return.” The relationships and goodwill you build by helping others often lead to unexpected rewards down the line. Career success isn’t always about immediate returns; sometimes, helping others today can lead to new opportunities tomorrow.

7. The Value of Connections Beyond Your Company

In the modern job market, your network extends beyond the people you work with today. James Schek highlights the importance of connections from outside your current company: “The network of people you know who leave your current company are often times more valuable to you than those with your company.” Colleagues who move on to new roles or different companies can offer a wealth of opportunities, from job referrals to future collaborations. Cultivating relationships with former colleagues can help you stay connected in the broader industry, potentially opening doors in the future that you might not expect.

8. Address Your Blind Spots

Everyone has areas where they are less competent, and it’s important to identify and address these weaknesses. David Osborne explains that blind spots can have the most significant impact on your career. “The weaknesses that you’re unaware of will hurt you the most. This is your blind spot. You must determine your hidden weaknesses and work to overcome them, and you’re going to need the help from others to do this.” Becoming self-aware is a crucial step toward personal and professional growth. By understanding your weaknesses, you can work to improve them, with the help of mentors or colleagues, ultimately making you a more well-rounded and capable employee.

9. Learn from Others

Learning from others who have already mastered a skill can help you develop more quickly and efficiently. John Caprani advises observing those who are already experts: “When you want to learn some skill, look around for someone who is already good at it. Then just watch what they do, and copy it. Find what works for you, and modify it to your own abilities and style.” Mentorship doesn’t always have to be formal. By watching the behavior and techniques of those who excel, you can quickly adopt effective strategies and improve your own skill set.

10. Solve Your Boss’s Biggest Problem

If you want to stand out at work, focusing on your boss’s needs can be a great way to make a lasting impact. Victoria Backaitis recommends taking the initiative to solve your boss’s most pressing issues: “Ask your boss what his biggest problem is, and make it go away.” By focusing on the problems that matter most to your boss, you demonstrate your ability to think strategically and contribute meaningfully to the company’s success. Being proactive in this way helps you gain visibility and credibility within your organization.

11. Look Laterally, Not Just Upward

While it’s important to look to senior leadership for guidance and inspiration, lateral movements can also play a significant role in career development. Vikrant Vaidya explains that people with diverse experiences often progress faster: “Don’t just look up — look laterally as well, because people with diverse experience usually progress faster than people with more experience.” By broadening your knowledge and gaining exposure to different departments or roles within the company, you increase your chances of being seen as adaptable and valuable, which can lead to faster career advancement.

12. Stay Grateful and Work Hard

Entitlement can be a major career obstacle, leading to frustration and stagnation. Scott Miker stresses the importance of maintaining a humble and hardworking attitude: “Entitlement is a career killer. Focus on staying grateful and working hard rather than feeling that things are owed to you.” By staying focused on your work and not expecting things to be handed to you, you show resilience and dedication, which will ultimately benefit your long-term career prospects.

13. Make the Next Person’s Job Easier

In any team-oriented environment, your work doesn’t end when you complete your part of the project. Richard Gary Butler advises that you should always look for ways to help others with their tasks: “Try to make the next person’s job down the line easier. For example, if you are working on a project that goes through different hands, see what kinds of things you can do on your end that will make the process flow easier for the next person who performs the next step.” By anticipating others’ needs and smoothing the workflow, you improve team efficiency and demonstrate your collaborative mindset.

These career tips hold value for everyone, even for those in specialized fields like web app development and mobile application development, particularly within outsourcing industries. Whether you are involved in Vietnam software outsourcing, these pieces of advice can help you build stronger relationships, work more effectively, and advance your career in meaningful ways.