My career plays a huge role in my life. I've always wanted financial freedom and stability so that I could live the life I wanted without any limitations. As I stated in my last post, I've always felt behind and looking towards the next best thing because there is so much I want to accomplish in my life and career.
If you haven't noticed by now, I like to live a life of luxury. Of course to do that, I knew I needed to position myself correctly and strategically in order to get there. So far, these are the roles that I've held in my career. I can't say where exactly I'll be in 10 years but here are some things that I have learned along the way.
My Different Roles:
Federal Recruiting Intern: Summers 2014-2017
Federal Junior Recruiter: 2017 - 2018
Federal Sales Account Representative: 2018-2022
Federal Account Manager: 2022 - Current
What I've Learned:
Don't be afraid to change directions. I fell into recruiting the summer before my freshman year of college, but knew it was not something I wanted to do long-term. I ended up enrolling in a sales course my junior year and loved the class, so I decided to change my career path right before I graduated. I knew about 6 months in that I had made the right decision and enjoyed that I found a new job that was both exciting and challenging. I started my sales career in partner sales and then recently moved to direct. I wanted to keep growing and gain more exposure into the federal space. You don't know if you like something until you try!
Think Big Picture! One of the best pieces of advice I got was to focus on the company that you want to be at. The hard part is getting in the door, then it's much easier to move around once you're in. There are a lot of things to consider when applying and interviewing to a new job. Does this company align with your 5 and 10 year plan? Will you grow and learn from being at this company or in this position? You must think about every aspect of joining a new company before signing the offer letter. What is their culture? What are you willing to compromise and what are your hard no’s?
Ask for it!! Don't wait too long to ask for a raise! But when you ask for it, make sure that you have reasoning for why you deserve it and what progress you plan to have for the following year. You want to show that you are serious and capable of making an impact within the company. Focus on things that will benefit both you and your employer. The rule of thumb is to always aim high and be prepared to negotiate.
She's the Man! If you are a working woman, in a male dominated field, at some point in your career, you've probably felt like an outsider. In my sales career, I have been one out of very few women on my team. Do not let that discourage you from doing the job you rightfully deserve and were hired to do. Let that be your motivation to yourself. Too often, I have compared myself to others and in the end, that only frustrated me. All that matters is the work that you do, and knowing the true value of it to be able to leverage it to your advantage when the time comes. You deserve to be at that table just as much as the other people at the table. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be invited to the meeting.
Manage your Money! Find a healthy balance between saving and enjoying the money you make! You work hard, so why not enjoy it from time to time! For example, I make sure to max out my 401K to take advantage of my employer match. Don't forget about your emergency fund before taking that fun girls trip!
Don't give up on your passions! This is a big one for me. Obviously, being financially stable is very important to me. On the other hand, I have always loved being creative, and recently found social media to be a really fun way of self expression. Clearly, federal software sales and being an Instagram influencer are quite different.. but we are complex beings and have more than one side to us. So if you find something that you are really passionate about, you will find a way to incorporate it into your life! Explore all of your interests and don't give up. You never know where it will take you!
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