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Summer Conversations: What We've Learned at Work

I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed by a rising college sophomore about my career path.  If you know me, you'll know that my path had many twists and turns (kind of like the books I like to read but infinitely more positive!).  She was bright and articulate, and it was a fun experience for me, so I decided to extend the experience to William during one of our evening walks! 



I re-asked several of the questions to William because I thought it was a great topic.  It was fun to see where our answers overlapped, especially in the area that we are both lifelong learners and both mentioned being open to new opportunities.  

The Questions

Question: What is something that you think is necessary to be successful in your field? 

Rachel: "Besides having the basic skill set to do the work, I think it's important to have a good attitude and to be willing to take on new projects and learn something new.  There are many skills that can be taught to someone who is enthusiastic and willing to learn."

William: "I think it's important to listen to your customers and listen to not only what they want but why they want it.  And it's important to offer something that is unique to the market." 

Question: "What's something you've learned about being successful in your position that you wish you could tell your younger self?"

Rachel: "That it's okay to ask questions.  You can be independent and self-reliant and still need to ask someone else for help.  It's not going to make you look bad if you ask for help.  Also, it's important to stay open to new opportunities; you never know where your career might take you.  Even if a certain path doesn't currently exist, one can still appear!" 

William: "Let people know if you are ready to take on more responsibilities.  If those don't present themselves or appear, there's nothing wrong with moving on." 

Question: "What do you like best about your current job?"

Rachel: "I'm never bored and always learning something new.  I've worked here for 5 years and there are still many things that I can learn." 

William: "I love that there are always things that I am learning.  There's no doubt about it, I am always learning something new every day."  

Join the Conversation

What are your answers to these questions? 

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