I get asked constantly for job and career advice by recent and soon-to-be college grads, in climate tech and in general. Here’s what I’m telling them now.
Think positive: it’s a big world. There’s lots of awesome things you can do in this world, have confidence in yourself and get excited about the future, even if it’s uncertain now.
The world is changing quickly; challenge your assumptions. Don’t assume that what worked even a few years ago will work now. The tide’s going out on many white collar jobs due to AI and other technologies. More dramatic change is coming.
Take any job where you can start learning. Don’t wait for perfection or your dream job. Take any job where you can build skills and learning now, and throw yourself into it. Just get started, you can always trade up later.
Build generalizable skills, and challenge yourself. Skills like communication, people management and operations (‘getting shit done’) are always going to be valuable. Find jobs where you can challenge yourself in those areas with as steep a learning curve as possible.
Prioritize learning over money and status. Don’t worry if the title or salary is less than you hoped for, or what your friends got. Focus on how fast you can grow your skills and build muscle, and on who you’ll get to work with and learn from.
Go where the herd isn’t. If everyone you know is moving to NYC or Washington, D.C. and looking for a policy job, that’s a strong sign you should try something different.
Meet people in person. In-person meetings are the key to successful job hunts, not emails and Zooms. Ask for the brief in-person meeting, make it easy for them (location and time), and show up having done your homework, with good energy, ideas and questions.
Hustle and be entrepreneurial. If you have it in you to try starting a business and building a client/customer/subscriber base… do it! Just complement it with other work to feed yourself in the meantime. Your first try may not work, but if you keep at it, something will.
Be clear-eyed about pyramids. Many industries resemble pyramids these days (e.g. finance, tech, law sports, entertainment), with relatively few people at the top making most of the money. You can still succeed in these fields; just don’t stake your future happiness on long odds.
Be clear-eyed about commoditization. Today’s software-enabled businesses and systems tend to commoditize people. So try to find ways to work on those systems and businesses (designing, building, running, manufacturing), rather than working as a commoditized cog in them.
Complement your degree with hands-on skills. Poly-skilled people will be most resilient in the coming competition with AI and machines. So become an electrician or an EMT for example, on top of your MBA or cog sci degree. The sum of your skills will be more versatile and marketable than the parts.
Build staying power for a lifelong journey. Nurture your IRL friendships and interests. Take care of your health and don’t mess up your body with drugs. Try to save money and invest it wisely. Remember to breathe. This will help with jobs and career, too.
It’s what you do that matters. What matters most in careers and life is not luck, or who you know, or what you know: it’s what you do. And it’s never too late… so get going!