When it comes to your career, there are a lot of myths floating around out there. It can be tough to know what advice to follow and what to ignore. We’ve busted the five most common career myths to help you separate fact from fiction.
Myth #1: You Need to Find Your Passion
This is one of the most harmful career myths out there. The pressure to find your true passion can leave you feeling lost and confused. And if you don’t find your passion early in your career, you may feel too late. The truth is, you don’t need to have your life figured out at 22 years old. It’s okay to explore different options and figure out what you like and don’t like. Your career should be a journey, not a destination.
There’s no question that finding a career you’re passionate about can be incredibly rewarding. However, it’s important to remember that not everyone has the luxury of being able to follow their passion. In some cases, people have to take whatever job is available in order to make ends meet. Others may have families or other responsibilities that make it difficult to pursue their dream careers. And even if you are lucky enough to find a job you’re passionate about, there’s no guarantee that it will be a successful or stable career. So while it’s great advice to find a career you’re passionate about, it’s not always possible or practical for everyone.
Myth #2: Once You Find Your Passion, You’ll Never Change Jobs Again
This myth ties into the first one. The idea is that once you find your dream job, you’ll never need or want to change jobs again. This simply isn’t true. People change jobs for all sorts of reasons—relocation, family responsibilities, boredom, lay-offs—and that’s okay! In fact, changing jobs frequently can help boost your career by giving you new skills and experiences.
Myth #3: Success Comes from Clocking in Long Hours
In today’s 24/7 world, it seems like everyone is working around the clock. But just because someone else is working long hours doesn’t mean you have to. In fact, working long hours can actually be counter-productive. You’re likely to burn out quickly if you’re constantly working late nights and weekends. Not to mention the fact that employers are starting to catch on to the fact that “face time” isn’t necessarily indicative of a good work ethic or productive employees. Instead of spending all day at your desk, concentrate on managing your time effectively and taking regular breaks.
Myth #4: You Have to Start at the Bottom
This myth is especially prevalent in industries like fashion and media, where internships are commonplace. While internships can be a great way to get your foot in the door, they shouldn’t be seen as free labor. Nor should they be used as a way for companies to avoid hiring entry-level employees or paying employees fair wages. If you intern at a company and do good work, there’s no reason why you couldn’t be hired into an entry-level position once your internship ends.
It is often said that “you have to start at the bottom” to succeed. While there is some truth to this advice, it is not always the best course of action. In many cases, starting at the bottom can actually be a hindrance to your career. For example, if you are highly qualified for a position but are passed over in favor of someone with less experience, you may become frustrated and disillusioned with your job. Additionally, starting at the bottom can mean that you are paid less and have fewer opportunities for advancement. As a result, weighing all your options before deciding on your career is important. Sometimes, starting at the bottom is the best way to achieve your goals, but it may be wiser to look for other opportunities in other cases.
Myth #5: Your Job Should Make You Happy
It’s easy to buy into the idea that your job should make you happy—after all, shouldn’t we all love what we do? But the truth is, very few people actually love their jobs 100% of the time (and if they say they do, they’re probably lying). There will always be aspects of our jobs that we don’t enjoy—tedious administrative tasks or challenging co-workers—that’s okay! Instead of viewing your job as something that should always make you happy, try viewing it as something that provides stability and security to pursue other things that make you happy outside of work.
It’s often said that you should find a job you love that will make you happy. But is this really good advice? To be sure, there are many benefits to finding fulfilling and satisfying work. But it’s important to remember that not every job can or should be a source of happiness. There are many important jobs – such as police officers, firefighters, and doctors – that are vital to society but may not make everyone happy. Moreover, even the most enjoyable jobs can have challenges and difficulties. The reality is that there is no perfect job for everyone, and expecting your job to make you happy all the time is setting yourself up for disappointment. Instead of looking for a job that will make you happy, it might be better to focus on finding meaningful and fulfilling work. And if you’re not sure what that means for you, don’t be afraid to experiment until you find something that suits you.
There are a lot of myths floating around out there when it comes to career advice—especially for millennials who are just starting their careers. It can be tough to know what advice to follow and what to ignore. To help you separate fact from fiction, we busted five of the most common myths about careers. Now that you know the truth about these myths, you can focus on building a successful career that works for you!