Advice I'd Give My Own Kids About Careers (That Every Adult Job Seeker Needs to Hear)

If my kids came to me tomorrow asking for career advice, I'd sit them down and give them the same straight talk I wish every adult job seeker could hear. Because here's the thing, whether you're 22 or 52, the fundamentals of building a meaningful career haven't changed, even if everything else has.

After nearly three decades in recruiting, I've watched countless people succeed and stumble. The patterns are clear. The advice I'd give my own children isn't sugar-coated or theoretical, it's the real stuff that actually moves the needle.

Your Network Is Everything (But Make It Real)

I'd tell my kids to stop thinking about networking as some sleazy, transactional thing. Real networking is just being genuinely interested in other people and their stories. When you meet someone in your field, ask about their career journey. What challenges did they face? What would they do differently?

Here's what most people get wrong: they only reach out when they need something. Build relationships when you don't need anything. Send a congratulatory message when someone gets promoted. Share an article that reminds you of a conversation you had. Check in just because.

Your professional relationships become your personal board of directors. These are the people who'll advocate for you, connect you to opportunities, and give you honest feedback when you need it most. In today's job market, where skills-based hiring is revolutionizing how we recruit, having people who can vouch for your actual abilities matters more than ever.

Skills Over Titles, Always

This is where I see so many adult job seekers get stuck. They chase impressive job titles instead of focusing on what they can actually do. I'd tell my kids, and I'm telling you, that in five years, no one will care if you were a "Senior Vice President" if you can't demonstrate concrete skills that solve real problems.

The job market has flipped. Companies are hiring for capabilities, not credentials. Focus on building skills that are transferable, valuable, and hard to replicate. Learn to solve problems, communicate clearly, adapt quickly, and work with different types of people.

Keep a running list of what you've learned and accomplished. Not just the big wins, the small ones too. You learned a new software system? Write it down. You helped resolve a conflict between team members? That's a skill. You figured out a more efficient way to handle a routine task? Document it.

When someone asks what you do, don't lead with your title. Lead with the problems you solve.

Learn to Negotiate (And Ask Better Questions)

I'd teach my kids that everything in their career is negotiable, not just salary, but responsibilities, schedules, professional development opportunities, and even how success gets measured. But before you can negotiate effectively, you need to ask better questions.

In interviews, don't just answer questions, ask them. "What does success look like in this role?" "What are the biggest challenges the team is facing?" "How do you prefer to give feedback?" "What opportunities are there for growth?"

These questions tell you whether this is a place where you can thrive. They also show the employer that you're thinking strategically about the role, not just desperate for any job.

When it comes to negotiation, do your homework. Know what people in similar roles are earning. Understand the company's constraints and priorities. Then negotiate based on value, not need. "Based on my experience with X and the results I delivered at Y, I believe the salary range should be closer to Z."

Take Pride in Small Wins

Here's something I wish more people understood: career satisfaction comes from accumulating small victories, not waiting for the big promotion. I'd tell my kids to celebrate when they master a new skill, when a colleague asks for their advice, when they solve a problem that's been nagging the team.

These small wins build momentum and confidence. They also create stories you can tell in interviews and performance reviews. "I noticed our client follow-up process was inconsistent, so I created a simple tracking system that reduced response time by 40%."

Don't wait for permission to make improvements. Look for small ways to add value, then talk about what you've done.

Be Honest About What You Actually Want

This might be the most important advice I'd give my kids: figure out what you actually want from work, not what you think you're supposed to want.

Some people thrive on high-pressure, high-reward environments. Others want stability and predictable schedules. Some want to manage teams; others want to be individual contributors. Some prioritize learning opportunities; others want work-life balance.

None of these preferences are right or wrong, but being dishonest about them leads to misery. If you hate uncertainty, don't take a job at a startup just because it sounds impressive. If you need variety and challenge, don't settle for a role where you'll be doing the same tasks for years.

The current job market actually rewards this honesty. With remote work options, project-based roles, and companies competing for talent, there are more ways than ever to find work that fits your actual preferences instead of forcing yourself to fit a predetermined mold.

Don't Be Afraid to Walk Away From Bad Fits

I'd tell my kids, and I'm telling you, that staying in the wrong role for too long is career suicide. If you're consistently undervalued, if your skills aren't being developed, if the culture is toxic, if you dread Monday mornings, it's time to start planning your exit.

As I've written before, people don't leave bad companies; they leave bad managers and bad fits. Life is too short to spend 40+ hours a week somewhere that drains your energy and stunts your growth.

But, and this is important, don't just quit in a huff. Plan your departure strategically. Build your skills while you're there. Network internally and externally. Save money. Then make your move from a position of strength, not desperation.

Adaptability Is Your Superpower

The one thing I know for certain about my kids' careers is that they'll be nothing like mine. The pace of change in every industry is accelerating. New technologies, new business models, new ways of working, what got you here won't get you there.

I'd tell them to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Say yes to projects outside your expertise. Volunteer for the task force exploring new software. Take the assignment in a different department. Each time you adapt to something new, you prove to yourself and others that you can handle whatever comes next.

This adaptability is especially crucial now. Companies are looking for people who can learn quickly and pivot when needed. The most successful professionals aren't the ones with the most experience in one narrow area, they're the ones who can apply their skills to new challenges.

Find People Who Believe in You

Finally, I'd tell my kids to surround themselves with people who believe in their potential and aren't afraid to push them toward it. Find mentors, yes, but also find peers who are ambitious and supportive. Find managers who invest in your development, not just your productivity.

These relationships matter more than you might think. When you're considering a career move, these are the people whose opinions you trust. When you're doubting yourself, they remind you of your capabilities. When opportunities arise, they think of you.

Here's the thing about career advice: the best insights come from people who've seen what actually works, not just what sounds good in theory. Whether you're just starting out or evaluating whether your current role is holding you back, the fundamentals remain the same.

At Great Bay Staffing, we don't just place people in jobs: we help them build careers that actually fit their lives and goals. The advice I'd give my own kids is the same guidance we offer every candidate who works with us: honest, practical, and focused on long-term success, not just the next paycheck.

Because whether you're someone's kid starting out or someone's parent changing direction, you deserve career support that treats you like family.