Career Advice Quotes & Sayings

Everyone tells you to write what you know. It's the tried-and-true advice every writer hears at some point in her career. But to take my writing to a deeper level, I've found that a better practice is to simply write what frightens you, haunts you, even. I now keep a sign on the bulletin board in my office that reads: 'Write What Scares You.' I've learned that tapping into the hard stuff - whether it's the fear of loss or a boogeyman lurking in childhood memories - is what ultimately gives a story the power to leap off the page and grab you by the collar. — Sarah Jio

If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat! Just get on. — Sheryl Sandberg

In regards to planning your career, you need to treat it (your career) just like a business. — Auliq Ice

While we share the same set of values, we can - and do - have different business interests. Dad has been there to give me career advice along the way, but he has always let me call the play. — Ross Perot Jr.

I don't even trust myself in my career much less giving somebody else advice. — Tim McGraw

The best career advice to give to the young is, 'Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.' — Katharine Whitehorn

Looking back, it made no sense for my college friends and me to distance ourselves from the hard-won achievements of earlier feminists. We should have cheered their efforts. Instead, we lowered our voices, thinking the battle was over, and with this reticence we hurt ourselves. — Sheryl Sandberg

Never depend on a single income. Make Investments to create a second source." - Warren Buffet — Archie Lee

I don't get much career advice at all, and I would like some. — Jessica Valenti

At my first job as an independent researcher at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, they told me I could work on most anything, but not what I knew something about. That is actually very good advice to a young person starting a career because you bring new ideas to the field. — Mildred S. Dresselhaus

God has been my number one inspiration. I also look up to Will Smith and Jamie Fox who are also personal friends of mine. They give me great career advice. I would also include Chris Stokes, as a filmmaker and music producer. I've been working with him since I was eight. — Marques Houston

Treat yourself like a fast person with aches and pains and a suitcase full of excuses, and good luck
you'll stay exactly where you are. Train like an athlete and, though you may not look like one now, you will become one.
Push: 30 Days to Turbocharged Habits, p. 214 — Chalene Johnson

I had a lot of really terrible advice early in my writing career and I cheesed off people without even knowing it, all the while thinking I was implementing good advice. — Douglas Coupland

What it needed was a subtle but significant change in presentation. The students needed to know how to fit the tetanus stuff into their lives; the addition of the map and the times when the shots were available shifted the booklet from an abstract lesson in medical risk - a lesson no different from the countless other academic lessons they had received over their academic career - to a practical and personal piece of medical advice. And — Anonymous

I married my best friend. I was still in awe after more than four years of being around her at how smart and strong and loving and caring she was. And I really hoped that her choosing me and rejecting my advice to pursue her own career was a decision she would never regret. — William J. Clinton

Remember that you can do anything you want to do. Don't let anyone say, 'You're not smart enough ... it's too hard ... it's a dumb idea ... no one has done that before ... girls don't do that.' My mom gave me that advice in 1973. And it allowed me to never worry about what others were saying about my career direction. — Meg Whitman

The worst piece of advice I've gotten in my whole career is from somebody who said, 'Remember, it's all about likeability.' — Clive Owen

Young people are looking for meaning and happiness to accompany their first paycheque. Inspire Your Career provides career advice designed to help you find more than just material success. Through its empowering and practical lessons, readers will find inspiration as they embark on their careers. — Marc Kielburger

Do you want a level of income to fit your lifestyle or a lifestyle to fit your income level? — Miles Anthony Smith

In one way or another, almost every twentysomething client I have wonders, 'Will things work out for me?' The uncertainty behind that question is what makes twentysomething life so difficult, but it is also what makes twentysomething action so possible and so necessary. It's unsettling to not know the future and, in a way, even more daunting to consider that what we are doing with our twentysomething lives might be determining it. — Meg Jay

Colum McCann, after I explicitly asked for advice regarding my career. He said: Don't be a dick. — Anonymous

The best advice I got throughout my career was understanding what my current managers' pains and challenges are - it's not always just about hitting the number. — Jim McDonough

Over the years, I have repeated Eric's advice to countless people, encouraging them to reduce their career spreadsheets to one column: potential for growth. Of course, not everyone has the opportunity or the desire to work in an industry like high tech. But within any field, there are jobs that have more potential for growth than others. Those in more established industries can look for the rocket ships within their companies - divisions or teams that are expanding. And in careers like teaching or medicine, the corollary is to seek out positions where there is high demand for those skills. For example, in my brother's field of pediatric neurosurgery, there are some cities with too many physicians, while others have too few. My brother has always elected to work where his expertise would be in demand so he can have the greatest impact. Just — Sheryl Sandberg

Never agree to a job interview in which the interviewer has seen you naked. — Susan Mallery

I am suggesting that we don't put the "income" cart before the "contentment" horse. — Miles Anthony Smith

What someone may lack in talent can be more than made up for in self-motivation, self-direction, and follow-through. — Miles Anthony Smith

Riffing on language will create wonderful effects you never intended. Which leads me to this writing advice: 'Always take credit for good stuff you didn't intend, because you'll be getting plenty of criticism in your career for bad stuff you didn't mean either.' — Roy Peter Clark

Life isn't a dress rehearsal; you have to go for it. But it takes hard work and dedication and you might not always get what you think you deserve. It doesn't matter. Handle yourself with professionalism and remember that in business, your personal brand is your greatest asset. Mind your reputation and the rest will come. — Aliza Licht

Reading is learning: Secure Future and earnings — Syed Sohail Ahmed

As I said before, I took to miniature painting without a completely whole heart, on the advice of my elders and betters. Generally speaking, I do not think that one should ever take another person's advice in the things of life that really matter, but follow the dictates of the still small something in one's innermost self. But 'they' advised, and I bowed to the advice; and in this particular instance it was a good thing I did, because the advice turned out to be so resoundingly wrong that it turned me into another direction altogether. If I had gone on working in oils I might very well have been a dedicated but unsuccessful painter to this day. — Rosemary Sutcliff

The surest way to ensure career extinction is to resist change and adaptation. — Miles Anthony Smith

We don't deserve our job. Period. — Miles Anthony Smith

Labor saving devices have destroyed many jobs but have given rise to many new ones. It simply is up to us if we are going to resist or embrace the future. — Miles Anthony Smith

My advice for achieving success is to make a career choice that reflects your passion. Then work your craft a little bit each day-even if someone's not paying you to do It. Try to balance your social life with your educational (or professional) life, and have patience. — Giancarlo Esposito

My advice is to make acting your second career choice. — Amber Tamblyn

The Internet had been a BIG help with my career. My advice to musicians, Internet is the key. It gets your music heard all across the world. — Soulja Boy

When you are conscious you have all the relationships you choose to have. When you choose to be healthy and prosperous you are clear about what your body requires and the direction your career is headed. — Frank Natale

I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career. — Gloria Steinem

You'll never make a fortune working for the boss man — Jeannette Walls

The idea of gas engines was by no means new, but this was the first time that a really serious effort had been made to put them on the market. They were received with interest rather than enthusiasm and I do not recall any one who thought that the internal combustion engine could ever have more than a limited use. All the wise people demonstrated conclusively that the engine could not compete with steam. They never thought that it might carve out a career for itself. That is the way with wise people
they are so wise and practical that they always know to a dot just why something cannot be done; they always know the limitations. That is why I never employ an expert in full bloom. If ever I wanted to kill opposition by unfair means I would endow the opposition with experts. They would have so much good advice that I could be sure they would do little work. — Henry Ford

I remember once being told by a casting person, years ago, that I shouldn't pursue a career in the business because of the color of my skin. The fact that I remember it today means it stuck with me. I thought that was really stupid advice and advice nobody should ever give someone. — Manish Dayal

Your career growth depends mainly on how well you can articulate and present your performance review. — Abhishek Ratna

Writing is a profession that has no real career structure and your best advice when you hit a difficulty is probably going to come from another writer one or two rungs on the career ladder ahead of you. — Sara Sheridan

Money is perhaps the single most important parameter which influences our decision when it comes to a job. — Abhishek Ratna

My advice to aspiring actors and writers is that your career's success is totally your responsibility. You need to make it happen. There is no end point to an artist's work, no set time line you have to live up to. — Christian Keiber

I encourage film students who are interested in cinematography to study sculpture, paintings, music, writing and other arts. Filmmaking consists of all the arts combined. Students are always asking me for advice, and I tell them that they have to be enthusiastic, because it's hard work. The only way to enjoy it is to be totally immersed. If you don't get involved on that level, it could be a very miserable job. I only have one regret about my career: I'm sorry that we are not making silent movies any more. That is the purest art form I can imagine. — Vilmos Zsigmond

Many years ago when I first started my career Maradona told me "to enjoy and play as you know", and that's stayed with me ever since and is the best advice I've been given. — Lionel Messi

Dear GIRLS your very own identity is more important than a marriage certificate. — Amit Abraham

Ever day you spend at work is a foundation for your future. — Abhishek Ratna

My advice to young people is to get something that's growing because that's how you get career opportunities thrown at you that you don't deserve, if you will ... that come at you early because the firms need you. — Hamilton E. James

We spend far too much of our lives at work to have it be in opposition to the person we desire to be. — Scott Hammerle

Even though your time on the job is temporary, if you do a good enough job, your work there will last forever. — Idowu Koyenikan

Our career mantra should be learn, relearn, repeat. — Miles Anthony Smith

Keep up with what's causing chaos in your own field. — John Waters

Mentors provide professional networks, outlets for frustration, college and career counseling, general life advice, and most importantly, an extra voice telling a student they are smart enough and capable enough to cross the stage at graduation and land their first paycheck from a career pathway job. — Gerald Chertavian

I'd never be where I am if more successful writers hadn't taken an interest in me and done me a good turn - be it chiming in with constructive criticism or giving me sound advice about my career plan. — Sara Sheridan

My first piece of career advice is find your gifting. Find the thing that you are skilled at and figure out if you can make a living doing it. — Michelle Singletary

Each job requires a conscious choice of career path, and a different plan of development. — Auliq Ice

Can't decide which life or career path is right for you? Maybe you don't have to! In The Renaissance Soul, Margaret Lobenstine offers inspiration, advice, and practical tips for people with more than one burning passion. — Laurence Boldt

I've been very, very lucky in my career, in my life - from day one. When aspiring directors say, 'What's your advice?' first I say, 'Be born the son of a famous director. It's invaluable.' — Jason Reitman

Losing my father at a tender age was hard, and I felt it more so while growing up when I needed a father to talk to. Especially while pursuing an acting career where I would have loved his guidance and advice, since it was his passion as well. — Ajay Mehta

There remains a natural career progression even though the tougher job climate seeks to delay it. — Miles Anthony Smith

I'd like to believe that achieving a leadership position is all about competency, capability and ambition, so I try not to distinguish between the sexes when it comes to giving career advice. — Heather Bresch

Hollywood is fickle; your career can end pretty fast. If the acting jobs dry up, you have to have something to fall back on. In fact, that would be my advice to kids interested in acting - make sure you get an education too. — Matthew Lawrence

My career was quite unusual, so my main advice to someone interested in a career similar to my own is to remain open to change and new opportunities. I like to tell students that the jobs I took after my Ph.D. were not in existence only a few years before. — Nancy Roman

I am sorry for you tonight, Mr. President. You are facing one of the greatest decisions of your career. Upon what you decide depends on whether or not you are going to get your canal. If you fall back upon the old methods of sanitation you will fail, just as the French failed. If you back up Dr. Gorgas and his ideas, and you let him make his campaign against mosquitoes, then you get your canal. I can only give you my advice; you must decide for yourself. There is only one way of controlling yellow fever and malaria, and that is the eradication of the mosquitoes. But it is your canal; you must do the choosing and you must choose tonight whether you are going to build that canal. — Thomas W. Martin

I've broken a cardinal rule of art, music, and career paths: actors are supposed to act, and musicians are supposed to music. That's how it works. You don't buy fish from a dentist, or ask a plumber for financial advice, so why listen to an actor's music? — Hugh Jackman

It's really hard to deny a kid who's father has passed away. We all just wanted you to be happy so we messed that up. Your career wasn't about the money. Not at first. It gave you both something big to do so you could stay busy and forget how much you missed your dad." His heart twisted, and he whispered, "When I think of him ... I don't remember his face, but I do remember how much it hurt to have him simply there one day and gone the next ... just gone." Nan nodded. "Imagine how your mom felt. Your dad was the love of her life. — Anne Eliot

Make sure that you are fully aware of the work environment which will suit your 'work style' the best. — Abhishek Ratna

Whereas previous generations had to face some unpredictability, current generations are facing unprecedented levels of instability. — Miles Anthony Smith

His supervisor, a well-liked ranger by the name of Dick McLaren, gave Randy a line of advice to which he would adhere for the rest of his career: 'The best way to teach the public isn't with a citation, it's with communication. — Eric Blehm

Knowing how you want your work to look helps you decide who best to work with and where. — Michele Jennae

I guess my music career is my personal life. You know, I've always been a writer who wants to write about my experiences. And so this experience being added to that, I - I want to live extraordinary experiences. And when I give advice to people, I want it to be sage advice. — Jason Mraz

Job change is a very crucial decision. This decision can make or break your career. — Abhishek Ratna

I enjoyed every bit of my swimming career. I think that's the most important advice - to enjoy what you do — Summer Sanders

Make sure you work at a place which gives you opportunities to learn, travel, explore, interact with intellectuals and new work skills. — Abhishek Ratna

I'd rather be an adviser. I don't wanna become a trainer because I think with the knowledge and the business sense that I've accomplished through my career and have credibility, why would I reduce myself down to being in a gym with a bunch of training which is not a bad thing to give advice, but I can do that with a suit and tie on and also be there when the cheques are written. I don't wanna be there when the cheques are handed down from 3 or 4 people's hands and then it hits mine as a trainer because 9/10 times, deductions have come out of that. — Bernard Hopkins

The best piece of advice I ever received about being a writer came from my brother Lee. I was just starting out and he told me that if I wanted to have a long career, I had to be versatile, that I shouldn't just think of myself in one way, because there would come a time when maybe that one thing wasn't working out for me - and I'd still want to earn a living as a writer. — Tod Goldberg

An educated person would know that holding a degree will not make you entitled to a better job nor a better salary than someone who has no degree. — J.B.

Sometimes you just need some reassurance about your Choice before you take any decision. — Auliq Ice

The smartest people who succeed in their careers for the long-term never stop working hard, never stop building relationships, and never lose touch with their own strengths and weaknesses. — Eric Jackson

This is what I tell young women who ask me for career advice. People are going to try to trick you. To make you feel that you are in competition with one another. "You're up for a promotion. If they go for a woman, it'll be between you and Barbara." Don't be fooled. You're not in competition with other women. You're in competition with everyone. — Tina Fey

Everyone is dispensable but some are more dispensable than others. — Miles Anthony Smith

It is indeed difficult to make a living as a writer, and my advice to anyone contemplating a literary career is to have some other trade. — William S. Burroughs

In the name of all that is holy, please consider the wages of a particular profession before you select that degree plan. — Miles Anthony Smith

All of the advice that I give, I'm not an expert by any means, but it's just my opinion. So if somebody likes me or likes y style or my career, I think they should have that feeling. — Molly Ringwald

Finding a job that is a good fit is as much about you selecting the right company as it is about them selecting the right candidate. — Miles Anthony Smith

When I speak in casual conversation, I try to start a mental clock in my head. I actually learned this from Marty Nemko, a San Francisco career coach. He told me, "For the first thirty seconds after you start talking, imagine a green light in your head. After thirty seconds the light turns yellow. At sixty seconds, it's red." That's a good piece of advice for most any conversational situation. It takes some mental energy to monitor myself, but it works. — John Elder Robison

If we don't communicate, we certainly can't get much done and if we don't communicate authentically, what we get done is less effective. — Michele Jennae

What I find really difficult is making career decisions. Normally it will take me two weeks, until the very last minute and I have to say yes or no. For a couple of weeks, I will tune everyone out who is giving me advice, so that I can make a clear decision on my own and it takes time. — Paul Walker

We like to think that we plan what happens to us, but it is chance, surely, that lies behind so many of the great events of our lives
the meeting with the person with whom we are destined to spend the rest of our days, the receiving of a piece of advice whic influences our choice of career, the spotting of a particular house for sale; all of these may be put down to pur chance, and yet they govern how our lives work out and how happy
or unhappy
we were going to be. — Alexander McCall Smith

It is impossible to pursue a successful literary career and follow the advice of all one's 'best friends'.I feel compelled to follow the light which my own intellect & judgement cast upon my way, rather than any one of the many conflicting rays which other minds would lend me. — Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I have two last pieces of advice. First, being pre-approved for a credit card does not mean you have to apply for it. And lastly, the best career advice I can give you is to get your own TV show. It pays well, the hours are good, and you are famous. And eventually some very nice people will give you a doctorate in fine arts for doing jack squat. — Stephen Colbert

Success is a matter of choice, not chance ~ Deepak Mehra — Deepak Mehra

The lucky people that end up doing what they love even find out somethings that they don't love it as much as they thought. — E. A. Davis

Adaptability is the name of the game; if you understand that you must now be adaptable and flexible, you will find a way to succeed in your career. If not, you will succumb to job market pressures. — Miles Anthony Smith

I've had lots of good career advice over the years. I've learned that you must always arrive knowing your lines, you must hit your marks, you must be punctual and cheerful and kind. I'm always irritated with young people who misbehave and young actors who are temperamental. I don't think there's any need for it. — Jacki Weaver

When someone does a professional favor for you, send a handwritten note. You must send a written note to a mentor or sponsor when she helps you. Perhaps even a gift. And here's a great tip from Archambeau: When you take someone's advice, let her know it and how it worked out. So few people ever do that. — Kate White

Can't we do better with Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software? — Miles Anthony Smith

The most important step in the whole process was to just sit down and do it. My hobby has become a second career. Who knew?-Jamie Beck, Romance Novelist — Holly Hurd