Jobs & Careers Month discussion: What would you do differently if you could go back in time?

[Summer Hogan]

It's Jobs and Career Month and I wanted to contribute by asking this question. I'm curious, what would you do differently in your career if you could go back in time? 

If I could go back in time, I would have not taken such a long break between trying a trade school (see my comment on the post here) and going to college. As I said in the comment, I wouldn't change the decision I made to go to a trade school, but I would not have taken so much time off after that and done useless jobs. I would have spent that time going to college and tried something different as I did 4 years later. I think I would be farther in my career by now if I would have started sooner. 

So, share with us below:

1. What would you do differently in your career if you could go back in time?
2. What difference do you think it would have made?

[Amanda Barber]

I think I'd have ignored the high school counselor who steered me away from programming due to the amount of calculus (and perhaps a bit of sexism?) Ha! 

I'm not sure that I know what would have happened entirely...maybe I still would have found myself happiest in ed tech helping teachers? Sure is fun to think about!

[Summer Hogan]

I've also had a couple of experiences similar to that @Amanda Barber! I'm glad it worked out for you with the path you chose.

[Manoj Gangwar]

I think, destiny will take you to your destiny!! 

[Summer Hogan]

So true @Manoj Gangwar!

[Craig Nodwell]

1. I wouldn't have put in so much overtime for a salaried position

2. I probably would have had more jobs.

[Summer Hogan]

Great insights @Craig Nodwell!

[Prabhu Palanisamy _Onward_]

Focus more on delayed gratification and learn to understand the fundamentals as opposed to get it done for grades.

[Summer Hogan]

Great advice @Prabhu Palanisamy _Onward_ 

[Kai Becker]

I'm not quite sure if I would have changed that much. 
I think every bad experience still has something good to offer and helps you move forward.

[Summer Hogan]

Very true @Kai Becker! That's a great way to think about it.

[Ricardo Martins]

Hello everyone.
1 - Maybe a study more time because nowadays I don't have many time, I would be braver and take more risks.

2 - I wouldn't miss so many opportunities. 

[Summer Hogan]

Welcome to the community @Ricardo Martins! Great insights. Hindsight is definitely 20/20! 

[Dave Mathijs]

1. That's a very interesting question. I definitely would have chose another direction in high school as I really didn't like mathematics.
2. It would have given me a better choice on choosing my study path in college.

But I don't regret anything, I just took the alternate route towards my career.

[Summer Hogan]

Thanks for sharing @Dave Mathijs!

[Cassie the Jira Mechanic]

I honestly do not think I would want to change much. I think all of my bumps and bruises along the way have shaped me into the person I am and I quite like her. It is fact that diamonds form under immense pressure.  I like the fact that I am a diamond now. I feel like my experience is valuable and not much can break me.

[Summer Hogan]

Great way of putting it @Cassie the Jira Mechanic! I also love that you are a diamond! 

[Dan Breyen]

I would have pushed more for me and my career instead of going with the flow.  Would that have changed much?  I guess we'll never know.  

[Laurie Sciutti]

I definitely would have taken more computer courses in college!  A lot of what I have learned has been self-taught, so I may have been a little more behind than I would have liked.

[Sayed Bares _ServiceRocket_]

I wouldn't have changed anything, so far I am happy where I am. I would very much love to work on where I want to be :) 

[vikram]

good quetion @Summer Hogan thanks for askng 

I do not want to go back in time as the time passed went all good till now. 

Vikram P 

[Ram Kumar Aravindakshan _Adaptavist_]

I would try to pick up more programming languages, Erlang, Elixir or other functional programming languages, which have a high demand and rapidly growing.

[Ditte Simard]

1) I can't say that I would do anything different in terms of what major I chose in college or what jobs I applied for when I finished school.  The only thing I MIGHT have done differently is continue with my Latin classes so I could get my college's Artium Baccalaureatus degree (https://classics.cofc.edu/academics/abdegree.php)  I only needed two more classes to get the degree but my homework for my computer science classes were taking up too much of my free time.  :(

2) Getting my Artium Baccalaureatus would have made zero difference to my career but it would have been really cool to show off a tech degree that was written entirely in Latin.  XD

[Summer Hogan]

That would have been very cool @Ditte Simard Can you go back and finish it now? It's never too late! 

[Pragya_Malhotra]

I would have explored more going out of my comfort zone and done things being more brave and confident.

[Brant Schroeder]

I think I would have accepted the CIO position when it was offered by another company to me.  I think it would have provided additional career opportunities to me.

[Summer Hogan]

Thanks for sharing @Brant Schroeder! Hindsight is definitely 20/20! 

[Ryan Perry]

I Would Have:

1.) Took leadership roles more serious

2.) Took more opportunities to fail

I believe this would have lead to me being exactly where I'm at now, but I would have had fewer headaches and less ramen noodles. No complaints on my end! 

[Connor]

1. I would begin learning about Atlassian tools far earlier, with a heavier focus on agile methodology.
2. I suspect I would be far closer to completing my goals of achieving my Atlassian Certified Expert designation.

[Monique vdB]

I had an incredibly toxic job in my 20s (the VP of the company berated all the women for our clothing choices and weight, among other things).  My 20something self should have walked out of there years before she did. 

[Summer Hogan]

Totally get that @Monique vdB! Those types of things went unnoticed back then, but it doesn't make it right! Sorry you had to experience that!

[Andy Gladstone]

I think, like many others, each stop in my career has taught me lessons that I apply today. That makes it hard to choose what I would have done differently - in hindsight only. 

I do mentor some collegiate and early career starters and I try to give them advice based on what I learned - even if this is advice I ignored.

• Toxic environments are a waste of time. If you find yourself in a toxic environment or relationship, quickly document the toxicity and exit ASAP. The wear and tear staying too long will take on your outlook and attitude will far outweigh any gain you get from staying to show your next employer you are loyal or dedicated.
  • Yes, I was in a toxic environment early in my career and made this mistake. 
• Complete your schoolwork. Don't delude yourself that you'll get back to it if you start a job too early. Later in life you won't be looked at favorably if you cannot account for your education (or lack thereof) on your resume.
  • I made this mistake and although I 'graduated', there was a nuance that has prevented me from having a diploma until today. Explaining this to potential employers or after a background check is not something I am proud of.
• Jack of all trades, master of none < SME. Focus on becoming an expert. That does not mean to be uninformed in all other areas you are not an SME in, but make sure to find something that defines you. And SME can be in intangible skills such as motivation, dedication, responsibility, etc. Be the picture next to that definition in your co-workers dictionary. 
  • I was lucky enough to learn this from a co-worker earlier on in my career, but it took a few years to develop my 'superpower' - and certainly stunted early career growth.

Thanks for the prompt @Summer Hogan! 

[Summer Hogan]

These are awesome suggestions @Andy Gladstone! I especially love the third one. I never thought about it that way! I'll get right on top of that! You have inspired me to take one thing I am really good at and hone in on it to make it my superpower! 

[Bert van Dijk _TMC_nl_]

1. Where you won't take a long break, I would put in some time or break.

2. Time for yourself is always good.

[Sue Wilson]

While I knew almost from the start of administering the Atlassian products, this was my niche, I wish I would have started with the more formal learning paths earlier on.  Now, 15 years later, I continue to learn and grow and would like to earn the certifications that correlate with my experience, but have no idea where to start.  And, I am getting older, so I want my certifications to have impact & meaning, not just certify to certify, if you know what I mean?  

[ABR]

Great questions! It has been obvious to me for some time now.

1. I would have never leave the combination of being a teacher in the day time and a freelance content creator at night.

2. I would earn more (money), learn more ( about myself and the world around me) and burn more (calories and midnight oil) and be more productive and happy!

I'm thoroughly grateful for the current job I have - pays my bills and I get occasional chance to learn so much! But earlier when I worked as a primary school teacher, working with kids in the morning and working as a freelance content creator for overseas clients at night - I was always on the move! Learning, earning and generally having a great time with life!