10 Women Reveal The Career Advice They'd Give Their 20-Year-Old Selves

The top voted comment in the thread says to “get a job and stick to it, no matter where it is it [or] how marginal it is.” Establishing your work ethic can be done in pretty much every workplace environment, regardless of whether it’s your dream job or not. And keep in mind that CEOs didn’t comes of out college running a company. Many CEO’s career paths are long and winding and paved with seemingly “menial” entry-level positions.

“The first job you get in your field will be shit,” Redditor Pwrls writes. “It's okay, because 2-3 years experience makes a world of difference. That second job might pay double.” There are also ways to turn a job you hate into one you love by doing things like focusing on what you love and are learning in your current position or connecting with coworkers who inspire you. “And the second job?,” Redditor Pwrls continues, “Apply to anything that interests you. It might surprise you when you get something awesome.”

“It's OK to quit before it's been a year,” reassures Reddit user Writethewritethings. It’s important to understand the signs you need to quit your job as well as the signs your career isn’t a good fit. Does going into the office fill you with dread? Figure out which part of your job is bringing you down so you can understand if it can be best solved by leaving your current team, your workplace, or your career field as a whole.

Thinking about quitting? Start job hunting now. Like Reddit user Pwrls says, “Job hunt while you still have a job.” Multiple people in the thread recommend having another job lined up before you completely jump ship from your current place of work.

Prioritizing your career shouldn’t have to come at the cost of your relationship. In turn, making a career choice you aren’t crazy about for someone you’re with isn’t something to take lightly. One Redditor put it bluntly: “Don't make any decisions based on crushes or guys you're dating.” Finding mutual support in a relationship is key. Be cautious when people give you relationship ultimatums that make you choose between them and your job.

“Actually start getting any career in general,” says Redditor Gamerlady71. “I was a lazy 20 year old that refused to work or get an education, and my parents enabled it. Nowadays, I would go back in time to kick my younger self's ass and actually decide to do something- anything.” By no means do you have to pick the job you’ll be doing for the rest of your life when you’re 22. However, starting yourself down a career path, by taking college classes in that field or finding entry-level jobs related to it, will help you down the road.

“Don't be afraid to work in a male dominant field,” one Redditor writes. “It's not as difficult as it might seem. I've had great experiences with it.” Gender inequality in the workplace is an unfortunately reality, but it shouldn’t deter you from pursuing a field entirely. Easier said than done, I know. One thing that can help is finding female mentorship in your place of work or outside of work, through online communities or local networking events.

One Redditor simply wrote, “Don’t stop learning.” That could mean furthering your education by seeing if your current employer helps pay for advanced degress (“They exist!” says Redditor Darcg8r.) That could also mean finding jobs and positions that push you, challenge you, and help you keep growing.

“Choose happiness,” simply writes one Reddit user. Multiple people spoke about knowing when to talk to a therapist about job-related issues and simply knowing when it’s time to quit. “You will figure something else out but you need to get out of there first,” says Redditor Writethewritethings. “Your health should always come before work.”

“Fumbling around and trying out different things for a while is more normal than you think it is,” Redditor user Localgyro writes. “Just look for opportunities, do things that seem interesting, and see what happens.” Hearing “it’s okay if you don’t know everything” is something I wish I had heard more when I first graduated. Because, frankly, everyone feels like their flailing at least some of the time.

“A job doesn't have to define your life,” writes one Redditor. “It's perfectly fine to have a boring career with no fame or prestige and spend the money you earn on things that you actually enjoy.” This can be hard to remember given our job-centric society, and our jobs can certainly take a toll on our self-esteem. It’s important to remind yourself that who you are, what you offer, and what you are worth will always be more than whatever current job you have.