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As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans are reconsidering their careers. This is leading to what’s been dubbed a “turnover tsunami.” A record 4 million workers quit their jobs this past April, prioritizing their health, family time, and personal happiness.
And with job openings at a record high, workers can afford to be more selective about which jobs they’ll consider taking. After all, there are more than 10 million job openings right now. As Thomas’ State of North American Manufacturing Report recently revealed, 83% of manufacturers are looking to reshore, which will bring even more jobs to North America.
If you scroll through any job postings site, you’ll encounter countless career options and job titles. With the rise of Industry 4.0 and ever-evolving technology advancements, there are jobs that exist today that likely were beyond your wildest imagination when you were just starting out in your career search.
With so many job options available, how do you narrow down which career path to take? What helps open doors to advancement? And, how do you know when it’s time to switch jobs to pursue something new?
We asked you, our readers, to tell us the best career advice you’ve received, and you shared the great advice you’ve received over the years from family and colleagues about how to choose a job or even a task to do on the job — and when to walk away.
Take Advantage of New Opportunities
Go pursue a career in something none of us have ever had the opportunity to do. (For context, I am the youngest of five sons in a construction family, and the only one that went to college.)
—Michael, Construction, who received this advice from his father
It’s Not What You Do, But How You Do It
What you choose to be or do does not matter. The only important factor is to be the best you can possibly be at it.
—Jerry, Energy, who received this advice from his father
Do the Task No One Else Wants to Do
Every company has something that needs to be done, that no one wants to do. Something that is difficult, painful, costly, but is ignored because of that. Find that, fix that, and it is a benefit to everyone. You will be respected and have further opportunities because you will be recognized as a guy that gets the hard stuff done. This will open many doors for you.
—Murph, Manufacturing, who received this advice from an associate
Stay Away from Companies with Bad Reputations
After I already was working for a company, I found out that they treated hourly employees as disposable. They looked for any way to reduce their pay and get rid of them. If you hear from multiple people that an employer has a bad reputation, stay away.
—Lance, Food & Beverage, who received this advice from his brother
Pursue Your Passion
If you don’t love what you do, do what you love.
—Robert, Retail, who received this advice from the dean of a business school
Money Shouldn’t Be Your Sole Motivator
Don’t take a job for the money.
—Kathy, Retail, who received this advice from her father
Don’t Stay at a Job You Don’t Like
If you don’t like your job, quit and find another. I did, and I’m a happy camper.
—Bob, Engineering, who received this advice from his supervisor
Don’t Stay at a Job Too Long
Don’t stay at a job longer than 5 years. You’ll learn to be more flexible.
—Rozanne, Manufacturing, who received this advice from a coworker
Thomas Wants to Help You Find Your Dream Job
Looking for an industrial job? Check out our Hub for Job Seekers.
Dream of working at Thomas? We have a number of job openings across fields.
Are you a recruiter or hiring employer? Post your open job descriptions in the Hub for Employers.
Check Out Our In-depth Career Articles for Job-hunting Tips & Tricks:
- Here are 8 websites to help you find your next industrial role.
- These 3 steps will help you get noticed by recruiters.
- Here’s how to differentiate yourself in today’s engineering market. (It’s solid advice for other fields too!)
- Acquire these 5 skills to land a new role in a post-COVID-19 job market.
- About 85% of jobs are acquired through networking, and we have the tips to help you network from home.
If you would like a chance to submit your insights for an upcoming article on reader submissions, sign up for the Thomas Industry Update newsletter here. We periodically put out requests for reader responses to questions.
Reader submissions have been lightly edited for clarity.
Image Credit: HQuality / Shutterstock.com
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