Roadmap to Career Success for Millennials & Gen Z (Part 1)

Small children have big dreams. As a kid I wanted to be everything from a NASA astronaut to a Major League Baseball star.

Yet as most people age and mature their dreams tend to evaporate and morph into something more practical and attainable. But impractical does not mean impossible. That is, if you’re really willing to work for it and go the extra miles. The future is now, as they say.

It’s no secret that building a strong work ethic at a young age helps lay the foundation for success.

For example, while I was fortunate to land my “dream jobs” in Congress and the White House while still in my early 20s, there was a lot of grunt work that preceded reaching these lofty goals.

In high school, for example, I worked as a pizza delivery guy after receiving my driver’s license. Prior to that, I unloaded inventory from 18-wheeler trucks one summer in 90 degree heat with no air conditioning. I also worked in retail handling inventory in a department store stockroom and laying it out on the sales floor.

Then, in college, I worked at the student newspaper and completed multiple internships in the public and private sectors – all while balancing a full course load. I was young, ambitious and simply refused to take “no” for an answer.

The point here is that early career success is earned in incremental steps starting from the bottom up.

A version of this post first appeared on beBee.com HiveBlog and was also featured on LinkedIn Pulse.

Gens Y & Z

As a Gen Xer, I want to share some professional advice for all the teens and 20-somethings out there pondering their dreams, preparing to embark on new career paths, or just trying to climb the corporate ladder at a young age.

Millennials and their younger cohort, Gen Z, represent a new generation of leadership who will profoundly impact the future of work.

It’s important to recognize that Millennials (also known as Gen Y) are 80-plus million strong and growing. They are entering the workforce at increasing rates and now comprise the largest age-based demographic. Their foothold as future leaders will only continue to solidify as older generations retire for greener pastures.

Moreover, let’s not forget about the up-and-coming Generation Z.  Even though most of these youngsters are still in grade school right now, some nonetheless harbor high ambitions and career aspirations during a new century of innovation.

These two generations were born into the Digital Age. They can’t comprehend of a world without smart devices which allow them to leverage mobile, digital and virtual technology at their fingertips.

Even so, some old-schools lessons regarding career success are still applicable today. In fact, these time-tested techniques are arguably more important now than ever because they are either forgotten or taken for granted at the dawn of a new century.

Landing Dream Job

When I was 19 years old during college, I developed a career plan to help land my dream job. My goal was to work in the White House for a new president after graduating.

The year was 1988 and George H.W. Bush occupied the Oval Office. I had never even heard of Bill Clinton at the time – and what was in the news about him was unflattering per his alleged infidelities as Arkansas Governor. The conventional wisdom at the time was that he had no chance of becoming president.

Yet somehow my far-fetched plan magically worked out in the end, as I made the right contacts, secured the right internships, and ultimately worked on the 1992 Clinton-for-President campaign. The rest is history, as they say.

While the career plan I used back then is applicable for people of all ages, I think it’s especially ripe for a new generation of leaders.

Thus, following is my 10-point career plan for Millennials and Gen Z to make their professional dreams become reality in relatively short order:..

1) Define Your Vision

First, you must have a dream and vision of success. Be bold and think big. Just make sure to be specific. Ponder these questions:

• What am I really good at?
• What do I love doing?
• What innate skills or God-given talents do I have?
• What would I do for a living if money weren’t an issue?

I was always a good writer and fascinated by national politics and public affairs. Thus, I began writing an op-ed column about these topics for my college newspaper during my freshman year at the University of Maryland.

At first, my submissions were rejected. Then I tried a new tactic. I personally went to the newsroom, introduced myself to the editorial page editor and volunteered to work as his assistant. Thus, my op-eds were soon published on a weekly basis while I learned the ropes from the inside and befriend the other editors.

2) Build Bridges

Obtaining the academic and professional knowledge to position oneself in a competitive marketplace is only the start of the beginning, not the beginning of the end. This process includes pre- or post-graduate studies, jobs and internships, and making professional connections with influencers in your field.

Finding good mentors to help you along the way is also of critical importance. 

Mentors are key to helping you sharpen your skills, impart valuable knowledge and put you in touch with influencers who can help you network to reach your goal.

3) Dare to Think Big

An important part of my career advice to young people is this:

Don’t be afraid to think big and follow your dreams, wherever they may lead.

In short, dare yourself to take risks in order to plant the seeds which, hopefully, will blossom in your future dream job at a young age.

In one of her last TV interviews, famed American poet, the late Maya Angelou, was asked by ABC News what advice she would give to her younger self. She offered these timeless words of wisdom:

“Dare — dare to be more than you think you can be — dare.”  Maya Angelou

In my experience, it’s better to think big and take risks at an early age to jumpstart your career. Don’t limit your goals or think small. Rather, set your goals high, think big, be positive and go for it!

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out on a limb if you want to achieve big goals. Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith. Do so while you’re still young and have your whole life ahead of you. Recall the saying, “No risk, no reward.”

4) Remember the three Ps

Perseverance, positivity and personality all go a long way toward achieving success of any kind in life. Don’t invent artificial reasons why you can’t achieve your professional goals at a young age. Don’t talk yourself out of it before even trying.

In short, don’t give up too easily, especially if you face initial setbacks. Rather, maintain a positive attitude, be positively expectant, be persistent and perseverant, and be personable and polite along your journey.

Lastly, don’t give up too easily, particularly if you face some initial failures or setbacks. Too many young people fall prey to frustration and procrastination. Yet persistence and perseverance pay dividends.

I’m reminded of high school history lessons about California “Gold Rush” of the mid-1880s in the so-called Wild West. Some teams of miners dug for gold for months or years on end, only to quit unknowingly just feet away from hitting a gold vein. Yet other miners who refused to give up ended up striking it rich.

If you face initial failure, then redouble your efforts, revise your strategy and continue to move forward. Go with your gut feeling if all else fails. Remember that persistence and perseverance pay off in the short term and over the long run.

Recall this: Nothing worthwhile comes easy.

After one semester of writing and assisting the student newspaper editors, the editorial page editor for whom I worked was fired due to an internal dispute.

Therefore, I was well positioned to take his place – and that’s exactly what happened. I became the new editorial page editor during the first semester of my sophomore year, the youngest editor on staff. I also went on to win an editorial writing award from The Society of Professional Journalists.

Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of this blog post featuring Points 5-10 in the roadmap to career success for Millennial and Gen Z.

Meanwhile, what do YOU think?

NOTE: You can read Part 2 of the blog post here. A version of the post first appeared on beBee.com HiveBlog (Social Affinity Network).

_______________________________________________________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: I'm an independent writer and strategic communications advisor with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors, including work in the White House, Congress, national news media and elsewhere. 

NOTE: All views and opinions are those of the author only and not official statements or endorsements of any public sector employer, private sector employer, organization or political entity.