Asking Someone for Career Advice
When you’re trying to figure out the right career path for you, it can be invaluable to ask someone for career advice. But, how do you go about it? Here are some tips that can make asking someone for career advice a little easier.
1. Choose the Right Person
This step is vital to make sure the advice that you receive is valuable. Think of someone you know who is successful in their career and someone whose opinion you trust — this could be a family member, an old professor, someone you respect on social media, or an old supervisor. When considering asking someone for career advice, take into account their experience and qualifications.
2. Reach Out in the Right Way
Choose the method of contact you will use based on the person you’re asking. Find out whether it’s better to call, write an email, or message them on social media. Be prepared to give a brief introduction about who you are and what you would like to talk about. Furthermore, be concise. Don’t ask too many questions at once or give too much detail—folks are busy, and chances are they won’t mind offering advice but don’t want to dive deep into discussion.
3. Prepare Your Questions
Come up with a few questions of your own before asking someone for advice. Set yourself up for success with thoughtful questions that can actually help lead you to your next step. To do this, you may want to:
- Check out the person’s LinkedIn profile and think about how their experience may relate to your career.
- Do your research, so you can ask them more specific and knowledgeable questions.
- Plan ahead and prioritize your questions to the ones most important to you.
4. Thank Them
An easy but simple way to show your appreciation is by expressing gratitude. At the end of the conversation, thank them for taking the time to talk with you and offering advice. You could even send a thank-you card or an email to show your appreciation. This could also serve as a reminder of who you are and the possibility of staying in touch.
Asking for career advice can be intimidating, but having somebody who can guide you on your journey can be truly invaluable. Utilize some of these tips, and you can make the process of asking for help a lot easier and more rewarding.
