3 Lessons I Wish I Knew Before I Started Working

Video Description

Hey everyone, welcome to the channel! In today's episode, I'm sharing three crucial lessons I wish I knew before starting my career in tech. Working in my 20s hasn't been easy—balancing career aspirations with personal limits is always tricky. Over the past year and nine months in the tech industry, I've learned a lot, and I hope these insights can help you too. Lesson 1: Prioritization Work can be overwhelming, and learning to prioritize is key. I've worked with over 100 brands annually, designing their marketing strategies online. Recently, I found myself overpromising and underdelivering, often saying, "I'll get back to you later" or "let me look into it," only to have those promises squeezed out by other tasks. By the end of the week, I'd look at my calendar, relieved yet unsure of what I had accomplished. I've tried various tools like conventional notepads, OneNote, and the Todoist extension, but none provided a strategic overview. So, I picked up a trick from Ali Abdaal's video, dividing my time into five categories based on long-term goals like Revenue, Product Adoption, Engagement Rate, and Good Corporate Behavior. This way, I can clearly see how my time is distributed and how each task contributes to my goals. Lesson 2: Visibility Visibility is crucial in big tech firms. At companies like Meta and Amazon, a Level 2 leader oversees at least 64 people. According to a 2023 PWC study, the 13% average promotion rate in tech heavily depends on access to high-visibility projects. To stand out, I write weekly highlights to my manager and document my work in open workspaces like Salesforce or Notion. I also use extensions like Scribe and Loom to create tutorials and video messages, making it easier to share knowledge and showcase my contributions. Lesson 3: Clarity Patrick Bet-David says the top reason for procrastination is a lack of clarity. Not knowing the first step, having unclear expectations, or thinking there's more time leads to anxiety and stalling. I've been on projects where explaining tasks to colleagues results in confusion and scrambling. To combat this, I ensure clear communication and set definite timelines, making the process smoother for everyone involved. 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Prioritization 03:38 Create Visibility 05:13 Set Clear Goals and Expectations Follow me for more episodes and content: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yahthatjames/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesjingweizhan/ #CareerTips #TechIndustry #ProductivityTips #WorkLifeBalance #CareerAdvice #Prioritization #VisibilityInTech #ClarityAtWork #TimeManagement #ProfessionalDevelopment #TechCareer #YoungProfessionals #AliAbdaal #PatrickBetDavid #ScribeTutorial #LoomTutorial #SalesAndMarketing #AmazonAdvertising #JobTips #WorkplaceEfficiency