Sometimes you’ll feel like you have no idea what you’re doing.

Try anything and everything that you’re interested in, even if seems like a waste of time.

I landed my first job not because of my university degree, but because I also worked at my university newspaper and built a good enough portfolio to land an internship. I was hired at BuzzFeed partly because of my previous work experience, but also because several years ago, I drew a kind-of-OK webcomic in my spare time, just because I thought it would be fun. If I relied only on my education and my subsequent jobs to advance my career, I wouldn't have anything to set me apart from the competition.

Regardless of what your job situation is now, find ways to try anything that you're interested in, even if doesn't seem like it will benefit your career. You have no idea what skills can help you in the future, and your supposedly insignificant hobby could be the one thing that gives you a leg up. And even if it doesn't and you've just taken up a new hobby that you enjoy? Oh no! You've become a more well-rounded human being! The horror!

NBC / Via youtube.com

You’ll have to work with people you don't respect.

This may sound like a "duh" lesson, but when I was in school, I honestly hadn't considered how frustrating it would be to work with someone I couldn't stand. But a few years into my career, the company I worked for hired someone whose mere presence sent me into a silent rage — and she was was making a lot more money than I was. I was not very happy about this. But then my boss at the time told me something very important:

"You're always going to work with people you don't like. Get over it."

And she was totally right. There will always be people you don't like or respect, and you will have to work with them anyway. Sometimes you'll have to work for them. Sometimes they'll succeed and advance in their career while you flounder, and it won't feel fair at all.

But, to be blunt, shut up and deal with it. The sooner you come to terms with this, the more focused you can be on improving yourself. While you can definitely bitch about Goddamn Helen to your friends after work, try to keep your hatred for her under wraps in the office.

20th Century Fox

You’re going to work with people who are better than you. Like, way better.

"This has to be better than working for people you hate, right?" you think. And yes, you're right. Working with people who are smarter and more accomplished than you can motivate you to work harder and be better.

But it can also be hard to see friends and colleagues taking steps and achieving goals that you haven't. It can make you feel like you're not doing enough — that you yourself are not enough. Even if you're doing well, even if you're happy for others' accomplishments, you can still feel insecure and envious when they get something that you want and don't have.

Don't let this paralyze you. Don't let this stop you from surrounding yourself with incredible people. Let this inspire you! Let these people help you figure out what you want and how you can achieve it. If you only work with people who are doing worse than you, you won't have any real motivation to change.

FOX

You’re going to deal with some serious bullshit at some point.

Another "duh" lesson, but when I first started out, I assumed there were "bad" jobs and "good" jobs, and the good ones were always great all the time. But even in a good job that you usually enjoy, there will be boring parts that make you think, Oh god, don't make me have to do that again. Or there will be months where everything is great, followed by months where everything seems to be going wrong.

And it can be much worse than that. You might be completely unappreciated. A co-worker might take credit for your work. You might not get a promotion you deserve. You might have a boss who treats you unfairly. You may be discriminated against or harassed. There are a million things that could go wrong, and you're going to deal with it someday.

It's up to you to decide if the bullshit is bullshit you can deal with. If it's not, that's OK. But just know that no job is completely bullshit-free.

AMC / Via giphy.com

---

View Entire List ›