11 brutal career truths I wish someone had told me sooner.
(It'd have helped me land my dream job earlier.)
Some lessons take years to learn. But if you learn them earlier, your career will accelerate much faster.
Here are 11 career truths every woman should know:
1. Hard work alone will keep you stuck.
The people who move up fast aren’t always the hardest workers - they’re the ones who know how to make their work visible.
2. If you don’t negotiate, you’re leaving money on the table.
The first offer is never the best offer. Men negotiate as a default, and women hesitate. That hesitation adds up to millions over a lifetime.
3. You don’t get what you deserve.
You get what you ask for. No one hands out raises, promotions, or career-changing opportunities. The people who grow the fastest speak up and claim them.
4. No one is coming to “discover” you.
Your work doesn’t speak for itself - you have to advocate for it. If you don’t, John will take the credit.
5. Job security doesn’t come from loyalty - it comes from options.
Staying in a role too long for the sake of stability can hurt you more than taking a risk.
6. Your network is more powerful than your resume.
The best jobs don’t come from online applications - they come from relationships.
7. Confidence matters as much as competence.
The most successful candidates don’t always have the best skills - but they own their value and communicate it clearly.
8. Rejection isn’t the end - it’s feedback.
Every “no” is an opportunity to refine, reposition, and come back stronger.
9. Visibility is everything.
If leadership doesn’t know your name, they won’t think of you for bigger opportunities.
10. Companies will take as much as you’re willing to give.
If you don’t set boundaries, no one else will do it for you.
11. The right mentor or coach can change your career trajectory.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone. The fastest way to grow is learning from someone who’s already been there.
I know I’m not alone.
Which one do you wish you had learned earlier?
