First 10 years is key to career success

The first 10 years is key to climbing the career ladder, writes CANDY DAVIS

Now is the time of year when graduates and office juniors go searching for the perfect career and — if they are lucky enough — enter the workforce in their chosen vocation. But recruitment expert Mark Wilson says that, as career-ready as these job seekers feel, many fail to realise the real importance of the first 10 years of their working life.

“The experience you get in the first years of your career will help you throughout your working life,” Wilson says. “It’s important to make the most of it and gain as much personal and employment experience as possible.

“Up until your 30s, you generally aren’t tied down by responsibility so it’s best to maximise this opportunity for growth and get some real experience under your belt.” Wilson says employees who make the most of their 20s by gaining as much work experience as possible can use that experience as leverage to work their way up the corporate ladder — a dream to which many aspire.

He says it will also prepare them to step back from a large organisation and consider the benefits of working for a small-to-medium-sized company or starting up their own business.

“Generally, with a large organisation, you get a smaller slice of responsibility,” Wilson says. “Whereas, in a smaller business, your experience is spread more extensively and you get a greater range of responsibility.”

Wilson says there are real opportunities at present for small-to-medium businesses to grow.  “There is a growing number of people aged in their 30s who are sick of big business and are looking to branch out and do their own thing,” he says. “There is plenty of opportunity to start a business in almost anything or any area. All you need is a bit of passion, perseverance — and some good old-fashioned toil.”

Wilson, who started Queensland’s Northern Recruitment, says it was an incredible experience to start a private enterprise and watch it grow. “It is something that I encourage more people to do,” he says.

Wilson says it’s often demanding to start a business and therefore important for those interested in doing so to have other areas of their life in order.

He says another major hurdle for many people is understanding individual limitations and being prepared to seek help if required.

“Have confidence in yourself, a good idea and a different angle,” he says. “Make sure you pick something you’re interested in. And look at ways of doing it differently to everyone else.”