Unpopular career advice you need to know

April marks Stress Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of mental well-being and how we manage stress in different areas of life, including our careers. But if we are being brutally honest, most of us don’t just want to ‘manage’ stress; we want to actually enjoy our work and feel fulfilled.

Yet, workplace happiness is often misunderstood. We tend to assume it comes from a great boss, hard-working employees, a high salary, or a perfect work environment. While these factors play a part, the harsh truth is no company, pay cheque, or leadership style can make you happy if you don’t take ownership of your own career fulfilment. Your happiness at work is YOUR responsibility.

Let’s discuss how you can take control of your work-life satisfaction with some practical (and perhaps unpopular) career advice. These principles may not be what you want to hear, but they might be what you need to embrace in order to thrive.

1. Small talk can open big doors. Small talk might feel pointless at times, but you can’t afford to ignore it. Relationships build opportunities, and if you’re invisible, you’re replaceable. The quick chats aren’t just random filler moments; they are opportunities to create trust, open doors to mentorship, and make collaboration easier. People promote and support people they like. Your skills might get your foot in the door, but your relationships determine how far you go. If people don’t enjoy working with you, they won’t go out of their way to help you succeed. My department head often tells me, “Likeability is a skill you can't teach,” and I agree. You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room, but you do have to engage. Ask about someone’s weekend. Talk about Simba vs Yanga. Recommend a great Iftar buffet. These small moments make work more enjoyable and can set you up for success.

2. Your skillset matters far more than your title. Titles don’t get you hired, don’t make you valuable, and don’t guarantee success. Your skillset does. The more problems you can solve, the more valuable you become. Stop chasing the title and start mastering the skills that make you indispensable. Titles can come and go, but true value is built on expertise, reliability, and the ability to solve problems that no one else can. Become someone people can’t afford to ignore, and the opportunities will follow.

3. If you work remotely, be sure to work harder at being visible. Remote work has its perks, but it also comes with hidden challenges. You miss out on casual office conversations, spontaneous brainstorming sessions, and the ‘visibility factor’ that in-office employees naturally have. To stay relevant and competitive, you need to be proactive:

• Strategically overcommunicate your progress and achievements.
• Be intentional about networking with colleagues and managers.
• Whenever possible, turn your camera on during virtual meetings to establish your presence.

If you assume your work will ‘speak for itself,’ you may be missing out on opportunities to showcase your value.

4. Feedback is data, not a personal attack. Many of us, myself included, find feedback challenging because it’s easy to take it personally. The truth is, feedback often feels like a judgement of who we are, rather than a constructive tool for growth. But at the end of the day, it's not about us; it’s about what we can improve. Feedback isn’t an attack; it’s data. It’s a roadmap that shows you exactly what you need to improve. As difficult as it might be, try to set your ego aside, look past the delivery, and focus on the message. The ability to see feedback as a tool to help you improve separates those who stagnate from those who excel. Growth doesn’t come from avoiding criticism; it comes from learning to embrace it.

Career satisfaction isn’t coincidental; it’s intentional. Take full ownership of how you show up at work. If you’re feeling stressed or unsatisfied, it’s time to ask yourself what you can do today to change that. No one’s coming to fix it for you. Sometimes stress is a result of inaction. This Stress Awareness Month, let’s not just identify our stressors, but let’s be proactive in doing something about them. You have the power to shift your work life, to redefine what success looks like for you, and to create an environment where you thrive. The question is, will you?

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