40 Things I’ve Learned in 40 Years

It was recently my 40th birthday! What I wanted most was to feel celebrated by my friends and family and it did not disappoint.

(It also didn’t hurt that I found The Self-Aware Interview at Elliott Bay Book Company right before the party - so exciting!)

I think it’s only natural to reflect on your life at the beginning of each new decade, and I wanted to think about 40 things I’ve learned that relate to Hire Possibilities and my work coaching job-seekers and hiring managers on job interview skills. Some of this also bleeds into other parts of life (it all overlaps).

My hope is that these might be interesting or helpful to you, or this just helps you get to know me better!

1. Gain as much experience as you can and follow your interests (even if they don't align with the path you, your parents, or society has set out for you).

2. Internships & Volunteer roles are great differentiators that show off your values, build skills and create networking opportunities.

3. You can create a job for yourself by making a good impression and connection with someone at a company you're passionate about.

4. Professional persistence pays off! (Be careful to not be TOO annoying)

5. Set work/life boundaries early with your manager.

6. Good interviewing is about quality, not quantity, of questions.

7. Hiring processes are necessary in order to find the right candidates.

8. Interview training is crucial before unleashing an interviewer on a candidate.

9. Bad hires cost tons of money, time, and sanity for all (we're talking upwards of $60k each these days).

10. Interview when you don't "need" a new job yet.

11. Ask your dealbreaker questions in an interview, and ask multiple interviewers the same question.

12. The goal of an interview isn't just to get the job, or hire the candidate - it may be to make a new connection, learn more about someone or a company. Take the pressure off of yourself.

13. The candidate is your customer: don't test them, and make sure they come away with a good impression of your organization.

14. You can get valid professional experience from volunteer roles, you just don't get paid for it! :)

15. Networking over time is valuable; keep in touch with those you have good relationships with, and at the very least add everyone to LinkedIn.

16. Always apply for a job through a person, not a tool, if you can.

17. Recruiters are busy and stressed! While they should be providing a good experience for you, make the process easier for them as well by communicating clearly and promptly.

18. Making someone feel comfortable is a key to connection; ask them if they need to use the bathroom or get coffee or water.

19. Red flags in interviews aren't stop signs, they're bread crumbs!

20. Behavioral Interview Questions are the best (and can be hardest to master) of all the types.

21. High volume of interviews is a great way to get comfortable/less anxious with them.

22. Don't put yourself in a box - your career will keep evolving! It doesn't matter what your major in college was.

23. Mentoring can be even more valuable for the mentor than the mentee.

24. People who know you best can be great reflectors of your zones of genius.

25. Always keep growing, taking classes and learning from others.

26. Don't let impostor syndrome keep you from achieving your lifelong goals.

27. Give yourself grace on your maternity leave - and after! Your path may be different than you expected.

28. Speak up if you disagree with something.

29. Test your hypotheses before you shoot them down.

30. Put it all out there - if it turns someone off, they probably aren't for you.

31. If the community you want doesn't exist, create it! (Yay for my mom entrepreneur group, still going strong!)

32. Ask for what you need. Or want.

33. Sometimes you need to hold yourself accountable to reach your goals (with your community, or even financially).

34. Don't be afraid to reach out to someone you haven't worked with in 20 years and ask for help, that connection is still there.

35. You are more than what you do.

36. You can be an extrovert and be a terrible interviewer, and an introvert and an amazing interviewer.

37. You need people in your life who are a soft place to land, and you also need people who will give it to you straight. (Some are both!)

38. Self-discovery is always worth the time and effort.

39. Don't close a door for yourself before you've even peeked inside to see what's possible.

40. Change is the only constant. (Thanks, Octavia)

Have you reflected like this at a birthday milestone? I’d love to hear some of the things you’ve learned along the way - reach out anytime!