Are you pounding the pavement looking for a new job and feeling down and out? Or maybe you’re in a career plateau navigating your next move? Either way, there are lessons to be learned from professionals who have faced challenging obstacles in their careers. In this blog, 10 leading Middle East professionals tell Bayt.com what has been their most important career lesson.
Feras Abdo, Copywriter/Editor at carswatcher.com “I have learned that the job market is neither easy nor difficult; it is your space for trial and error. You keep experimenting until you find the perfect job and employer. Enjoying what you do helps a lot and is always an added bonus. My advice for other professionals is to persevere, because sooner or later you will end up in the place you’re truly supposed to be.”
Nour Nsheiwat, Interior Design Manager at IKEA Jordan “My career taught me to promise what I can deliver and deliver what I promise! Saying no is not a weakness, but a state where I realized my capacity and the level of quality that I wanted to deliver.”
Rajaie Haddad, Digital Marketing Manager at Sheraton Amman Al Nabil Hotel “I have learnt many lessons during my career in digital marketing and social media that helped me build strong relationships and a network of friends that I feel proud of today. My career taught me to always believe in myself, chase my dreams and never give up until I reach my goals. I’ve learned that tough times are what differentiate the good from the best. I have also learned that persistence is the basis of success, and that it is alright to make mistakes as long as you learn from them.”
Gazanfarulla Khan, Co-founder at Boredoha “Working in the digital and social world has helped me build on my knowledge and learn some fundamental lessons in life. I have learned to listen to my audience and learn from them. I have learned to reject the assumption that what works for your brand or you works for others. I have also learned to never be satisfied with my results, and to always aim to achieve bigger and better.”
Galyna Pryklonska, Product Placement and Sales Manager at Arab Telemedia Group “The most important lesson I’ve learned in my career was developing and holding a vision. I have also learned that if you don’t then you will start adopting other people’s visions of what you should be doing with your life. And before you know it, you start doing something you don’t enjoy and wondering why you hate going to work every morning! I have learned to ask for advice but at the same time think for myself. Be still and listen, as you already know the right thing to do. You just have to be still enough to hear it.”
Reema Tuqan, Social Media Community Manager, iMENA Holdings “I have learnt to be patient, step aside and learn, exchange knowledge and be eager to understand any minute detail, every second! In order to get where you want to be, you need to work very hard until you are literally weary with enthusiasm. I believe the paramount lesson is to be able to value yourself in the most accurate, veritable image.”
Rizwan Tufail, Founder of Innovonomics “I have had a rather non-traditional career path, and have enjoyed every second of it so far. But the fun began for me only once I realized that the only person whose happiness I am accountable for is myself – not what the next HR person will be looking for, not what my current manager thinks my current strengths or weaknesses are, and certainly not what my social network will think of my career choices. The world is already too full of sad souls, slaving away at what they don’t like because their parents wanted it, because it pays their bills or that it was the cool career choice to make. Don’t be one of them. Go out and do what you enjoy – what fires you up – and success will follow!”
Maha Amro, Senior Communications Officer at Eskadenia Software “Looking back over the course of my life, passion has been the driving force in my career. I have been doing what I love for almost six years now, and I’ve learned that it is really a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together. I feel blessed to wake up each day wanting to share my knowledge, experience and passion with as many people as I can. So, if you want to be successful and satisfied in your career, do what you truly enjoy. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking and don’t give up. Remember what Confucius said: Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Odai Rimawi, Social Media Executive, Sahara Communications “Regret nothing! Wherever you worked, whatever you did, you have learnt something, and you have gained experience. Think of all the places you worked in, teams you worked with as cumulative experience that will eventually get you where you want to be. Don’t exclude anything from your CV, as everything you mention will contribute in building your professional character.”
Rosa Shahin, Campaign Marketing Manager at Elsevier “Having worked for six years in sales and marketing, there were two extremely valuable lessons I learned. The first was to put myself in the client’s shoes. To understand their needs and expectations, and to understand how the ultimate consumer perceives the entire supply chain. Most importantly, in case of a complaint, react positively and admit to mistakes if they were made. Building a strong and honest professional relationship with the client is key to creating loyal customers and brand advocates. So understand your clients, and be honest with them. And the second lesson was to push myself out of my comfort zone, because that is where creativity truly starts.”
What about you? What’s the most important lesson that you’ve learned in your career? Tell us in the comments below!
