Why Traditional Career Advice Isn’t Relevant in the 21st Century
And what the new generation should hold on to instead.
I was 16 and scared. Most people at this age have no road map, limited exposure, and resources. Amidst all my confusion, searching for career guidance wherever possible seemed like the only way to find any answers.
With sweaty hands, I met the founder of an established institute. The first question he asked me was what I was looking to gain out of the meeting, and how it would factor into my career choice.
I could barely decide what type of burger to order, and this guy was asking me about my life purpose. It seemed to me that I was playing a game of dodgeball, where I tried to avoid being hit by his sharp questions and words, struggling to keep the conversation flowing. He told me how I needed to make a choice now — choose a career path, and that would be my life.
Traditional career advice relies on certain norms that are not applicable anymore. It focuses on a limited perspective that may be black and white. Given that we live in a completely different world now, it is time that we adapted and changed our mindsets.
