Significant Career Lesson from a Fiscal and Policy Analyst at City of Seattle
Sarah, a Fiscal and Policy Analyst, learned the critical importance of self-advocacy in their career, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a reevaluation of work-life balance. The experience highlighted that "the only person advocating for yourself in the workplace is you," prompting a commitment to prioritizing personal well-being and career goals by setting boundaries and protecting their time and energy for the long haul of a career.
Career Development, Stress Management, Work-Life Balance, Self-Advocacy, Professional Boundaries
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sarah Burtner
Fiscal and Policy Analyst
City of Seattle
UCLA, 2014
Masters in Special Education and Teaching at CUNY Hunter College, Masters of Public Policy at UCLA
Economics
Government & Public Sector
Data and Analytics
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Prioritize yourself and your career trajectory: Actively advocate for your own goals and needs within the workplace. Don't let others dictate your assignments without considering your own professional development.
2. Set boundaries and protect your time and energy: Recognize that your employer might prioritize their needs over yours; therefore, you must set boundaries to avoid burnout.
3. Don't burn yourself out early in your career: A career spans many years, so pacing yourself is crucial for long-term success and well-being. Avoid overworking and prioritize your mental and physical health
Transcript
What is one lesson you've learned that has proven significant for your career?
I think my opinion on this has probably changed since COVID. Pre-COVID, I really felt like I had to work a lot and do really difficult things. I was working overtime and thought, "This is just how it is."
Then during COVID, everyone took a step back. We started working from home, where there's no such thing as overtime because you're always working. This made me realize that I really need to prioritize myself when it comes to my own career trajectory.
If you work for anyone, you are doing them a favor. They will put you in a place that is to their advantage, assigning you to do something that is best for them. At some point, you realize the only person advocating for yourself in the workplace is you.
You have to be the one to say, "This is what I really want to do, these are my boundaries." I feel much more emboldened to do that, especially after COVID. We went through a really horrific time when people died, and I realized I need to care the most about my time. Whoever I work for is going to take it away from me and do what they want if I don't advocate for myself.
So, I became much more of an advocate for myself in my current role post-COVID. I do this to protect my time and energy because you're going to spend so much of your life working.
To those starting their careers: You don't have to burn yourself out so soon. If you start working at 22 and work for 40 or 50 years, that's a long time. I've only been working for seven years truly total and feel I'm really early in this. Don't stress your life away in your body; it's not worth it.