Significant Career Lesson From A Sales Development Representative At Everlaw
The key to a successful career is understanding "what you're good at and what people will pay you for," finding the intersection between skills, market demand, and personal passions. Life can be viewed in chapters, balancing patience with urgency to explore different avenues and recognizing that "you can have everything, but not all at once."
Self-Awareness, Skill Monetization, Career Planning, Feedback Utilization, Patience and Urgency
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sebastian Perez
Sales Development Representative
Everlaw
University of San Diego
Finance
Law, Technology
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Find the intersection between what you're good at, what people will pay you for, and what the market wants.
2. Knowing yourself and what you're good at requires reflection and feedback from peers.
3. View life in chapters; you can have everything, but not all at once.
Transcript
What is one lesson you have learned that has proven to be successful in your career?
Here's the cleaned transcript:
If I were to narrow it down to one piece of advice, whether you're a college grad, younger, or older, you need to realize what you're good at, what people will pay you for, and what the market wants. It's pretty much the intersection of those three things.
I think people who are lost in life often don't know what they're good at yet. It takes some people many years, and others realize it sooner. But not knowing that one thing will set you back the furthest, in my opinion.
So, it's figuring out what you're good at, but at the same time, what people will pay you for. If you want to make money and you're a good communicator, for example, you might not want to be a singer if you won't make a lot of money. Instead, you could be a lawyer because you have to talk in front of court, or work in sales, or as a politician.
There are different avenues depending on your skillset, and some make more money than others. But I think it starts from realizing what you're good at and knowing yourself. That takes a lot of reflection and feedback from your peers.
You start to realize it when people give you feedback, like, "Oh, I noticed you're good at this. You're a good artist, you're a good singer." People won't be shy to tell you that you're good at something if you really are. Keep that in mind, and then try to figure out how you can monetize it if that's what you're looking to do.
Not everybody wants to make money, though. Some people just want to focus on their passions. Whatever it might be, know what it is deep down.
The other thing I saw online that was good advice: you can have everything, but not all at once. I like to view life in chapters. So, maybe I'm working in sales now for the next 10 years. I may not be working in sales when I'm 34; maybe I'll be in politics, or volunteering, or have my own business.
There are so many things you don't know, but try to think of life in chapters rather than thinking too far ahead. Understand that there's a chapter in life for everything. Try to be patient, but also work with some urgency – find that balance.