14: I Will Teach You to Be Tall on the Inside | Feedback Friday

IT Challenges

Navigating the IT job market as a young professional presents unique challenges, particularly around age discrimination. Jason DeFillippo highlights the difficulty young IT professionals face when their qualifications are overshadowed by their perceived lack of maturity 1. He suggests that startups may not always be the best fit for those in hardware-focused roles, as these environments often lack the infrastructure for meaningful growth 2. Instead, Jordan Harbinger advises exploring opportunities in smaller firms or ad agencies, where the turnover is high, and the learning curve is steep 2.

You're only 24 and tech savvy with multiple certificates, which means you like to learn and study and right now there's a huge need for cybersecurity professionals.

--- Jason DeFillippo

Young professionals are encouraged to leverage their youth and adaptability to enter fields like cybersecurity, where demand is high and the old boys' club is less entrenched 2.

   

Career Advice

For young adults entering the workforce, finding mentors and learning practical skills are crucial steps. Jordan Harbinger recommends becoming an assistant to someone successful, as it provides invaluable access to insights and experiences that are not easily accessible 3. This approach, known as getting "close to the crown," allows young professionals to learn directly from top executives and gain a competitive edge 4.

If I had to do it all over again, this is what I would do, I probably wouldn't go to law school.

--- Jordan Harbinger

Additionally, Jason DeFillippo suggests bridging generational gaps by familiarizing oneself with cultural references and influential books, which can enhance communication and understanding with older colleagues 5.