How to Build a Solid Career Foundation

Knowing this would have saved me 5 years of struggle at the start of my career. 33 years ago when I entered the job market, I thought that the prestigious institutions I studied at would make me fantastic at my job. But soon, I realized that they only helped me get my foot in the door. Everything beyond that depended on my skills, talent, and mindset. 33 years later, not much has changed. Data suggests: → 48% of graduates feel unprepared to even apply for entry-level jobs in their field. → 68% say their degree did not prepare them well for their job. → Only 17% of graduates say the degree itself helped them in their job. As I worked my way up the corporate ladder, I learned these lessons the hard way. Today, I am sharing them so you don’t have to. 1. Early in your career, avoid saying “That’s not my job.” What you’ve learnt in college becomes outdated quickly. Spend your early years learning through action, the more diverse and challenging, the better. These efforts compound later in your career. 2. Seek feedback constantly. Embrace a growth mindset. Learn from people who excel in ways you want to improve, because you can gain the benefit of their experience in minutes. Accept the feedback with humility. 3. Don’t just have ideas. Execute them. Ideas matter only when people can see them in motion. It makes your ideas easier for others to support and ensures they remain yours. 4. Build relationships but protect your boundaries. Build a strong network, they open doors when it matters most. Help others grow generously, and be someone they can rely on. But learn when to say no, because not everything deserves your attention. 5. Each decade in your career has a purpose. Know it early. Your 20s are for exploration, your 30s are for exponential growth,, your 40s are for building future security, and your 50s are for fulfilling your purpose. This rhythm will give meaning to your career. Lastly, remember that no one has all the answers. No one has perfect clarity. Most people are figuring things out just like you. So stop comparing your journey to someone else’s and focus on becoming exceptionally good at what you do. Walk with your chin held high and stay humble as you lead yourself toward success. #MondayNuggets #CareerGrowth #BoundlessWithRamG

I’ve coached thousands of job seekers who felt lost and overwhelmed. Here are the 10 steps we start with to find the right path: 1. Your #1 Priority Clarity should be the first thing you invest in. It makes career success SO much easier (at every stage). When you have clarity, you can invest 100% of your energy into that goal. So before you start applying to jobs or grad school? Find your path. 2. The Myth Of “Passion” People think passion is a lightning bolt that suddenly hits you. One day you wake up knowing what you're supposed to do. That's BS. Passion stems from action. It's the result of trying new things. If you want to find your path? You need to act. 3. Map Out Your Ideal Lifestyle Career happiness doesn't come from a job title. It stems from the ability to meet your lifestyle needs: – Target salary – Ideal living situation – Surrounded by people you love – Work that fills your cup Start by defining all of these things. 4. Label Your Energy Next, grab a piece of paper. Make two columns: 1. Energy Creators 2. Energy Drainers Now list out every single activity, task, and project you've worked on. Label each as a creator or drainer. Your career path should be filled with energy creators. 5. Clarify Your Strengths Success is easier when your path plays to natural strengths. I recommend the High 5 Test. It's a 15 minute quiz that will define your top strengths. It'll tell you what each means and how to harness it. Talent: A natural way of thinking, feeling, behaving × Investment: Time spent practicing, developing your skills, or building a knowledge base = Strength: The ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance 6. Find People Doing "Cool" Stuff Now you've created clarity around your strengths, energy, and ideal lifestyle. Next, I want you to find people already living that life. Who has a job you admire? What jobs have seemed “cool” to you in the past? Make a list of 30+ contacts. 7. Reach Out & Learn Make a daily habit of reaching out to one person. Be honest about your situation and desire for clarity. Then make sure to build up their achievements and mention why you admire them. Here's the email template I used when I was on this journey: The Winning Template: Subject: Quick Question  Hi [Name], My name is [Your Name] and I came across your information on LinkedIn while I was looking for people who transitioned into [Industry/Field] from a non-traditional background. Your background is really impressive! I saw you do different fields and [Industry/Field] really piqued my interest. If you have a few minutes, I’d love to hear more about your journey and how you landed in your role today. I know that’s a big ask so no worries if it’s too much. I totally understand. Either way, hope you have a great rest of the week!  

I've interviewed engineering candidates from IITs, NITs, BITS, for 18 years. The ones who get hired aren't always the smartest, they're the ones who planned their college years strategically. Most students enter college with excitement and leave with anxiety. Because they spend 4 years "preparing" but never actually prepare for what companies want. I've seen this pattern across 1,200+ students I've mentored. The difference between those who land great offers and those who struggle isn't talent, it's a plan. So here's a year-by-year roadmap for 4-year programs. The goal? Build proof of your skills, not just certificates. YEAR 1: Build Your Foundation → Focus on academics – basics matter more than you think → Join 2-3 clubs – explore everything → Build soft skills – communication, teamwork, time management → Connect with seniors – learn from their placement journey → Participate in case study competitions – start developing problem-solving muscles Goal? Know your strengths by year-end. YEAR 2: Choose Your Path → Specialize in 1-2 skills – go deep, not wide → Work on live projects – not just assignments → Get your first internship – even if unpaid → Start your LinkedIn – document your journey Goal? Build proof of skills, not just certificates. YEAR 3: Go All In → Land a solid internship – make yourself indispensable → Build a portfolio – showcase real work → Network aggressively – LinkedIn, events, workshops → Take leadership roles in events – organize end-to-end and track impact in numbers → Lead live projects – demonstrate complex problem-solving abilities Goal? Position yourself as "must-hire." YEAR 4: Close the Deal → Polish your resume – one page, data-driven → Master interviews – practice the STAR method → Leverage your network – most jobs come through referrals → Apply strategically – quality over quantity → Showcase leadership impact – "Organized X event with Y participation, achieved Z% increase" Goal? Confidence, not desperation. Your college won't hand you a job. Your degree won't guarantee success but your plan will. Start planning today, not in the final year. What's one thing you wish you'd done differently in college? Drop your thoughts below.

One of the talks I’ve given to a few teams internally at Microsoft is “PMing your career”. Mid-career is the perfect time to step back, see yourself as a ‘product,’ and start managing your career with intention and strategy. Here are 5 axioms I use as part of the frame: ➡️1. Treat your career as a Product with a strategic fit: Every high-performing professional has a unique value proposition. Regularly assess your Personal Product-Market Fit (PMF) to ensure that your strengths, skills, and how you’re positioning them align with the needs of your industry and your company. Strong careers, like great products, adapt to stay relevant and strategically fit. This helps you identify places you might need to grow too. ➡️2. Your resume is (kind-of) Product Review Document (PRD): Like a PRD highlights a product’s features, your resume should capture your top achievements and core skills. Keep it current and aligned with your goals, showcasing how your career product has evolved. ➡️3. Use feedback as your career “Customer Review”: Just as products thrive on customer feedback, your career benefits from input from mentors, peers, and leaders. Thoughtfully incorporate this feedback to stay aligned with your goals and make strategic improvements. ➡️4. Set a career Roadmap: Map out your career with a focus on strategy and clear goals. These checkpoints – skills to gain, connections to build, and roles to pursue – keep you moving toward your vision of success and position you for future opportunities. Ask others who have already taken the path what the checkpoints are. ➡️5. Embrace phases as part of your strategy: Like product lifecycles, careers have phases. In early roles, focus on mastering foundational skills; as you advance, lean into influence and decision-making; and eventually, hone discernment for opportunities. Each stage strengthens your overall career strategy. Hope this helps you today

Throughout my professional career as former NFL Director of Player Health and Performance, Professional and Division I Collegiate Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, and Co-founder and CEO of a substantially sized physical therapy healthcare company that annually acquires literally hundreds of affiliate healthcare students from across the country, has brought about numerous conversations on many diverse topics. My experiences with these students, new graduates, and less experienced professionals in the specialized fields of physical therapy, athletic training, strength and conditioning, sports science, etc., who aspire to work with low to high level athletes, or with a specific population of their choice, has prompted the following recommendations: 1. Don’t accept your first career employment opportunity based upon the highest salary – As the cost of education and living isn’t inexpensive, your initial employment should offer a fair salary, but more importantly, provide opportunities such as mentorship, enhancing knowledge and skillset, as well as the prospect to work with athletes (or other preferred clientele) at various levels of competition. Future professional (and financial) advancement will be based upon knowledge, skillset, reputation, experience, and outcomes. 2. Find an exceptional mentor(s) - A mentor will assist to enhance both knowledge and skillset, provide sound advice, introduce additional and exceptional professional relationships, and assist in the achievement of your desired professional goals. 3. Have some humility – As a young professional you are teeing off at the 1st hole of your career. Respect those that have already played the course. 4. Perform the jobs, tasks, and work hours that your professional peers won't. As job prospects are not going to be just handed to you, your efforts will be remembered at the time of future career opportunities. 5. Keep learning and honing your skills throughout your professional career. Every profession has a top 10% of professionals as well as a bottom 10%. A commonality between these two 10% groups is that both groups likely don’t know more than they actually do know. Make the efforts to advance your knowledge to close that “don’t know-do know” gap. 6. Don’t ever be intimidated or uncomfortable to ask a question(s). When your contributions are correct both knowledge and confidence are reinforced. If contributions are flawed, appropriate knowledge is obtained. It’s a win-win. 7. Don’t ever let anyone convince you that you cannot achieve your professional dreams and goals. Those who try to dissuade you likely lacked the courage, confidence, and drive to follow theirs. Work hard, learn much, stay calm, and be patient. 8. Don’t focus upon the finish line of your career, enjoy the journey. The finish line may appear distant, but will arrive sooner than you anticipated. When all is said and done you’ll want to look back and appreciate a brilliant career while having few regrets. 

A recent conversation with a mentee trying to navigate the next steps in their career reminded me of an essential rule I always emphasize: You own your career, therefore you have to be in the driver's seat. They recently received some feedback from their manager that was confusing as it didn’t align with previous feedback. The conversation on next steps was very vague. Reality check: waiting for clear guidance or validation from others can leave you stuck in neutral. Instead, you must proactively manage your own career path. Here are a few things I suggested: 1. Do a Self-Assessment You need to understand your strengths, weaknesses, passions, and career aspirations. Identify what excites you and where you see yourself in the future. Remember they can all change due to new experiences and gaining new skillsets. 2. Seek Constructive Feedback While feedback from leadership is valuable, it’s important to triangulate. Reach out to mentors, peers, and others in your function that you admire for their insights. Feedback is just one piece of the puzzle. Use it as a tool for improvement, not as a definitive roadmap. You never know when you might run into an unconscious bias. 3. Continuous Learning and Development I’m ever curious and always looking for learning opportunities. Look for opportunities to learn from other functions. The business world is continusly changing, and staying on top of the game, requires investing time to learn. Stay informed about your current industry trends but also look for best practices in others. 4. Advocate for Yourself People can’t read your mind, so they don’t know what your career goals and aspirations are. Don’t be afraid to articulate them to your leadership. Express your interest in new projects, responsibilities, or roles that align with your goals. 5. Adaptability and Resilience Career paths are rarely linear. My own has been a lattice. Be adaptable. Embrace challenges and view setbacks as learning experiences. Being in the driver's seat of your career means taking an intentional role in your professional development. While others can give you guidance, the ultimate responsibility for your career lies with you. What else would you tell him?

What if career growth wasn’t just about luck, but about following proven strategies? These actionable steps helped immensely in my career growth. 1. Excel in Your Current Role (Most Critical): Consistently meet or exceed expectations. A proven track record builds the foundation for future opportunities. 2. Align with Organization Goals: Understand your organization’s top priorities and demonstrate how your work contributes directly to them. 3. Seek Feedback Actively: Ask for constructive insights and act on them. This commitment to growth truly makes a difference. 4. Develop New Skills: Invest in training and learning opportunities to stay current with industry trends and keep your skills sharp. 5. Network Internally: Build relationships across departments. Gaining visibility beyond your immediate team shows you’re a collaborative team player. 6. Volunteer for New Assignments: Step up to take on responsibilities beyond your current role. Initiative today can lead to larger opportunities tomorrow. 7. Express Your Career Aspirations: Have open conversations with your manager about your professional interests and goals. It’s not just about a promotion—it’s about sharing where you see your future and how you plan to contribute to the company’s success. 8. Mentoring: Seek mentors to accelerate your learning and also become a mentor to others to support their growth. 9. Maintain Integrity and Authenticity: Express your genuine views respectfully. Authenticity sets you apart and builds lasting trust. 10. Stay Resilient and Patient: Career growth takes time. Keep delivering excellence and demonstrating your value—the results will follow. What strategies have helped you achieve your career goals? I’d love to hear your story! #leadership #career #technology

Starting your career can feel overwhelming. Here are the top 6 lessons I wish someone had told me earlier: - Don’t chase titles—chase growth. A fancy job title means little if you’re not learning. Early in your career, prioritize opportunities that help you build skills, expand your network, and stretch your capabilities. - Speak up earlier than you think you should. Your ideas have value—even if you’re the newest person in the room. Don’t let self-doubt keep you from contributing. Confidence grows with practice. - Networking is NOT optional. Your work alone isn’t enough. Build relationships, ask questions, and connect with people who inspire you. Networking isn’t just about finding your next role; it’s about learning and growing with others. - Perfection is the enemy of progress. Waiting until something is “perfect” can hold you back. Focus on delivering value, learning from feedback, and iterating as you go. - Learn how to say ‘NO.’ It’s tempting to say yes to everything, but overcommitting can lead to burnout. Protect your time and energy by setting boundaries early on. - Ask for help. You’re not expected to know everything, and asking for guidance doesn’t make you look weak—it shows you’re invested in doing things the right way. Your early career is a foundation for everything that comes next. Focus on growth, connection, and authenticity, and success will follow. #CareerTips #ProfessionalGrowth #EarlyCareerLessons #Networking

Don’t be a skinny tree. Early in my #career, I faced a tough decision: go deep into marketing and strategy or branch out into sales, managed care or market access. That’s when a mentor at Genentech dropped a piece of wisdom that stuck: "Don't be a skinny tree." Translation? Build a strong foundation (your roots and trunk). Get a range of strong experiences early on so you don’t “topple over” when challenges hit later. This advice has been invaluable to me–here’s how it can work: 1️⃣ Collaborate across functions: Work with colleagues from different departments to broaden your expertise. 2️⃣ Seek diverse experiences: Don't limit yourself to one role or area. Explore different responsibilities and projects and gain new skills, especially different disease states and functions / roles 3️⃣ Build a robust network: Connect with professionals in your industry. These relationships can open doors & provide valuable insights. For example, when you’re at ASCO, meet people from OTHER companies So, to all young professionals, the idea is simple: a tree with strong, wide-spreading roots can be more stable and resilient. Diverse experiences are the roots of your career. They'll make you a valuable contributor to your company and set you up for long-term success.