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Joel Thorn

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What advice would you give to your 24 year old self?

In this current economy, when uncertainty is pervasive, it can be difficult to get your career started, or to have the confidence to make life decisions that depend upon your career. It can be extremely intimidating at the age of 24, armed with just a Bachelor’s degree and minimal experience, to face the increasingly competitive job market and figure out a path to stability and security. I understand that there is no one path (or sure path) to that, but some degree of assurance would be nice. So, what advice/wisdom would you give to an unsure 24 year old?


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    Feb 23 2013: I would say never, ever forget the importance and respect for the end user. Security and stability will follow from that, and is a sure way to establish an enviable reputation for quality and attentiveness.

    That probably means running your own business and not necessarily relying on the usual job market.

    One caveat is that establishing your own business can be a long, hard path, but probably no harder than seeking a job in a difficult time. If successful, the rewards can be nothing short of amazing.

    You might envisage doing any old part-time menial job just to help finance the new business venture and to keep you fed and warm. In the US there may also be business start-up grants available to help your venture get off the ground (I'm from UK, so not certain about that!)

    This is just a suggestion, but if you did decide to work for yourself, what would you imagine doing? What really interests you?

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