I’ve worked in career and recruiting long enough to know that people don’t grow in a straight line. Not in their jobs, not in their confidence, not in their timing. And honestly, most of the biggest jumps I’ve seen in someone’s career came from the smallest shifts — the kind you only notice when you’re paying attention.
And funny enough, a lot of those shifts had nothing to do with talent. They came from someone finally speaking up, or sending the email they’d been avoiding, or admitting, “Hey, I don’t actually know what I’m doing here.” I’ve been there. Most of us have.
So when people ask me for career growth tips, I always feel like I’m giving them a mix of advice and confession because half of this stuff, I learned the hard way.
Why Your Career Won’t Grow If You Wait for Someone to Notice
I’ll start with something I wish someone told me when I was younger: nobody is coming to tap you on the shoulder. Not your manager. Not HR. Not the universe. You can do incredible work quietly for years and still get skipped over for someone who simply… made noise.
I once had a candidate, amazing guy, smart, humble, the whole deal — who told me he’d been passed over three times for internal promotions. And when I asked why he hadn’t said anything, he shrugged and said, “I figured they knew I wanted it.”
They didn’t.
Careers stall in silence.
Growth starts the minute you’re willing to be visible.
It doesn’t mean being loud or pushy . It means being clear.
Know What You Want (Most People Don’t)
I can’t tell you how many candidates I talk to who say, “I just want something better.” Better how? Better pay? Better hours? Better culture? Better path?
If you don’t define “better,” you’ll accept the first thing that feels different.
And here’s the truth: recruiters can help you get where you want to go, but only if you point in some direction. Even a rough one.
A career moves faster when the goal isn’t a mystery.
Your Network Matters More Than Your Résumé
I know, everyone says this. But it’s because it’s true. Your résumé gets you into applicant pools. Your network gets you into rooms.
And your recruiter? They are part of your network. A big part.
I’ve seen candidates with “average” résumés get hired before Ivy-League profiles because someone trusted the relationship behind the introduction.
Connections beat credentials more times than people want to admit.
So talk to people. Ask questions. Stay in touch with the recruiter who placed you or interviewed you, even if it didn’t work out. You’d be shocked how often one conversation changes someone’s year.
Don’t Wait Until You’re Miserable to Make a Move
Some of the hardest calls I get are from people who waited too long.
They call when they’re burned out, underpaid, overworked, checked out — or honestly, halfway out the door mentally but too exhausted to update their LinkedIn. And that panic energy always shows.
Recruiters do their best work when you’re proactive, not drowning.
The thing is, a job search doesn’t have to be a fire alarm. It can be strategic. It can be slow. It can even be… enjoyable? (Okay, maybe that’s stretching it — but it can definitely be less painful.)
The sooner you start, the smoother the shift.
Your Reputation Follows You Everywhere
A lot of people underestimate this. They think only employers track performance — but trust me, candidates build reputations too.
I still remember a great candidate who ghosted an interview because he was “nervous.” And look, I get it. But he didn’t tell anyone. Not me. Not the hiring team. Just vanished.
Six months later he came back wanting help again… and that one choice stuck. Not because we didn’t like him but because hiring is trust. And trust erodes faster than people think.
On the flip side? I’ve seen candidates get hired again and again because they handled small things well: being responsive, being honest, showing up prepared.
Little habits quietly build big opportunities.
Not Asking for What You Want Is the Fastest Way to Lose It
Whether it’s pay, title, flexibility, mentorship, most people undersell themselves by default. They think asking is risky, when the real risk is assuming.
And here’s what’s wild: the candidates who negotiate respectfully almost always get something. Even if it isn’t money, it’s PTO, development support, a better start date, something.
But the ones who never ask? They get… whatever they’re handed.
If you want your next role to be a step up, you can’t whisper your expectations. And recruiters can guide you, but only if you’re willing to voice the truth.
Closing Thought
If there’s one thing I’ve learned watching people grow.. actually grow. It’s that career success isn’t about being the smartest or the loudest. It’s about being intentional. Being honest. Being willing to take the wheel instead of waiting for the road to straighten itself out.
And the funny part? You don’t have to figure it out alone.
You just have to start the conversation.
