I’m a big fan of informational interviews. That is no news.
The thing however is, recently, as much as I want to meet people, I am unable to.
So to start 2026, I sat down and recorded what I would say if someone asked me for an hour of my time and I had to distill all the career advice I’m positive would make a difference over the course of their career.
Here is what I said:
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Summary:
1 – Study the job description.
2 – All you’ve done is not all you can do.
3- Separate your identity from your job.
4 – Practice concise and clear communication.
5 – Understand the impact your work creates. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds.
6 – Create optionality so no single job has power over you.
7 – Build career-building relationships before you need them.
8 – Treat LinkedIn like a long-term career asset, not just a job board.
9 – Build a portfolio for the career you want. It’s undeniable proof.
10 – Don’t optimize for titles. Optimize for the skills and knowledge that will carry you to the next phase.
11 – Practice how to explain your work to people outside your field.
12 – Practice communicating the problems you solve, not just your research or the methods you used.
13 – Learn to negotiate everything, not just salary. There’s always more.
14 – Design a career that works with your life, not against it.
15 – It’s hard, but treat rejection as data, not a verdict on your ability.
16 – Don’t assume or expect people to understand the value you bring to their organization. Spell it out.
17 – Document your thinking on how you solve problems. Not just your achievements.
18 – Speaking of achievements, keep and update a “brag document” with your achievements—big or small—monthly. They can be shockingly easy to forget!
19 – Say yes to rooms where you might feel under-qualified. Watch and learn everything in those rooms.
20 – Choose work environments that pour back into you and build your confidence.
21 – Ask for the informational interview.
22 – Make at least 1–2 connections with recruiters or senior people within your field each week. Nurture those connections.
23 – Invest in ONE skill this year that’s new to you.
24 – Publish your ideas. LinkedIn. A podcast. Instagram. Substack. There are many platforms. Pick ONE and publish ONE idea weekly.
25 – Never leave an interview without asking this question: “What’s the number 1 thing you expect the person who fills this role to be able to accomplish in their first 90 days?”
Bonus: Never forget that every day you wake up, you are building the business of YOU. Never forget.