5 career lessons you don't learn in school

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Prequel.

In case you forgot, Prequel is the free weekly newsletter for parents who want their kids to succeed. We give you weekly insights on how your children can get ahead ― in school and in life.

We’ve got lots to tell you, so let’s jump right in. Here’s what you’ll get today:

💡 1 valuable lesson they don’t teach kids at school
⚡️ 2 tutorials to learn new skills
🚀 3 tools to boost your teen’s productivity

💡 1 Valuable Lesson They Don’t Teach You In School

Early career years are the hardest. The main reason is that the rules of the workplace are very different from the rules of the classroom - and what you need to succeed in your career isn’t always what gets you success in your career.

Here are 5 things every teen should know before they start their careers:

1. A good manager is more important than a good salary. A good manager will mentor you, champion you and accelerate your career. A bad one will stall your career and make your life miserable. Great managers are often the difference between a successful and an unfulfilled career.
   

2. Pick a company in a growing industry. Opportunities are hard to come by at companies in a shrinking industry ― it's a zero-sum game.

   Instead, pick a company that has lots of potential to grow. A rising tide lifts all boats (and employees in that boat).
   

3. You gain confidence after doing something hard - not before. Too many people never try hard things because they think confidence is a precondition when, in reality, it's a side effect.
   

4. Optimize for learning over salary and role. A high salary is the byproduct of a valuable role. A valuable role is the byproduct of a valuable skillset. And a valuable skillset is the byproduct of valuable learnings. So start by focusing on learning first.
   

5. Work is the local maximum. Life is the global maximum. Work hard and make the most of your career. But there is more to life than work and money. Don't forget to nurture your health and your relationships along the way.

⚡️ 2 Tutorials To Learn New Skills

1. Learn to code in 15 minutes a day for 100 days: This brief beginners course teaches kids how to build games, apps, websites, and much more with just 15 minutes of practice a day for 100 days. Check it out here.

2. 4 types of internships teens can apply for: Get the full list here.

🚀 3 Tools To Boost Your Teen’s Productivity

1. Jenni Ai - An AI writing made specifically for students (link)

2. Quillbot- A paraphrasing tool that helps you create summaries in seconds (link)

3. Resume Worded - Improve your resume and LinkedIn profile with tailored feedback from AI. Designed by top recruiters. (link)

Thanks for reading!

Did you find this helpful? We hope you’ll share this with your child and that it opens a discussion.

Until next week,
Ivy
CEO Prequel, Beta Camp, Apollo
Follow my journey on LinkedIn