As the world around us changes, it’s time to acknowledge something about the workforce: not all traditional job advice and practices have stayed the course. Whether you’re a young professional seeking mentorship or a seasoned pro offering advice, learn this new set of rules for the modern workforce; you may find you’re still following the old ones!

Wisdom to succeed in the modern workforce:

1. Changing jobs is not a bad thing. You can often increase your salary or position faster when you switch companies. So the good news is, yesteryear’s long, linear career path (read: forever with the same company) has given way to a much more fluid path with turns and branches. Some branches lead up, some lead sideways, and some lead to totally different paths. But how do you know if you’re on the right path for you? Regularly check in on your career goals. What do you want to accomplish this year? In five years? Ten? How can you prepare yourself to get there? Always steer the focus back to your ultimate career goal, even if it doesn’t seem achievable or realistic right now.
2. An 80-hour week does not equal success. Work-life balance? Yes, please. Nothing says you have to fall asleep at your desk and come home to six cats to make something of yourself. And don’t let technology tell you that you have to be available all the time, either. Unless your specific role demands it (say, if you’re on call for the overnight IT shift), you do not need to reply to email at midnight, texts on weekends, or work through your PTO. Burnout will push you farther from success! So set boundaries: answer email during work hours, report during office hours, and unplug during your PTO. It’s tough, but it’s better for your long-term prospects.
3. It’s not all about you. While it’s good to gracefully tout your achievements, gone are the days of “I singlehandedly did that.” Today’s workplace is about collaboration and servant leadership. You can ace that project by yourself, but how much higher could you reach if your colleagues put your heads together? It’s also not about you when you network. “Can we meet for lunch to discuss opportunities at your company?”—let’s go with Asking a stranger for a favor will not start that relationship on the right foot, especially if you haven’t proven your value-add. Ask how your skills can help your prospective contact right now, and what support they might need in the future. People love forming connections with helpful, thoughtful people.
4. Go for the gusto! Don’t let fear of failure keep you from reaching for the stars. If that promotion intrigues you, go for it. If that project challenges you, tackle it. Change can be scary, and you won’t hit your mark every time. But if fear holds you back from even aiming, you may just end up stuck in one job forever!