Career advice from a director of international relations

What’s the best advice you ever received? What tips did you wish you knew earlier? How did this help you on your career journey?

We’ve spoken to members of the Apolitical community to share their top three pieces of career advice with us. In this article, John Mogashoa explains why it’s important to constantly be learning, and to ask questions early, in his role as director of international relations at the Department of Arts and Culture, South Africa.

Your first piece of advice:

Never trust your brain. You forget, no matter who you are. Write things down. Have a weekly plan that talks to your yearly plan and target. Never assume anything. Never go to a meeting without a pen and paper, even if it is just a quick meeting with your boss. Be on time, be punctual.

Your second piece of advice:

Master your work. Read, learn more about your work, latest trends etc. Your boss is not there to correct you, he or she has their job. If your boss knows your job more than you, you are not adding value. You will be asked to explain yourself or your work and to defend your actions: be ready at all times. Asking questions is not to "catch" you out or make you appear incompetent, it’s another form of mentoring - and you should be able to answer. If the question cannot be answered in a simple yes or no, you appear lying or hiding the truth and certainly it makes you appear not knowing anything about your work.

Your third piece of advice:

Everything is governed by law or policies in a workplace. Again never assume. There is a difference between ethics and law. Know the difference. Also study and find out what the law says about everything you do, from supply chain management to finance to other processes. You are not a pen or paper pusher. You are a significant role player at any other level. Remember, the government gave you a job, however your job is to make a career out of your job.

Pressure is everywhere. If you never feel pressure, you probably are not doing anything of significant value and you are invisible. Go the extra mile: public service is about serving not working. Relax and enjoy what you are doing. Never raise an objection or query or a problem late, always do it early. You cannot heal a dead patient, only the one who is alive.

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