5 Things you should never stop doing

I've been working at a F500 company since my college graduation (8 years ago), and just recently, I decided that it was time to look outside to see what else is out there and also to see how much someone with my years of experience and skills is worth.

As I was researching jobs, applying for new roles, and interviewing, I learned several things that I wish I had known. After I had landed my current job back in college, I thought this was it. I just go to work everyday, come home and relax, and tend to my hobbies and other social activities on the weekends - no stress. This is how life will be. However, this attitude made jumping back into the job search quite difficult for several reasons:

Never stop learning
Since I work in a very specific industry, all the knowledge I've gained over the years revolved around that particular industry. In order to remain competitive, I should have used my free time to learn about other industries, etc... You never know when you have to jump ship.

Never stop networking and maintaining your relationships
This...I did do, but I can see how easily one can let relationships fade over time as everyone is busy with their own lives. Don't stop checking in occasionally with a simple email or just a coffee meet up. You never know when they can come in handy because I can honestly say that my network has saved my butt many many times.

Never stop honing your skills
In a finance role, Excel is our life. In my job, I find myself only using certain functionalities/formulas that Excel offers when it offers so much. I ended up forgetting a lot of the basics because they weren't commonly used in my role. My advice is to refresh your memory from time to time to make sure you don't forget. It may not be needed in corporate finance but may be highly crucial in other roles you may be interested in (e.g. investment banking). In addition, other skills are starting to become popular and sought after - SAP, VBA, etc.. It won't hurt to learn so you can differentiate yourself or at least remain competitive.

Never stop following the news
Sometimes, I would get lazy and not keep up with the Financial Times or Bloomberg because my eyes are tired of staring at a screen all day. Eventually, days lead into weeks and into months, and I end up falling completely behind. It's always good to be aware and informed especially when there may be serious events that can impact your career or job. By remaining up to date on the news, it gives you a heads up so you can get ahead and stay ahead.

Never overwork yourself - relax!
I can honestly say that I worked really hard in my past 8 years - definitely not investment banking hours but enough for me to feel burnt out. It started taking a toll on my attitude and health. You can always work more, but you can never relax enough. Remember to take your vacation days and relax. Career is important, but life is also short. It's all about maintaining a good work/life balance.

These are the life lessons I've learned, thus far. Landing your dream job isn't the end all be all. You need to keep moving to stay ahead.