Recruiter shares the biggest mistake she made during job hunt

A recruiter is warning Gen Zers looking for employment against making the same mistakes she made in her early 20s. Among them? Not negotiating her salary.

On Feb. 13, Emily Durham, host of The Straight Shooter Recruiter podcast, took to TikTok to share some lessons that job candidates should keep in mind.

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“Here are some mistakes that I made in my early 20s,” she says in her clip. “I never negotiated my salary, like not even once. They gave me the offer, and I was like, ‘Yes, I start Monday.'”

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Mistakes I made in my early 20s ##millenialsoftiktok ##careeradvice ##lifeadvice ##GalentinesDay

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Durham then goes onto reveal that she is a recruiter now and encourages her followers to negotiate their salary.

“I also never spoke up at meetings,” she adds. “Someone would be talking, and I’d be like, ‘Oh my God, that’s a really bad idea.’ Or I’d have a really good idea, and I’d just sit there quiet, scared to open my mouth. Like why?”

Durham’s TikTok, which has since received nearly 15,000 likes, resonated with many fellow users.

“As someone who did both in my 20s and got what I needed, i HIGHLY recommend,” one person wrote. “Do it. it’s not a BIG deal. No one will ask you to be quiet.”

“This is really good!!!” another added. “You get what you tolerate.”

“Great tips,” a third simply quipped.

Durham is one of many TikTokers who have been offering career advice on the social media platform. Not too long ago, Jonathan Javier, CEO of consulting firm Wonsulting, also shared a nifty trick to improve one’s resume. The guidance comes at an opportune time too, as many college students are set to graduate and look for jobs in the spring.

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