I work in Parliament. For those who know, means that there are at least three times a day where I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. Fun right? Not really, and it has the potential to be really embarrassing at times. Nevertheless, I carry with me a revolutionary piece of technology that carries me through these daily occurrences and allows me to save face and curb the embarrassment. Behold, the notebook. I’m serious. Whilst being one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces to come out of the UK (behind Paddington 2, of course), Hot Fuzz’s celebration of the humble notebook is not unfounded. It has truly saved my life more times than I’d like to admit. Whether it’s helping me remember long-winded titles, amendments, or just who’s turn it is to buy milk, the notebook has seen me through, and will continue to do so. When I first walked through Westminster Hall and into my long-coveted internship in the House of Lords, I carried a mini, Portcullis-decorated notebook in my bag. At the time, I had no idea if it would become a treasure trove of insights about constitutional quirks and the daily rhythms of a Baroness—or if it would join the silent graveyard of redundant notebooks on my desk. Spoiler alert: it became the former. By the end of my time in the House of Lords, my notebook was bursting with notes—not just on constitutional oddities, but on every productive discussion and fascinating encounter I’d had. It wasn’t just about documenting what happened. It was about reflecting on those moments, maximizing learning opportunities, and creating a roadmap of people I wanted to meet and learn from. In fact, that same notebook was so invaluable that it became my guidebook during my subsequent internship in the House of Commons. The lessons I’d captured helped deepen my understanding of parliamentary procedure and the United Kingdom’s constitutional framework, enabling me to hit the ground running. Here’s the thing about "career snowballing": it’s all about drawing on past experiences, leveraging lessons learned, and applying them to bigger, better opportunities. This approach not only boosts your productivity (shout-out to all my deliverology fans) but also sets you up for success in whatever career path you’re pursuing.

In my previous contributions to this platform, I have explored the softer skills that, in my opinion, lead to thriving, rewarding careers – from mastering personal finesse to ace corporate interviews or creatively finding alternative pathways to success using the Third Door, snowballing to the top of your game involves combining a whole host of skills and approaches. Above all this, however, there is one skill that underpins everything. Something so fundamental that without it everything else falls flat: simply, the ability to get sh*t done. That’s right, execution. Planning backwards, thinking forwards, and setting out a career strategy mean nothing without actually implementing what you brainstorm, think, and plan. I’m going to go straight to the heart of why this is. Sir Michael Barber, educator, author, and former Head of the Prime Ministers’ Delivery Unit (2001-2005) is one of my favourite writers when it comes to government and policymaking. His How to run a government is a call to action for government leaders and public servants to avoid the tendency of getting bogged down in strategy and planning, and refocus their attention on execution and outcomes. It is both a manifesto and a manual for action-oriented government, drawing on Barber’s experience advising administrations in both the UK and the US, and as far away as Malaysia. Barber’s "deliverology" model, which he developed from his PMDU experience, emphasizes data-driven performance metrics, accountability, and a relentless focus on outcomes. His approach has influenced governments and institutions around the world and serves as a guide for leaders in both the public and private sectors seeking practical frameworks to improve large-scale operations. The wisdom in How to run a government, however, delivers a message for all. Not just policymakers and public servants. No, the importance of, crudely, getting sh*t done, is inherent in every career pathway and every walk of life.

This may seem like common sense to most career-hungry undergrads or grad-scheme-hungry graduates, but internships, shadowing schemes, and insight weeks are not isolated experiences. Instead, they’re links in a chain, small but vital pushes that, when compounded, propel us closer to our ambitions. Each experience builds on the last, adding not just to our CVs but to our confidence, network, and skill set. Like a snowball rolling downhill, these seemingly small steps gather momentum, turning into a powerful force that can carve a unique path to the top. Last week, we talked about “the third door”—those creative, non-traditional ways to find or create opportunities. This week, it’s all about what you do after you've “broken in” (again, not literally). Whenever friends or colleagues ask me how I’ve been able to do so much in such a short time frame, my answer is simple: I know where I’m headed. When I was 15, I took a long look at the vast outstretch of time before me and asked myself “where do I want to be at the end of all this”. Once I had that nailed down, I began planning, backwards. One of the most difficult challenges of being a young professional, student, or graduate is coming up with an answer to “so what do you want to do?”. There’s no pressure, and you certainly don’t owe this answer to anyone other than yourself, besides, Huang co-founded Nvidia aged 30 in 1993, and Colonel Sanders 40 when he founded KFC. Planning backwards, however, helped me arrive at my answer at quite an early age.

careercolin is one of my favourite superstars of CareerTok, and it is through his content that I was introduced to the “third door” concept. This is all about carving your own path to success and a resourcefulness that allows you to achieve success – whatever that looks like to you – via unconventional, non-traditional methods. "The Third Door," a concept popularized by Alex Banayan in his book of the same name, explores the idea that success is not solely achieved through traditional paths (the "first door") or formal education and credentials (the "second door"). Instead, Banayan argues that there's always a "third door"—a creative and unconventional route individuals can take to reach their goals. This notion resonates deeply in today’s competitive job market, where innovation and resourcefulness often pave the way for unique opportunities. For more insights on this transformative idea, you can check out Banayan’s book, The Third Door, which is filled with inspiring stories and practical advice for anyone looking to carve their own path to success. According to Banayan, the first two doors represent conventional paths to success: First Door: The traditional route to success, this involves following established norms, i.e., getting a degree, landing a corporate job, or climbing the corporate ladder through promotions. It’s the path most people take, relying on widely accepted methods to achieve their goals. Second Door: This is the route of credentials and qualifications, internships, and grad schemes. The second door is about being qualified and using the prestigious names of institutions and degrees to develop your personal brand.

Your ability to connect and communicate effectively can make or break your chances of standing out in corporate interviews. That's right—I said it. Forget the laundry list of internships, insight days, vacation schemes, spring weeks, and society memberships you’ve curated on your LinkedIn profile. While those experiences certainly add value, what will truly set you apart in the corporate world is your interpersonal skills and the ability to master the art of connection. But don’t just take my word for it. TikTok—specifically the “CareerTok” community—has become Gen Z’s go-to platform for career advice (though clearly, they haven’t heard of us yet at City Careers Coach). The consensus? Soft skills and communication abilities aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re the secret weapons for climbing the corporate ladder. Being easy to work with is THE most underrated skills in any career, from corporate law to venture capital. Whether you’re interviewing at a magic circle law firm or for a spring week placement at Deutsche Bank, corporate interviewers will want to picture how you will settle in with colleagues, the company’s culture, and clients. This is especially the case in careers like venture capital, where your ability to network with founders, investors, and team-members will determine your success in that role. This may seem as obvious to you as when your parents told you to “mind your manners” before heading out somewhere, but it goes much further than that. Personality is now the most ‘sustainable asset for business success’, and developing the kind of personality where you can blend into the world you want to succeed in is crucial to ensuring you get the future you deserve. I’m making out that developing these interpersonal skills is a tremendous difficulty and a daunting task, let me assure you that they can also make a corporate interview feel less formal and more like a conversation: remember, interviews are a chance for the hiring team to get to know you, and while they are an assessment of character, it is an opportunity for the real you – not the LinkedIn you – to shine.