The worst career advice older generations give us is: "Just get a stable government job—or any steady one—and stick with it for life. Loyalty and hard work will take care of the rest."
They grew up in an era of post-war booms, cheap housing, defined pensions, and linear careers where showing up and grinding at one company often meant security and promotions. That world is gone.
Today, job-hopping builds skills and pay faster, tech and AI reshape industries overnight, and "loyalty" often gets rewarded with layoffs or stagnant wages. Staying miserable in a "safe" role kills growth and happiness. Passion alone isn't enough either, but ignoring skills, networking, and adaptability is worse.