Google exec: Here's the No. 1 piece of advice I want young people to learn from me

The idea of a career ladder is great, in theory — steadily progressing up the ranks from intern to CEO — but most people's jobs don't work that way. You might change industries, switch departments or even get laid off.

That's why Google Chief Marketing Officer Lorraine Twohill wants young people to "enjoy the journey" instead of trying to meticulously plan their entire careers, she told LinkedIn's "This Is Working" podcast, in an episode that aired earlier this month.

"Learn as much as you can. I feel like life and companies like Google are more like a jungle gym than a career ladder," said Twohill, who manages a team of more than 4,000 employees. "Try different roles, try different things out for size. Work in different teams, different areas, acquire as many skills as you can. And be informed."

In her early career, Twohill — who's originally from Ireland — did marketing for European travel companies. She never planned to work for a startup, let alone a tech startup on a different continent. At one of those jobs, she worked with Google, and the company invited her to a meeting.

That visit turned into Twohill being questioned during casual chats on beanbag chairs and while in line for barbecue, she said. "I thought I was going as a VIP client," she said. "But it turned out, 22 interviews later, that I was being interviewed for one of their first roles in Europe."

DON'T MISS: How to use AI to be more productive and successful at work

Twohill became one of the company's first non-U.S. marketing hires in 2003, and moved to the U.S. — another unplanned development, she said — six years later to become Google's head of global marketing.

More recently, her career took a different kind of turn: She was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare, aggressive form of cancer in the bile duct, in 2016. She tried to return to a workaholic pace after treatment, but found it was unsustainable, she said.

Now, she no longer works late into the night, doesn't try to respond to all her emails and has found "peace" in not trying to be perfect all the time, said Twohill. To her surprise, her career didn't fall apart, and she's been happier and healthier since, she added.

Her advice echoes comments from bestselling author and millionaire entrepreneur Seth Godin, who says following a predetermined path won't lead you to success and happiness in your career.

Godin's accomplishments feel fulfilling specifically because he's never followed a career plan, he told LinkedIn's "The Path" newsletter in 2023.

His advice: Use "a compass and not a map." Your compass is your big-picture goal, who you aspire to be outside of a job title. Following it means pursuing decisions that make you happier and more content in the short-term, rather than following a pre-planned set of steps that might eventually lead to a "dream job" if you're incredibly lucky, Godin said.

Your short-term decisions won't always pan out, but you'll learn enough from each failure to eventually succeed, Godin said. And you'll have "more fun" along the way, he noted.

Want to up your AI skills and be more productive? Take CNBC's new online course How to Use AI to Be More Successful at Work. Expert instructors will teach you how to get started, practical uses, tips for effective prompt-writing, and mistakes to avoid. Sign up now and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $67 (+ taxes and fees) through February 11, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.