Courtesy of Dandan Zhu
Dandan Zhu.
- Dandan Zhu has been a headhunter since 2011 and launched her own recruitment firm in 2018.
- When she graduated in 2009, it was the height of the recession. She went back home to waitress at her parents' restaurant in Boston, all while watching her friends start their
careers . - By recognizing the skills that she had, Dandan was able to land a gig as a junior recruiter at a headhunting firm in New York. By age 25, she was earning $215,000 a year.
- She taught herself real estate investment strategies, saved as much as she could, invested as much as she could, and was able to leave her job at age 28. At age 30, she's now a millionaire.
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As a finance graduate in the height of the 2009 recession, I was lost and confused at 22. Following my parents' advice, I chose finance as my major, just to realize I didn't enjoy any of the finance internships I held. Since I had no job and my family could use the help, I went to waitress at my parents' restaurant in Boston, becoming increasingly frustrated about my future. As my friends went off to their 9-to-5s to start their glorious careers, I was stuck doing the job I'd held since high school.
As the year flew by, I knew I had to get serious about my life. After all, my immigrant parents didn't work so hard to provide for me and send me to college just for me to come back and waitress at their restaurant. More importantly, I was ready to sink my teeth into my future and create a successful life.
By 30, I was able to find a career I love, build wealth, and now continue to help others as an entrepreneur in my profession. Here is how I went from waitress at 22 to millionaire by 30, and my best advice for others who want to do the same.