1. Never begin a sentence with "if I were you..." You are not anyone else and it is daft to pretend. Advice-giving is never about telling young people what they ought to do. It is about helping them work out for themselves the direction they want and the next step towards it. Apart from anything else, you risk losing the young person's confidence if they know that your recommendation isn't sound for them. Or they may avoid you in future, perhaps feeling uncomfortable with you because they didn't do what you advised.
2. It is a bad idea to regard yourself as an expert. You may know a lot about a subject, and you may have a good deal of personal experience. But you are not an expert in any young person's particular circumstances and needs. The young person may have not told you critical parts, or emphasised selected elements. You may have misunderstood. Humility and knowing your limitations are good qualities.
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