5 Career Moves That Will Doom You
Whether you’re new to the job force or have been in it a while, it’s important to be aware of how your actions can affect your future. We’ve come up with 5 career moves that can ruin your chances of success and impact you going forward.
1. Falsifying past employment
While it may seem innocent enough, embellishing your past to make it look better is never a good move. If an employer is interested enough in you, they will be contacting your past employers to verify information you’ve provided. Should anything come up as contradictory, they may ask you directly why that is or they may just trash your application and look elsewhere. Potential employers aren’t obligated to tell you the reason why they didn’t hire you. It’s always best to just be honest, even if the thing you want to hide is embarrassing. An employer will have more respect for you knowing you told the truth than if you lie.
You may also have your past employment history online somewhere. Be sure that it’s always kept up to date and it’s accurate. Leaving out a chunk of time is a red flag. Employers will often see this as a sign that maybe you were fired, but didn’t want to admit it. Fact of the matter is that most everyone has gotten fired at some point. HR managers are well aware of this, so it’s better to be up front about it if you’re questioned. We learn from our mistakes and move forward, often becoming a better worker because of it.
2. Social media photos/posts
Most people use Facebook or some sort of social media these days. Rest assured that employers have this at the top of their list when researching who you are. While it’s nice to have privacy settings in place to keep people other than your friends from seeing your posts, some people don’t take advantage of this or are unaware of who they are sharing their information with.
Do an Internet search for your name and see what comes up. Do a Facebook search for your name and see if there are any public posts you’ve made that could impact a future employer’s decision on whether you’d be a good or bad fit for their company. There’s a fine line between expressing who you are in your own time and the reputation you give yourself to your current or future company.
3. Showing up late or calling in too much
One of the worst things you can do anywhere you work is to show up late. It not only annoys your employer, but also your co-workers. There can certainly be reasons beyond your control as to why you may be late occasionally, but when it becomes an event that can be counted on, this can doom your reputation as well as your job.
We all know someone who sets their clocks ahead because they always run late, yet they still fail to show up on time! It’s better to be early than late and often if you ARE early, it gives your employer a better view of who you are. Allow extra time if you commute to work in rush hour traffic; get the kids up earlier if they are causing the problem for you; set your alarm louder if you’re a deep sleeper. Most of the time, running late can be avoided and will serve to put you in a better light with your manager.
4. Asking for a raise too soon
When you begin a new job, you’ll have an opportunity for negotiating your salary before you’re hired. Be sure to know what it is you need to earn in order to pay your bills before having this conversation. Some people may think that after a probationary period, they’ll be getting a raise. However, sometimes this may not be the case. Be sure to ask what the typical time period is between reviews and what the pay increase might be. You may also want to know how you can qualify for a pay raise beforehand. Don’t be afraid to talk about this because one of the worst things you can do is to ask for a raise soon after you’ve been hired.
One of the best ways to be valued by a company is to go above and beyond what you’re expected to do. Whether that’s staying late when you see work needs to be completed, suggesting more efficient ways of doing things or finding areas where money can be saved by the company. The latter being one of the things all companies love to do: SAVE MONEY!
If a year has passed and you haven’t been given a job review, don’t be afraid to ask for one. If you feel you deserve a raise, put in writing the things you have accomplished during the year that you think qualifies you for one. More than likely, if you can prove your worth, your employer should compensate you for that.
5. Talking bad about your boss or other employees
Let’s face it, you won’t always get along with everyone you meet or work with, it’s just human nature. However, venting your opinion at work isn’t going to help you advance your career. Word gets around and when your boss finds out you’ve been bad-mouthing him or her, your chances of success fly out the window.
Getting physical or threatening violence is a great way to get fired. Remember, this can also follow you when looking for future jobs, so keep your temper in check and find ways outside of work to release your pent up anger. No good has ever come from negativity in the workplace. If you are having issues that you don’t feel you can control, confide in your HR manager or someone else you think can help. It’s better to let your feelings be known instead of snapping and doing something you might regret later.
Working is a necessary evil, whether you love your job or not. It’s important to keep your future in mind as what you do today shapes you going forward. By avoiding conflict or bad behaviour, you should do well and get the raises you deserve. Finding a job that you’re interested in and fits your skill set can greatly benefit you and your employer since you will enjoy it more and it won’t feel like such a chore.