No matter what career stage we are in, I believe that if we learn a lesson from our mistakes, there are truly no mistakes. With that said, the following is a short list of some common career mistakes that industry experts tell us to be aware of and avoid.
1-Not planning for your future.
How much time and energy do you consciously devote to planning your career? Most Americans spend more time planning their family vacation or what they will do on the weekend than we ever do in planning our careers. In this day and age, we have to be flexible, however, we can still strategize on where we would like to be in 3, 5, and 10 years from now? Don't let time slip away. Set some goals each year. How will your resume look different at your next review? What are your dream jobs, companies, roles?
2-Failing to focus on outputs.
Don't be naive. When push comes to shove, employers want to see numbers. Can you demonstrate that you are bringing value to your company?
3-Failing to network.
This goes for both inside and outside of your company. Do you have a support team outside of your department? Build your own personal board of advisors that you consult with on a regular basis. They can be from a variety of industries. Professionals that you respect who can give you an outside opinion of the company politics you are experiencing. They can help you strategize for your next big project or career move. Several years ago, I was part of a women's career strategy group. We met on a regular basis for over a year. During that time, three of the five members made major career transitions. Our group helped them target positions, discuss pros and cons, prepare for interviews and move to new cities. This was one of the most beneficial groups that I have ever been a part of during my professional career.
What career blunders would you add to this list?
-
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment