Career Killers to Avoid

Career Killers to Avoid

According to a survey of top executives and hiring officials conducted by career counselor Robin Ryan and author of What To Do With The Rest Of Your Life, there are some common ways that people tend to sabotage their own careers. Ms. Ryan identified several traits, standards and characteristics that successful leaders seek in developing their workforce. Take the time this year to look closer and focus on goal setting in these strategic areas.

Not producing results or solving company problems. According to top executives, you must not only be good at what you do, but you have to be able to proactively solve company problems, get things done, and produce. When it comes to promotions or avoiding a layoff, these are critical factors. In essence, does your resume contain quantifiable statistics (i.e. #, $, %)?

Not working at a job you’re passionate about. By discovering your passion and then finding a way to work in that area, you will be not only healthier and happier, but much more successful. Life is too short to waste it on an unfulfilling job

Seeking job security. In today’s world of work, there is no such thing as job security! Each of us must not only constantly build and nurture our network, but we must also consciously develop a portfolio of marketable skills that we take from job to job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that Americans will make a job change (by choice or not) about every 3.5 years. This equates to twelve or more job or career changes during your working lifetime. What skill or talent do you possess that employers desire?

Thinking that money is everything. Through working with hundreds of career clients, it doesn’t take long to see that money does not buy happiness. Most people are willing to take a salary cut in order to obtain more job satisfaction or a better quality of life. Be cautious of chasing money only.

Waiting for employers to notice you. Too many clients timidly wait for a raise or promotion, and then are disappointed when they are overlooked. Often it takes being much more proactive. Have direct conversations with your supervisor or mentor about your career path and clearly articulate your desire for advancement or other opportunities. This may result in rewriting your job description, taking on additional responsibilities, updating your resume, and testing the job market. 

Non-Desk Jobs

"I don't want to sit at a desk all day."

"I think I would die if I had a job where I was confined to a cubicle all day."

"I need a job that let's me be out and about."

Sometimes clients only have the above criteria for their next job. Wouldn't it be nice if a list of non-desk jobs existed...well now it does. Use the link to 55 Non-Desk Jobs to help you brainstorm your next position.

New Career Lingo

The world of work is rapidly changing and keeping up with the latest career trends is part of my job that I find fascinating. The following are some terms I recently learned.


"VUCA" World - Sounds like it could be derogatory, but it is just an acronym for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguos. A career development author who spoke at a recent conference used this term to describe our rapidly changing world. You can bet she touched upon the importance of remaining flexible.

"Slash Careers" - This term recently came on my radar in a blog that I follow. It is used to describe how so many professionals these days are combining their interests and skills into more than one job or career - often simultaneously. For example, a client could be a Dental Hygienist/Professional Photographer or a CPA/Jewelry Company Representative. Some people are slashing careers by choice, others are having to combine fields inorder to recreate themselves in this tight economy. Do you have a slash career?

"Slow Careers" - You've heard of the slow food movement that started in Piazza di Spagna, Italy several years ago in protest to the communities first McDonald's restaurant? The "Slow Movement" is a conscious cultural change toward slowing down one's life pace and making decisions in a more sustainable way. The "Slow Career" movement acknowledges that career transitions give one a chance to re-evaluate their life values and while striving to obtain greater balance in each life role. What does slow career mean to you?

Career Mistakes Not To Make

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?
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