4 Ways You Could Be Derailing Your Career

While there are all sorts of articles out there about how to achieve success (we’ve even written a few here and here), there are certainly some common mistakes you can make that can actually derail your career. Here’s a look at 4 of them:

1. Treating people differently.

If you think you’re better than a co-worker just because you rank higher than them on the corporate ladder, think again. In this economy, you don’t know what could happen or who could get promoted, demoted, or laid off. As a result, it’s wise to treat everyone – whether it’s the janitor, the receptionist, the company owner, or your supervisor – with respect. In addition, you’ll be able to do a better job at work when you’ve made a lot of friends, rather than enemies.

2. Stepping on people to get to the top.

There’s nothing worse than being mean to people who are lower ranking than you…unless of course, you stab them in the back, while you’re nice to their face, just so you can get to the top. The fact of the matter is that most people who take this approach get busted sooner or later. Oh sure, they might enjoy some success for a while, but it’s not worth the risk of possible termination or inability to find another job. Plus, when you do things the right way, you’ll be able to sleep better at night.

3. Letting other people define success for you.

For some people, making a certain amount of money equals success. That’s all fine and good. But that doesn’t have to be true for you. If success is being able to balance your work and your family life, even though you make a little less money, don’t let others make you feel like a failure because you’re not making six figures. That’s their version of success; it does not have to be yours.

4. Getting complacent.

In order to remain an asset to your company, you must bring value to the table. It’s critically important to stay on top of the latest trends and get to know the newest technologies. It’s also important to network and build strong relationships with new people, not just the same old group of co-workers you’re comfortable with. Push yourself. Strive for more. And continually show your boss you are worth it. In today’s economy, that could be the difference between staying employed and getting laid off.

If you’ve avoided the mistakes above and are ready to take the next step in your career, but there’s no room for growth at your current company, give us a call. As one of the leading employment firms in Houston, TX, we can help you locate the position that best matches your skills and interests. And in fact, many of the positions we work on are not available through other recruiting firms, so we’re able to provide you with access to jobs that you will not find anywhere else.

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