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HR Tips

5 Ways to Throw Away your Career
 by Winnie Choy, 1st Oct 2007

You are first to arrive at work and last to leave. You complete your tasks punctually. Objectively speaking, the quality of your work is better than most of your co-workers. Yet your efforts do not seem to be recognized.

In the work place, talent and hard work can often be erased with simple blunders.

Five career faux pas you should avoid are:

  1. Ignore orders. You may assume you know how best to approach your job, but if you are not able to follow orders, you will not be seen as a valued asset. Voice your difference of opinion – if you must – judiciously, and do not insist on having your way. There is little room for mavericks in most organizations.
  2. Be negative. Take care not to badmouth your boss/colleagues or criticize your organization openly. The optimistic employee is a valuable asset, especially during times of crisis.
  3. Be a smart alec. Displaying intelligence is typically important for enhancing your career, but can work against you if it is used to put down your supervisors or colleagues. If you must point out mistakes, do so diplomatically and only if is ultimately productive.
  4. Complain to HR. The HR department is not strictly there to serve employees. According to Cynthia Shapiro, author of the book Corporate Confidential, "the HR people are really there to protect the company from you.” HR will only work to address your concerns if it is in the best interest of the company to do so.
  5. Be too sanguine. Don’t assume that you will always have a job with your organisation. If you have a troubled relationship with your boss and co-workers, and/or have committed any (or worse, all) of the above faux pas, there is the possibility you may get fired.

If all else fails, start hunting for a new job as it is always better to move to a new position than to get terminated. You will be in a far better negotiating position if you're still employed, and will also not have to worry about a gap in your resume.