4 Things That Can Derail Your Career

We tend to think that once we get up and running with our career that we’ll just keep on moving forward. We’ll start at the bottom, presumably, and inch our way along the ladder, gaining more responsibility and financial reward along the way. Or so the idea goes. In reality, there are no guarantees, in business or most other areas of life. Though you’ll hope that by working hard and doing the right thing you’ll steadily progress, the truth is that there could be a mistake lurking in your future that derails things. Below, we take a look at a few things that can hinder your progress — or cost you your career entirely. 

Staying Too Long

You don’t get too many opportunities in life, so when they come along, you need to grab them. One mistake that some people make is that they stay with one company for too long. It’s much better to progress with a company until you’ve hit the ceiling of what you can achieve, and then move on. If you don’t, then where are you going to go? You’ll just end up going sideways, and you’ll earn less money than if you had moved. 

One Big Mistake

It doesn’t matter how good you are at your job: it’s not just your professional side that contributes to your career success. Your personal life will too, and will to a large extent if it’s something that casts a shadow over your character. It’s important that you avoid big mistakes as you go through life — one arrest or inappropriate comment could land you in hot water from which you struggle to escape from. If you do find yourself in difficulty, take action as soon as possible. If you’re arrested, hire a criminal law attorney, and fight your corner. If there’s controversy related to something you’ve said or done in the past, then vehemently distance yourself from the error. If it’s a significant error, then you may need to start from the beginning.

Lack of Relationships

It’s not what you know; it’s who you know. This couldn’t be truer. As well as working on doing the best work possible, it’s important that you’re also fostering relationships with your colleagues and other business connections. If you’re looking for a new opportunity or you fall on hard times, it can often be the people you’ve met along the way that can help you. If you haven’t, you’ll just have to navigate the problem by yourself. However, you’ll want to avoid getting too personal. There’s a difference between fostering connections and showing the people you work with all sides of your personality. A person who reveals too much will be more likely to be overlooked for a job than someone who keeps a distance.

Following the Money 

Finally, remember that it’s not wise to always follow the money. Look beyond the salary to see professional integrity and growth options — a career is a marathon, not a sprint, so you’ve got to keep the long view in mind.