Are You Holding Yourself Back Five Career Mistakes to Avoid

Are You Holding Yourself Back Five Career Mistakes to Avoid Theres more to a job than simply showing up. If youve toiled in the trenches without any sign of a promotion, you may be starting to wonder if youve done something wrong. Although it depends on the situation, its entirely possible that youre doing everything right in a technical sense. But to keep your career from hitting a plateau, you need to keep growing as an employee or entrepreneur. Are you sabotaging yourself by making any of these five common career mistakes? Neglecting to Self-Promote In an ideal world, our talents and skills would be immediately recognized and wed be promoted accordingly. Yet in the real world, if youve completed a task youre proud of it may be necessary to give your boss a gentle reminder. Self-promotion is also incredibly important if youre freelancing, self-employed, or interested in starting up your own business. Most industries are highly competitive, meaning that youll have to draw attention to your hard work and talents. If payment negotiations come up, dont be afraid to remind your boss of a job well done. Being unprepared or disorganized Have you been given the green light to head up an important project or give a key presentation at the workplace? Dont shoot yourself in the foot by not being prepared, or you may not get a second chance. Brushing up on some project management basics can make a world of difference, as can doing your research before a presentation. If you get a shot at greatness, be ready to make the most of it! Forgetting to Ask for Feedback You wont know if youre meeting your employers expectations at work unless you ask. Dont be afraid to ask for feedback at the conclusion of an important project or product launch, to find out what you did right and where theres room for improvement. Taking an active role in your own career growth will help propel you forward. It also shows that youre willing to undergo additional training or learn from your mistakes if necessary. An Unwillingness to Take Risks Do you play it too safe with your career? Whether you want to start a business of your own or have a great idea that you think could benefit your current employer, go for it! Taking a step outside of your comfort zone shows higher-ups and colleagues that you have what it takes to get promoted. Speaking Up at the Wrong Time Its often recommended to ask for new responsibilities, training, or a raise. Being assertive and letting your boss know what you want is a great way to advance your career, but be sure that your timing is right. If the companys struggling, its not a good time to ask for a raise. You dont want to come across as pushy, so learn how your manager operates and time your requests accordingly. If work is going well, its all too tempting to go with the flow. But taking the time to be a bit more proactive can work wonders in your career development, so be on the lookout for these typical career mistakes. Todays post is written by Rachel MacDonald, a freelance writer for small businesses with an avid interest in entrepreneurship.