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Seven Career Killers
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Budgeting You worked hard to get the education, the skills and now the job. Don't
Career & Work
let these mistakes sabotage your climb up the career ladder.

College &
Lying on your résumé, stealing office supplies or failing to show up for work will surely
Education dampen your career prospects. But young workers need to beware of less-obvious
mistakes that can sabotage their careers. Your behavior, attitude and appearance will
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your entire working life.
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As someone just starting out in the work world, you probably don't have a reputation
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yet. Take advantage of this blank slate. "You want to be seen as an up-and-comer, not
Real Estate the stereotypical young slacker," says Marty Nemko, a job coach in Oakland, Cal., and
columnist for Kiplinger.com. Avoiding these seven career killers will help you craft a
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Bonds 2. Having a sense of entitlement. Our generation was raised on instant View rates in your area
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gratification -- we're used to getting what we want, and getting it now. Yet when it
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says Randall Hansen, founder of Quintessential Careers and associate professor of
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marketing at Stetson University in Deland, Fla. Falling into that trap can hinder a climb
up the career ladder. If you carry the attitude that you deserve to be promoted or else, ADVERTISEMENT
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If you're lucky enough to even have a job in this
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Post Resume Finance: you're on the bottom rung of the career ladder.
That means you're going to have to pay some
Career Advice • Using Twitter to Make dues, such as taking on jobs others don't want or
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mean you should accept your low status forever.
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move up -- and how to pull it off.
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Sabbatical Could Be Now 3. Settling into your job description. You Fed cut banks' deficits after negotiations: report
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may have your set responsibilities, but you should
Visit the Career & Work always be on the lookout for opportunities to New York couple tied to financial industry tries to
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entry-level tasks can demonstrate your untapped CNNMoney.com - Sat, May 9 - 8:16am ET
talents and show your boss you're not afraid to take initiative. Settle into your job
description for too long and your reputation may be cast as a low-level lackey. New York couple tied to financial industry tries to
You may have to do a little self-promotion, but try not to come off as a braggart. cope
CNNMoney.com - Fri, May 8 - 9:56pm ET
Nemko's daughter, for example, got her first job working for Hillary Clinton -- but her
job description was to answer letters to Socks, the Clintons' pet cat. Soon after starting, PMI Reaches Agreement With Lender Group on the
she approached her boss and said she was willing to pay her dues, but that she had
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good research and writing skills. She pointed out that she might be useful on some
other task. A few days went by and her boss asked her to research a topic and write a Revolving Credit Facility

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/107022/Seven-Career-Killers[10/05/2009 6:23:53 AM]

Seven-Career-Killers: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

PR Newswire - Fri, May 8 - 9:40pm ET

one-page brief for Clinton. She ended up spending a year as a researcher -- that
certainly beats handling feline fan mail.
View more popular articles
4. Avoiding office politics. When it comes to playing office politics, there is
naughty and nice. Naturally, you shouldn't engage in backstabbing and gossiping. But
avoiding politics altogether can be deadly for your career. Like it or not, every
workplace has an intricate system of power, and you can -- and should -- work it
ethically to your best advantage. To get a promotion, avoid downsizing or get a project
approved, you need co-worker support. Get that backing by building relationships,
asking others for advice, offering your help and showing sincere interest in others,
advises Nemko. (Learn more about how to make yourself fire-resistant in the
workplace.)
It's also crucial to identify your workplace's hidden pockets of power. On paper, a
certain person may be in charge, but you need to know who else in the office has
influence so you can be sure to impress the right people.
5. Not being a team player. Getting stuck with this label is one of the fastest
career killers, says Hansen. But young workers face a delicate balance. "You can't be
so much a member of the team that your individual efforts are not recognized and
rewarded," Hansen says. You still need to demonstrate your skills and abilities to
successfully build your career without giving the appearance that you're interested only
in looking out for yourself.
6. Not dressing the part. In an ideal world, you would be judged by your merits
alone. However, we live in a visual society. How you present yourself can play a crucial
role in the progress of your career. You want to look professional and in control, not
sloppy and indifferent. Keep your hair and nails trimmed, your clothes ironed and your
breath smelling nice.
As for your apparel, take your cues from what others are wearing -- you don't want to
show up in a suit and tie if jeans are the norm. But it doesn't hurt to dress for the job
you want, advises Nemko. It can set you apart from the rest of the crowd and subtly
help higher-ups visualize you in a position of more power and responsibility. If you want
people to take you more seriously and build influence, you've got to dress the part. See
Dress for Success for Less for tips on pulling this off on a budget.
7. Failing to network. You've heard that networking can be a good tool to help you
find a job, but maintaining your contacts after you're hired is critical to the continuing
success of your career. Keeping in touch helps you stay atop the latest issues in your
field and gives you people to call on when you need advice. And a contact just may
help you land your next job.
When you're starting out, you probably don't know many people in your field, but there
are plenty of ways you can plug into the grapevine:
Check out the resources offered by your college alumni association.
Join a professional organization or club.
Subscribe to a trade magazine.
Find online discussion groups for your industry through groups.google.com.
Keep in touch with college acquaintances in your major, especially those who may
have graduated before you.
Don't be a wallflower at conferences and other functions. And always keep a
business card on hand when you're outside the office. You never know when you
might run into a potential contact.

Don't forget to build rapport with higher-ups in your office. You can introduce yourself
at informal company socials or even while riding in the elevator. Then send them an e-
mail or stop by their office to ask an occasional question or to follow up on something
you chatted about previously. You never know when that friendship could come in
handy down the road.
Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.

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