There are so many factors that play a role in one’s success. Keeping your eye on all of them is nearly impossible, and some will even be completely out of your control.
Also, jobs are not what they used to be in the past. Nowadays, you need to be able to accept the fact that you will be learning all the time, right up until the day you retire. Of course, you won’t have to do math homework, but you’ll have to pick up new things along the way.
There is also very little job security, which means you will have to change several companies over the course of your career. In addition to that, outsourcing and freelancing are changing the job landscape each day, and IT startup companies are challenging the existing business models set by corporate giants before them.
In order to have your career start off on the right foot, we have put together a list of 5 biggest career mistakes you can make, along with tips on how to avoid them.
The 5 Biggest Career Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid
1. Not Having a Plan
One of the most common mistakes young graduates make is to start looking for a job or building their career without any plan or long-term goals in mind. Living in the moment and giving it your best is great, but you have to keep looking at the bigger picture. Now, you don’t have to think of having a plan as something very strict and limiting. Having a plan can be anything from having a framework inside your head, having it written down on paper, or relying on a carefully thought-out five-year plan. Some students even get in touch with services which provide assignment writing help to assist them in putting together a detailed plan.
2. Not Keeping up with the Changes
Modern careers are constantly evolving, and sticking only to what you have learned back in college can cause you to fall behind your peers, and have a hard time staying competitive when looking for a new job. Modern technology is always coming up with something new, which changes the way the market works and the way people do business, which means that job expectation will change, as well. Some professions, such as IT, are especially sensitive to these changes.
In order to avoid this, you need to stay on top of current job trends, and attend important conferences, workshops, and seminars in your industry. In college, when you do math, you are constantly learning new theorems and expanding your knowledge. It’s exactly the same when it comes to your career.
3. Not Focusing on Your Growth
With all these external factors changing around you, it would be a mistake if you didn’t change yourself along the way. By this, we mean focusing on your growth, because that’s the stuff all successful careers are made of. However, the problem lies within young people, because they are often too insecure and too much under pressure to realize just how much potential they really have. Just like that time when you were worried about your math test, and asked for math help, only to realize you didn’t even need it.
Of course, it’s impossible to predict who you are going to be in five or ten years from now, but sticking to the same goals, having the same way of thinking, and never changing course because you fear you might get sidetracked is one of the most common mistakes made by young and ambitious college graduates. What you have to do is find out who you really are, and where your true interests and dreams lie, and follow them, even when if it seems you are losing out on some of the security.
4. Getting Stuck at a Dead-End Job
Because it’s incredibly difficult these days to find any job, let alone a dream job, you may have to resort to getting hired in order to pay the bills and put food on the table. And there is nothing wrong with that. But, you should always remember that it is only a temporary solution, a mere stepping stone toward achieving your goals. Give it a year, and after that, be as active as you can at looking for that dream job you’ve always wanted. Always keep an eye on the job market, because you never know when an opportunity might present itself. You don’t want to pass it up.
Also, there is another situation which you should avoid in the long run. Working a job that pays well, has decent benefits, but with very little room for you to grow and advance in your career. If your job, or the circumstances surrounding it are holding you back and preventing you from achieving your full potential, you should move on and find something better.
5. Failure to Use Social Media to Your Advantage
Why social media? According to numerous studies, nearly 80 percent of the job openings aren’t even listed. Recruiters are using social networks nowadays to locate the best talent out there. This means you need to have a LinkedIn profile at the very least, as well as Facebook. The best thing you can do, however, is to have your own website or blog, where you can share your expertise regarding your industry, and get noticed by the recruiters.
On the other hand, if your social media profiles are poorly maintained and feature inappropriate content, you’re not going to leave a good impression on your potential employer, so be careful about what you post online.
Right now may be the most difficult time in all of history if you are looking to build your dream career. There are so many obstacles to avoid and so many things going up against you, and the last thing you need to do is sabotage yourself. Follow these 5 simple, yet effective tips, work hard, and watch your career take off.
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