10 career mistakes you will regret Viewpoint careers advice blog

10 career mistakes you will regret These 10 career mistakes could damage your long-term career prospects. If you’re making one of these common career mistakes, now’s the time to change your ways and get your career back on track. 1. You are coasting It’s easy to do  youve  been at your company for a few years,  youve  got comfortable and have stopped pushing yourself. By putting a little more effort in every day and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you may well be able to get more out of your job. From securing a promotion to earning a pay rise, a little bit of effort can go a long way. 2. You  arent  seeing the bigger picture As a busy and ambitious professional who is constantly managing multiple projects and team members, and undoubtedly under relentless pressure to achieve, it can be hard to force yourself to take a step back and really see the bigger picture. Developing a broader understanding and appreciation of your organisation’s ultimate goals will not only provide you with a deeper sense of purpose and passion for what you do, and ultimately make you more successful. 3. You are burning bridges Relationships, networking and word of mouth recommendations are incredibly important in business and career progression.  Burn your bridges and you may find that your reputation precedes you next time you’re looking for a new job. 4. You are putting your career before your life Though work is important, without a bit of balance in your life you won’t feel truly happy, and if you don’t feel happy or healthy, you’re unlikely to fulfil your career potential.  So, take some time out to start putting things into perspective. 5. You are blurring the line between personal and professional If  youve  been working in the same company for a long time, the line between personal and professional relationships can become blurred.  By keeping clear boundaries you can ensure that you perform your best when you’re at work, are viewed in a professional light, and don’t take any baggage with you into the office. 6. You always think the grass is greener Moving jobs because you think the grass is greener somewhere else can be a big mistake.  How do you know whether you would be happier if you changed jobs or whether you are better staying where you are? You need to ensure you are moving for the right reasons before you begin to search for an alternative role. I urge you to consider these factors before making a move. 7. You are allowing your skills to become out of date With the advancement of new technology moving so quickly, it’s more important than ever to stay up to date and ensure your skills are cutting edge.  Failing to keep on top of new innovations could see your career begin to lag, with younger, more dynamic employees snapping at your heels. 8. You  didnt  trust your gut If  youve  been working in an industry for a number of years, the chances are you’ve developed some pretty good instincts.  To ensure you don’t have any regrets in the future, try to trust your intuition when it comes to important business decisions. 9. You  arent  focusing on projects which will drive the most value Instead of dividing your time between lots of low value projects and losing sight of what matters, try to focus on the projects that will drive your company forward, bring in revenue and help your business to grow.  This will only serve to reflect well on you and motivate you to continue to succeed. 10. You don’t believe in yourself If you don’t believe in yourself, it’s unlikely your employers or colleagues will either. Try to build your confidence by thinking back at all those things you have achieved in your career, stop listening to the voices in your head and start believing in your own abilities again. You are better than you give yourself credit for. Want to progress in your career? Our career progression tips will help you get to where you want to be How to optimise your LinkedIn profile Common cover letter mistakes 11 ways to become more productive at work How I coped with relocating 11,000 miles for my new job, twice 6 leadership styles you need to succeed Stop waiting to be recognised Great leaders put themselves second