So you’ve finally made it to the “real world” and landed your first job. Congratulations! Before you dive into the working world, there are a few common pitfalls1 you should try to avoid. Click through to learn about the seven biggest career mistakes young professionals tend to make.
1. Being Afraid to Speak Up
Whether it’s asking for a raise, time off, or just voicing an opinion, it’s important to stand up for yourself in the office. The more confidence you exude2, the more others will have in you, and as long as you do it in a respectful and professional way, your colleagues will be more impressed than put-off by your assertiveness3. Make sure to know your worth and not let your age or inexperience dictate4 how others treat you.
You may think no one is looking or particularly cares about what you're doing all day, but if you're like most young professionals, you sit in a cube with your computer screen visible to all who pass by. So it's important to limit the amount of time you spend on Facebook, personal email and other non-work-related sites. Even though your boss may seem relaxed, he's not going to appreciate an employee who seems to care more about her friend's status updates than her actual work.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to be taken seriously as a young professional. One thing that can either help or hurt you is how you present yourself. If you dress too provocatively7, young or casual, you could be sending the wrong message to your coworkers. Just because you have it, doesn’t mean the office is the place to wear it. If you want to be taken seriously, dress seriously.
4. Not Networking
Yes, working hard and being seen as a dedicated8 employee is vital to your professional success, but professional relationships are just as important when it comes to getting your next job or promotion9. Many young people are afraid to network and appear aggressive, but it is an established part of the working world. A good way to start is by asking your superiors whom you look up to for career guidance.
5. Gossiping in the Office
While networking is the right way to build relationships, gossiping is not. Commiserating10 with coworkers over shared office gripes can be a great way to bond, but it’s a dangerous habit to get into and can cause friction11 with other colleagues. If others come to you with gossip or complaints, refrain from joining in and stay neutral. In the long run, it will serve you better to not make enemies at work.
6. Being Late for Work
Appearance is everything. You could be the hardest worker in the office or do extra work from home, but if you are consistently late to work, you give off the impression that you’re a slacker. People notice who stays late and who comes in early and will form an opinion about you, whether it’s accurate or not. Your professional reputation is a vital part of getting ahead in your industry and being late to work sounds trivial, but it can gradually undermine all your hard work
Acting too confident is a common issue with young professionals. It is sometimes hard for recent college graduates to transition from top-of-the-food-chain seniors to professional “freshmen13.” Now that you’re out of the collegiate bubble, you must remember to be humble14 and know your place in the company. Just because you might have graduated cum laude, doesn’t mean you’re too good to make photocopies15, and that attitude will hurt your chances of being promoted.
1
pitfalls ['pɪtfɔ:lz]
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(捕猎野兽用的)陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 ); 意想不到的困难,易犯的错误 | |
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2
exude [ɪgˈzju:d]
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vt. 散发;流出;使渗出 vi. 流出;渗出;发散 | |
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3
assertiveness [ə'sə:tivnis]
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n.过分自信 | |
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4
dictate [dɪkˈteɪt]
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vt.口授;(使)听写;指令,指示,命令;vi.口述;听写 | |
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5
goofing [ɡu:fɪŋ]
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v.弄糟( goof的现在分词 );混;打发时间;出大错 | |
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6
dressing [ˈdresɪŋ]
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n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料 | |
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7
provocatively []
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8
dedicated [ˈdedɪkeɪtɪd]
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adj.一心一意的;献身的;热诚的 | |
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promotion [prəˈməʊʃn]
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n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传 | |
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10
commiserating [kəˈmɪzəˌreɪtɪŋ]
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v.怜悯,同情( commiserate的现在分词 ) | |
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11
friction [ˈfrɪkʃn]
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n.摩擦,摩擦力 | |
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12
acting [ˈæktɪŋ]
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n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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freshmen ['freʃmən]
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n.(中学或大学的)一年级学生( freshman的名词复数 ) | |
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14
humble [ˈhʌmbl]
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adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;vt.降低,贬低 | |
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15
photocopies [ˈfəʊtəˌkɔpi:z]
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n.影印本( photocopy的名词复数 );复印件 | |
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