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. Images: Thinkstock

1. 1
Catherine Gutsell
Group Social Media
Manager at Hays
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.
Catherine Gutsell, Group Social Media
Manager at Hays shares 10 career
mistakes that could damage your long-
term career prospects.
10 CAREER MISTAKES YOU
WILL REGRET
haysplc.com/viewpoint

2. 2
It’s easy to do – you’ve been at
your company for a few years,
you’ve got comfortable and 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.
YOU ARE COASTING
haysplc.com/viewpoint

3. 3
As a busy and ambitious professional
who is constantly managing multiple
projects, it can be hard to force
yourself to take a step back and
really see the bigger picture.
Developing a broader understanding
of your organisation’s ultimate goals
will provide you with a deeper sense
of purpose and passion for what you
do, and ultimately make you more
successful.
YOU AREN’T SEEING
THE BIGGER PICTURE
haysplc.com/viewpoint

4. 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.
YOU ARE BURNING
BRIDGES
4
haysplc.com/viewpoint

5. 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.
Take time out to start putting things
into perspective.
YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR
CAREER BEFORE YOUR
LIFE
5
haysplc.com/viewpoint

6. If you’ve 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 and are
viewed in a professional light.
YOU ARE BLURRING THE
LINE BETWEEN
PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
6
haysplc.com/viewpoint

7. 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.
YOU ALWAYS THINK THE
GRASS IS GREENER
7
haysplc.com/viewpoint

8. 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.
YOU ARE ALLOWING
YOUR SKILLS TO BECOME
OUT OF DATE
8
haysplc.com/viewpoint

9. If you’ve 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.
YOU DIDN’T TRUST
YOUR GUT
9
haysplc.com/viewpoint

10. 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.
This will reflect well on you and
motivate you to continue succeed.
YOU AREN’T FOCUSING
ON PROJECTS WHICH
WILL DRIVE THE MOST
VALUE
10
haysplc.com/viewpoint

11. If you don’t believe in yourself, it’s
unlikely your employers or
colleagues will either. Try to build
your confidence by thinking back to
all those things you have achieved
in your career and start believing in
your own abilities again.
You are better than you give
yourself credit for.
YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN
YOURSELF
11
haysplc.com/viewpoint

12. 12
ABOUT HAYS
Hays is a leading global
professional recruiting group, the
expert at recruiting qualified,
professional and skilled people
worldwide.
With over 8,748 staff operating from
244 offices in 33 countries across
20 specialism's, last year we placed
around 57,000 candidates into
permanent jobs, and around
212,000 people into temporary
assignments.
haysplc.com