Up until the COVID pandemic hit, job seekers were seeing very favorable odds and this caused the rise of a troubling trend: ‘ghosting’.
In the business world, ghosting on an employer can mean accepting a job offer and then not showing up. Or, quitting a job by simply not showing up anymore. The most common reason for doing this is landing a better job elsewhere.
Ghosting is a vanishing act that can be a real career killer. It may have flown in the past few years, but with the pandemic – the last thing you want to do is burn a bridge with a company. When you ghost on an employer, you’re also ghosting on the people who work there – which can lead to negative knock-on effects for your career prospects.
In addition to ghosting, there are a number of other career killers you ought to know. Consider the following.
Not Making a Plan
Creating a plan for career success is invaluable. At its most basic, a plan can help you stay on task and focused on what’s important to your career. A plan is also aspirational and optimistic, which is a highly overlooked aspect to career success.
When making your plan, sit down and assess the bigger picture. Establish reasonable and quantifiable short-term goals and big-picture long-term goals. Regularly revisit your plan and update it as you go.
Not Keeping Current
Some industries change faster than other, but all industries do change over time, mostly thanks to ever-evolving technology.
Throughout your career, continue honing your abilities. If your employer does not adequately support your continued development, you may want to start looking for a company that will. Failure to remain current will make you less valuable and more expendable over time.
Not Networking
One typical mistake is to stop networking when you feel secure in your position. Instead, having a sense of job security is the best time to lean into networking.
If you’re not looking for a new job, you can still learn a lot through networking conversation and grow as a professional in the process. Making new contact and keeping in touch with existing ones also helps if your happy job situation suddenly takes a turn.
Holding Out for an Upward Career Move
An internal or external job change doesn’t always have to be move upward, regardless of the notion that a career trajectory must always head that direction. In fact, a lot of the best moves are lateral ones, even among the most successful executives.
While taking a step down can set up back, a lateral move can be helpful long term. For example, a smart lateral move can lead to a quick promotion or the acquisition of valuable new skills. Lateral moves can also strengthen your resume if you move to a business with a stronger brand.
We Can Help You Keep Your Career on Track
At SMCI, we often counsel people on what career moves to take and help them make those moves. Please contact us today to find out how we can support your career development. Explore these open jobs and apply today.
