You have decided to put your career under a microscope and make the changes that will get you moving in the right direction. Whether you feel your career is stagnant or you are simply not getting any satisfaction from your current direction, it is always good to stop and reassess where you are headed to make sure that all is going well.
When you decide to evaluate your career path, you will inevitably get career advice from a lot of well-meaning people. Some of the advice you will get is great and can be helpful. But then there is the advice that could do more harm than good and that is the advice you will have to ignore.
Always Take On Whatever Work You Are Given
One piece of career advice that is best ignored is the notion that you should always accept extra work to help advance your career. Aside from the problem of trying to fit 12 hours of work into an eight-hour day, there are a couple of other reasons why you need to learn to say “no” to advance your career.
When you allow yourself to get overwhelmed with work, then you are unable to perform your best. Instead of putting out work that should get you promoted, you are putting out a prolific amount of work that is average at best and that is going to damage your career.
Another issue with not saying “no” to more work is that you become known as a dumping ground for whatever needs to be done, as opposed to being recognized for your field-specific skills. Allow your skills to stand out by turning down extra work and focus on what you do best.
All You Have To Do Is Work Hard And You Can Succeed
It would be nice if we could all work hard and then achieve results like a famous entrepreneur or celebrity, but it doesn’t always work that way. Hard work is only part of what you need to succeed and it is important to remember that there is more to your career success than just hard work.
Career success also requires networking with the right people, taking advantage of opportunities and putting your name out there so much that you are bound to get some kind of positive response. Yes, hard work does matter. But you should not rely on hard work alone.
Make Your Resume Only One Page
This is a career myth that needs to be snubbed out immediately. While you do not want to extend your resume just to try and make it look more impressive, you also do not want to cut out valuable information so that your resume fits a one-page format. As long as your information is concise and complete, then make your resume as long as it needs to be.
You Should Go To Grad School To Advance Your Career
If you are in the education field, then going to graduate school is an essential part of you educational background. But if you are working in the retail sales profession, then graduate school might not be as relevant to your future. You can go to graduate school if you want, but it will only enhance your career if graduate school is a requirement of your field. If you go to a good university, then the alumni network can be quite useful though.
Sandbox Advisors can help you evaluate your career and determine the best way for you to get back on track. Contact one of our career advisors today and find out how you can achieve your career goals.