5 Bad Habits to Avoid When Starting Your Career

If there’s one exciting moment in life that everyone can relate to, it’s the starting of a career. When someone finally figures out what they want to do in life, it’s undeniably thrilling to take those first steps towards going after those goals. But, with that eagerness can come some self-imposed setbacks. Though we mean well, sometimes when we are at the beginning of a career journey, we try to prove ourselves so much that unintentionally self-sabotage. Thankfully, as long there is self-awareness then there should be no problems combating these bad habits. But, just to make sure you’re setting yourself up for success, here are 5 bad habits to watch out for when starting a career.

Neglecting to Set Boundaries

This has to be one of the worst habits for most people, and unfortunately, a very common one. For many newbies, it’s common to get into the habit of not setting any boundaries from the start – and what those boundaries are vary for each individual. It can be “yes” to everything which causes people to overextend themselves and not provide their best work, or always working 24/7 and never taking time to sleep or have basic self-care. While starting your career can be motivating, it’s important to remember that keeping a proper work/life balance will actually lead you to doing your best work.

Never Asking Questions

It’s pretty hard to get far in life without having the skill of asking questions. When someone is just starting out, they may silence themselves in fear of coming off too strong or being seen as knowledgeable – which just isn’t true! It will only be beneficial moving forward, and it can be surprising on how asking questions can help advance a career.

Pretending to Have all the Answers

There is a preconceived notion that getting the job means expecting to know how to do everything. Well, that's not the case. Especially as a beginner, employers are well aware that you are new to the job and have a lot to learn. Under no circumstance is any newcomer expected to be an expert, so there’s no need to put that pressure on yourself. When you are starting out, there are times you may have questions or be unclear about something. Don’t get into the habit of trying to figure it out solo because you think you should already have the answer. You’re just starting out – cut yourself some slack. You’ll see that you will get way farther much faster when you ask for help and admit you don’t have all the answers.

Avoiding Networking

Getting a job doesn’t mean the networking grind is over. Oh no, it’s actually just getting started! Most people are well aware of the importance of networking and making connections in order to get a foot in the door. Those connection forming skills are still very much so needed even when the door opens. When starting a career, it’s important to not get into the habit of settling on who you know already. There are still many people out there to reach out to, even within the business environment you are in currently. The power of networking is invaluable, so use it to the best of its advantage.

Only Doing the Minimum

Listen, it’s fantastic to be someone that is dependable and is able to get what’s assigned done in a timely manner, but it’s even more fantastic to do all of that and be proactive in doing more than what is asked of you. It’s what differentiates a good candidate from a great one. It’s what employers look at when determining which interns they want full time. Or how people are promoted to higher positions. It’s essential to not be the person that sits idly by and only does what’s asked. Instead, be the person in the room that goes above and beyond. This alone will have a huge impact on your career.