Play It Safe On The Job And Take Note of These What-Not-To-Do's

One wrong move can seriously damage your career beyond repair. Late assignments, teary outbursts and wagging tongues can sabotage your career. With just one slip, all the years of hard work and successful planning can be rendered insignificant by any one of these career killers.

Young workers especially need to pay particular attention to their behavior, punctuality, attitude and even their appearance. Seniority sucks, but that's the reality of the working world. But, if you stick around long enough, you too will be at the top of the food chain.

In order to "stick around" though, it' best to avoid these following blunders.

To help you keep your career on track, here are five things to steer clear of while on the job:

1. Biting Off More Than You Can Chew
Your journey is only as long as the destination is far. Don't overload yourself! Take baby steps to get where you want to go. You may think that taking on a ton of work from the get-go will impress your boss (and it probably will) but dropping the ball on a task too big might land you two steps behind instead of one step ahead. Take your time, know your stuff, and work hard. As you become more familiar with the job, you'll be able to take on more at once - but that comes with time.

2. Dabbling In Office Politics
Some people have an natural affinity for gossip, and although you may find the latest dish to be harmless (e.g. your co-worker has a crush on the mail guy) it might actually be more serious than you think. Stick to Perez Hilton for your daily dose, and keep away from the water cooler - unless you're thirsty, of course.

3. Waiting in Vain
What are you waiting for? Procrastination is the worst thing you can do when faced with a heavy load. Don't be intimidated, just dive right in. In the grand scheme of things, your procrastination could actually hamper the companies whole operation and put not only your career at risk, but the business as well.

4. Instant Gratification
You know what you want, but you want it right now. You might be doing excellent work, but just know that it might be months before your genius is recognized. Don't be discouraged. By letting yourself feel hurt on account of a lack of recognition, you allow your work to suffer. Keep pushing forward, and don't eat the sour grapes. Eventually, your savvy will be applauded and rewarded.

5. Look The Part
Mother always said to dress for the job you want, and not for the job you have. Just because you're tucked away in a cubicle that the boss never passes doesn't mean you should go to work looking like a slob. Your appearance speaks volumes about you. There is no need to go spend your entire paycheck on fancy clothes, just make sure that your outfits are always clean, you hair is always tidy and your nails are always manicured. This makes you look organized and professional, and will certainly get you noticed.

Style Lisa
		About the author:
		I love fashion more than life itself.  My mother says my first word was Gucci!  When I'm not sitting front row at FashionWeek, I'm blogging, reading and watching my favourite TV show, Gossip Girl.
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