Career No-Nos

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So I have recently come across a couple of incidents where people have done silly things in their jobs that can lead to serious career limiting implications and I want to let everyone know and understand the things you can't do if you want a successful career with pretty much any company.

1. Don't lie on your CV, if you can't do something don't have it on your CV and then wonder why you're getting tasked with doing that work and you can't deliver.
2. Don't text the boss calling him rude names, especially if you don't get on with him and want a good reference from the company, they don't go hand in hand usually.
3. Don't call in sick after being given a piece of work that you should be able to do with your eyes closed (see #1).
4. Don't tell the owner of the company he doesn't know what he's doing (he's the owner, he has a better idea of what he is doing as it's his company and he can do with it what he wants (within reason obviously)).
5. Don't spend all day going over a piece of work you were supposed to have finished the week previously just because you can't do the other tasks you have been given.
6. Don't just walk off-site claiming you're going to take a half days holiday, there are reasons why there are leave approval processes in place.
7. Don't lie about the amount of time you worked for previous companies, it has a way of coming out in background checks (sure the odd month here or there 5 years ago can be accepted but saying you worked somewhere for over 18 months when infact you worked there for 3 months throws up all sorts of alarms).

Having experienced or been told of some of these behaviours recently don't be surprised if you don't have a job at the end of the day, you have been hired as a professional, act like one and admit any shortcomings, it's easier to train someone up or listen to grievances if you're honest and civil than if you hide and be insubordinate.

Things like this have a habit of biting people on the arse so please try to remember that you have to be honest, if you're not then don't be surprised if you're escorted off site sooner rather than later.

 

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Great post Simon. It shocks me how devious, deceitful and unprofessional some people can be. I guess it's sometimes best to learn the hard way.

 

I've seen this one in action in a previous job, we had a woman join the accounts department who didn't even make it through her first day before having to admit she had absolutely no IT skills and couldn't back up her CV or anything she said in the interview. User account created 4:50PM the previous day, deleted at 10:30AM the morning she started.

If I can add a few more:

1. Don't get the bosses girlfriend drunk and sleep with her while on a company trip in Vegas (What happens in Vegas definitely doesn't stay there).
2. Don't get banned from driving for drink related issues and lie about it.
3. Don't then lie about having regained your license.
4. Don't try and screw over every clients server on your way out the door.

 

Seems like you are venting haha....I think these all pretty much go without saying.....and those that choose to do it will likely still do it despite the above warning!

 

I'm afraid that doesn't always follow, there have been a couple of times that I've felt it necessary to bypass my manager in my career and its been fairly successful. On those occasions its been because my manager has been fairly blinkered to the harm they are causing and needed someone further up the chain of command to sit them down and put things right.

My wife has actually had the same thing fairly recently, her 'line manager' took personal issue with her and it needed someone further up to point out how unprofessional and ridiculous she was being. I wouldn't say the two of them are now best of friends but their relationship has improved massively since.

 

Agreed, work places can be some fairly dysfunctional places, its just as important to have a healthy disrespect for the chain of command, within reason.