Avoiding common career mistakes is a critical component of a successful career. Here are three mistakes that can hamper your success.

Neglecting the Value of Networking

Many professionals believe the quality of their work alone will bolster their careers. Therefore, they don't value networking to build professional relationships. However, networking is often the key to better assignments and career advancement.

When you stay in touch with colleagues inside and outside of your organization, people remember you when new opportunities come along.

Like personal relationships, professional relationships are based on give and take. You have to help people in your network if you expect them to assist you.

Being Unreliable

Being reliable improves your professional reputation while being unreliable destroys it. Habits that paint you as unreliable include consistently missing deadlines and regularly not delivering on what you promise.

Sometimes, a desire to please plays a role in being unreliable. When you're asked to take on a project, do you say yes even if your schedule is completely booked or the timeline is unrealistic? Your reputation improves when you're upfront about when you can deliver.

Dismissing Learning Opportunities

When you stop learning, you limit what you offer to the workplace. From time to time, everyone needs to refresh themselves on the elementary aspects of the profession. Also, you need to keep learning so that you don't miss what's new in your industry. You don't want to become known as the dinosaur in your profession who uses out-of-date techniques or technology.

There's no excuse for dismissing learning opportunities. There are ways to learn that fit every schedule and budget. Attend a class at a local community college, follow leading industry blogs, or listen to podcasts. Even some top colleges and universities like Harvard offer free classes online.

Contacting us to advance your career with a new opportunity is not a mistake. For more information on this and related topics, visit the Career Advice section of our blog.

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