You were passed over for that promotion.

You were never called in for that interview.

You thought that, by this point, you’d be much further along in your career.

Where did things go wrong?

It’s natural to be disheartened, frustrated, even a little confused when your career feels like it’s off the rails – especially when you don’t understand why. Could it be something you’ve done – or that you aren’t doing?

Time for a little detective work.

Make sure you’re not committing any of these fundamental career mistakes:

Not believing in yourself.

“Imposter syndrome” – the idea that your success is undeserved or happened by accident – is common among professionals. And left unaddressed, it can hold you back from achieving your full potential in your career. If you struggle with feelings of inadequacy:

• Monitor your self-talk. When a negative thought pops up, ask yourself: “Am I being reasonable?” Focus on your strengths to get your mindset back on track, repeating positive affirmations about your skills, experience and accomplishments.
• Leave your failures where they belong. In the past! We all make mistakes at work. Learn what you can from them, but don’t let them paralyze you.
• Talk about imposter syndrome with someone you trust outside of work. An objective “outsider” can shed impartial light on the reasons your fears are irrational.

Ignoring the modern job-search players and process.

As organizations, recruiting technology and work itself becomes more complex, so does the hiring “ecosystem.” Whether you’re aiming for a promotion or a job with a new company, make sure you get to know these key decision-makers in the process:

• the HR manager;
• the hiring manager or department head;
• the headhunter, external recruiter or internal recruiter.

Then, take decisive action. Instead of waiting for an interview to come to you, market yourself! Use your “marketing toolkit” (i.e., resume, portfolio or other work examples, LinkedIn recommendations and professional network) and relationships you’ve established with the contacts above to proactively make the case for your candidacy.

Acting entitled.

Doing your job adequately is seldom enough to merit advancement or land a better opportunity. If you want to advance your career, don’t behave as if you’ve already “paid your dues.” Go above and beyond by:

• volunteering for stretch assignments;
• tackling jobs nobody else wants to do;
• continually searching for solutions to business problems.

And have a great attitude when you do it! There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance; acting like “you’ve got this one in the bag” may irritate decision makers who can accelerate your career growth. Characteristics such as humility, a solid work ethic, and a focus on growth, however, are a winning combination if you want to level up in your career.

Ready to take your career or your organization to new levels of success?

Across the country, Exact Staff’s experts connect talented, career-minded professionals with the right opportunities in leading organization to drive productivity, performance and success.

What can the Exact Family of Companies do for you?

Contact our national employment agency today.