FIVE CAREER MISTAKES YOU SHOULD AVOID

Whether you've snagged your first job or shifted to a new one recently, you need to follow work etiquette. For, a wrong word or a shoddy presentation may be akin to committing a career hara-kiri. Here are the habits, attitudes and behaviour patterns that are a strict no-no at the workplace.

I DONT NEED TO BE PUNCUAL

Timing is essential. You're a professional now and a 'sorry, my brother spilt milk over my homework' excuse isn't going to work. Your assignment should be finished before the deadline, with enough time to spare, so that you can polish it. Unlike college, a 'C' grade—even once—does matter. If you disappoint your seniors, getting another chance is going to be tough. If your office doesn't run on a 9-to-5 schedule, ensure that you have a fixed time for coming in and leaving, so that your colleagues can rely on you to be available during those hours.

I WANT EVERY THING , NOW

Instant gratification may be your buzzword, but it's not going to work at office. You cannot accumulate five years worth of experience in one year, nor can you get the hefty salaries your senior colleagues do. You will only get what your employers believe you're worth. "A mistake often made by freshers is that they run after high-paying jobs. In the initial stages, don't mix career and money.

Your priority should be the job profile based on your capabilities, which will help you hone your skills and grow. Once you're established, the money will come," says Nidhi Gaur, head, HR, Wiley India. Just putting in your best may not be enough. Your efforts will also have to be fruitful. "If you expect more compensation, remember that the worth of the individual should increase along with the cost," says Sunil Goel, CEO, GlobalHunt, an HR company.

THIS IS ALL I AM GOING TO DO

If you stick rigidly to your job description, you may miss out on opportunities to be noticed. Take up tasks beyond the routine ones, especially those that can demonstrate your untapped talents. This also proves that you're willing to take initiative.

If you are new, you may get saddled with jobs that others don't want or hours nobody else is willing to put in. If you grumble at being given extra work, it may put off your superiors. "Accept projects on the basis of where you want to be after three years. If you want to replace your boss, you will have to work more than you would to justify your salary," says Satya Narayanan, founder, Career Launcher.

I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO MADE IT SUCCESS

No man is an island, especially not in crowded cubicles. In an office, you need to work as a team. If you do well, give credit where it's due, especially to your juniors. Even if you don't get along with someone, be polite. There's no place for anger or tantrums at the workplace.

Remember, your electronic mails are being sent through your employer's server, so bad-mouthing someone on mail or chats in the office could lead to an embarrassing fiasco. Don't crib about your colleagues' work profile or the fact that they are favoured. Your talent cannot remain hidden for long, neither can other people's incompetency. You'll look like a fool if your own work falls short of the mark.

I AM THE BEST , I AM IRREPLACEABLE , I DESERVE THAT PROMOTION. 

If you believe you are the only one who can do the job right, back your conviction with accomplishments. There's a difference between boasting and delivering. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't promote yourself, but do it subtly. Before you jump at the chance to be promoted, ask yourself: am I prepared for it?

A promotion not only means more professional responsibilities, but also changes in personal life. Make sure you are ready to shoulder these.

If you aren't, the step may backfire and destroy chances of future promotions. Don't promise to get something done without ensuring that it is achievable. "In the early stages of your career, there are more options as there are more jobs, but these reduce as you move up.

At a senior position, you need to be stable in a job for 2-3 years and learn everything about the company before you opt for a promotion. Jumping too soon may set your career back by 4-5 years," says VY Verma, CEO, LG India.

How to Network with VIPs on LinkedIn

One of the first pieces of advice I always give to job seekers is to network with the people you already know – friends, family, neighbors, former colleagues and fellow college alumni. These people are valuable members of your LinkedIn network and, ideally, will be happy to introduce you to potentially helpful contacts in their LinkedIn networks.                          

Mention something you have in common, such as an alma mater, hometown, professional association membership or personal interest. For instance, if you recently attended the same event as the person, you might write, “Question from fellow attendee of recent lumber expo in Chicago.”

However, there are some instances where you’ll want to reach out to people who are not at all connected to your existing network and are, in your estimation, Very Important People. Your VIPs may include recruiters, hiring managers, senior executives at prospective employers or “stars” in your industry.

Offer information. If after reading a VIP’s LinkedIn profile you come across an article the person might want to read or an event the person might want to attend, this information could be the key to connecting. For instance, your subject line might read, “Thought you might enjoy this article on special education in Africa.” (Just be sure it’s not a commonly known article or that the person hasn't shared it on her own LinkedIn status!)

   If you’re ready to network several rungs up the career ladder, here are some tips:

1. Ensure that your profile makes a great first impression. VIPs are busy people, so if they receive a LinkedIn message from you and decide to check out your LinkedIn profile, chances are they’ll only spend a few seconds reviewing it. This means your profile has to be stellar.

First, craft a profile headline that is very specific and sells your skills and uniqueness, such as “Deadline-driven copywriter with 10+ years of experience at top-tier ad agencies.” Next, make sure your profile is 100% complete so a potential employer can quickly understand your education, experience and key skills. Finally, quadruple check your profile for typos, grammar mistakes or “red flags” such as outdated certifications or unexplained gaps in your experience.

2. Do your research on each VIP. Before reaching out to anyone, but particularly to a VIP, thoroughly review the person’s LinkedIn profile. Take note of anything you have in common with this person, any recent changes in his or her employment or any recent status updates that might give you something to mention in your outreach. Doing your homework will increase your confidence and will ensure that you don’t make any big mistakes (such as asking the person what it’s like to work at a company he just left).

3. Write a “must-open” InMail subject line. If you have no connections in common with this VIP (and, therefore, cannot ask for an introduction from someone in your network), you will need to reach out by using an InMail credit (part of the Job Seeker Premium account upgrade). Since the VIP will not recognize your name, you must write a subject line that compels the person to open your message. Here are a few suggestions

Answer a specific request. If the VIP is a recruiter or executive who has specifically mentioned a job opening, then be clear that you are responding to that opportunity. For example, “Candidate for sales manager position you mentioned on WXXX radio this morning.” In this case, there’s no need to beat around the bush!

4. Write a concise, specific and polite message. A big mistake people make when reaching out to network with VIPs is writing too long of an outreach message or being too vague. Remember that this is neither a cover letter nor your life story. You must be straightforward about who you are and what you are asking this person. And you must always show respect for the person’s time. Here is an example

Subject line: Request from fellow Detroit native inspired by your TED talk.

Dear juned,

I recently viewed your TED talk online and, as someone who grew up in Detroit, I was particularly inspired by your story of success as a journalist. I am currently transitioning from a teaching career into journalism and I was wondering if you could offer any advice or resources specifically related to launching a career in digital journalism. I know you are very busy, so any guidance or suggestions would be deeply appreciated – a particular niche you recommend I pursue, blogs I should read regularly or even a news outlet that you might know is hiring in the Detroit area. Thank you for inspiring me and for considering my request.Best regards,Lindsey

5. If at first you don’t succeed, try another way. If you don’t receive a response to your InMail when you reach out to a VIP, don’t despair (and remember that the InMail credit will be replaced if you don’t receive a response). But I also recommend that you don’t follow up using the exact same method. To reach a busy VIP who may receive hundreds of emails and messages a day, try something different, such as commenting on a group discussion this person has posted, replying to a status update this person has shared (You can follow people you share Groups with on LinkedIn by clicking “follow” under that person’s photo) or even reaching out to another person at his or her organization to make a good impression and then ask for a referral to the VIP.Finally, remember to show your gratitude. If you are successful making contact with a VIP and that person offers you an informational interview or answers a few questions by email, don’t forget to send a gracious thank you message on LinkedIn. Even thought VIPs are busy, they will always appreciate (and expect) a polite and timely thank you note. Good luck!

Enjoy don't forget to hit thanks..............

more tips and tricks coming soon.....................