We are humans and yes humans do make mistakes. We make mistakes at every point in our lives. In a country like Pakistan, where there is practically no access to career counseling, one is bound to make mistakes. Mistakes are not so bad. After all, they do make you wiser.
I started my career when I was in my third year of university. I knew what I wanted to do but I did not have any direction. I knew my destination but I did not know which road led to it. So I started my career by working for free for the sake of βexposureβ. I thought I would learn the ropes. I made a lot of errors along the way, but I did learn.
I want to share three of my worst mistakes with you in the hope that my cautionary tale will help you avoid making the same mistakes.
Not Networking:
This is probably the biggest mistake I have made in my career. I never gave enough importance to networking. Networking can be a huge asset to get better job opportunities. If you don’t network, it can really slow down your career trajectory.
Once things start to go well for you, you find it easy to put networking on the back burner. However, if you stop it altogether, you’ll be making one of the biggest career errors ever.
Networking does not mean that you fake care or manipulate people for your benefit. You should constantly encourage sincere connections. Show genuine interest in other people’s lives. Occasionally check in on them (and not only when you need something from them). Try to assist them in the same way that you would like assistance, whether it be for personal or professional reasons.
Not Asking for a Raise
One common mistake I made during the early years of my career was not asking for a raise. You shouldn’t be reluctant to request a raise. Due to their extreme workloads, managers and other superiors can overlook some of your efforts or forget when you last received a raise. You need to remind them, after all! As long as you are prepared, most managers will respect your initiative and confidence when you ask for a raise. It is crucial to do some research on the typical pay for your industry and ask your colleagues about their pay scale. Additionally, you should be ready to explain the value you add to your role, so be prepared with examples of your accomplishments. Realise your worth!
Getting too Comfortable
Being at ease in your workplace plays a significant role in our lives and typically takes up a large portion of our time. You’ve done well if you enjoy your work and have built a career that you’re proud of. But although one is excellent, the other might not be. Loving what you do and being at ease in what you do are very different things.
You cannot advance in life if you are not learning. Your career may become stagnant if you remain in the same role at work. You need to keep increasing your knowledge, skills, and connections in order to stay relevant in your field.
