Maintaining a good job can be quite challenging, especially when you find yourself navigating difficult situations such as workplace complaints or changes in management. It’s important to understand that there are certain actions employees take that can exacerbate these situations and potentially lead to job loss.
1. Misunderstanding Job Requirements
One of the first mistakes I often encounter is employees applying for jobs for which they are under-qualified. While I never want to discourage people from having aspirations, it’s important not to reach too far beyond our capabilities without a plan to meet the job requirements. There’s a huge difference between mastering use of software, for example, and programming it. Likewise, someone who has been managed well doesn’t automatically become a good manager. It takes education, training, professional development, practice, and mentoring or coaching for most people to become competent. Misunderstanding this becomes particularly problematic when employees face performance improvement plans (PIPs) because employers are usually only willing to provide training to align an employee’s skills and experience with the unique application of them in the employer’s workplaces. Few will provide education on the basics.
2. Pretending to Know More Than You Do
As I’ve mentioned before, “fake it until you make it” is terrible advice. In today’s highly-specialized jobs, it will usually become obvious to employers quickly that employees are pretending to understand more than they do. Sometimes, it’s in an effort to appear agreeable. Employees can hastily nod through a PIP discussion, but this approach only leads to confusion and can worsen situations. Ask questions get clarity around performance expectations. Without it, you are almost certain to fail in your role. It’s rare anyone wins a game without knowing all the rules.
3. Ignoring the Bare Minimum Requirements
Surprisingly, when perceiving their performance as good, some employees overlook fundamental responsibilities like punctuality, meeting deadlines, and adhering to the agreed-upon job duties. If you neglect these bare minimum requirements, your professional reputation can spoil quickly. You must consistently deliver what you promised during interviews to build trust with your employer and gain more opportunities. Yes, there are legal protections that keep you from being terminated unfairly for poor attendance due to understandable hardships like illness, caregiving duties, or domestic violence, but abuse of these protections becomes obvious quickly–including to judges and juries.
4. Expecting Employers to Meet All Your Needs
Employees sometimes expect their employers to go beyond the typical scope of a business partnership, but it’s not your employer’s responsibility to make sure you can pay your rent or your credit card balance. Asking for a raise because you want a higher standard of living will not be as persuasive as asking for one and explaining to your employer how you will bring in more than enough money to cover it. Remember, employment is a two-way relationship, and both parties have roles to play.
5. Focusing Only on the Money
A common pitfall is taking jobs solely for financial reasons. While monetary compensation is undeniably important, it won’t be enough to keep you motivated on the most difficult days. Far too many employees learn the hard way that the money doesn’t fix their lives. They experience job burnout early in their employment, and resignation soon flows through other areas of their lives. Finding intrinsic motivation and aligning work with your values and interests can significantly impact job and life satisfaction, as well as performance. That’s why it’s easy to think that people with good-paying jobs are happier because of the jobs. However, it might be that people who know how to create their own happiness get better jobs.
6. Gossiping
Finally, the most destructive behavior I’ve witnessed–and that often justifies employment termination–is gossiping. Discussing workplace issues with individuals who cannot contribute to resolutions not only sows discord, but it can also severely affect productivity and team cohesion. It’s critical to addressing workplace concerns through appropriate channels and keep your opinions about others’ personal lives to yourself.