Five Surprisingly Popular Career Myths

Photo Courtesy: Grace

Those looking for career advice certainly have a wealth of options available to them. Between career councilors and the world wide web, the information is out there in abundance. For some reason, however, many people don’t seem to find it.

How else can you explain the popularity of the many myths regarding the subject of career advancement? It always surprises me to see the number of people that base their career decisions based upon outdated/inaccurate logic.

Should you find yourself making career plans, it’s important to arm yourself with career advice that is both logical and up to date. In particular, you should avoid becoming one of the many victims of the following five popular career myths.

1. Study Hard and You’re Set for Life

In the past, this may well have been the case. But these days, a shiny degree from a shiny university doesn’t automatically mean a shiny career. Everyone has a degree these days; many even have two. And if you think that straight ‘A’s are going to save you, think again.

Nowadays, success is by no means guaranteed regardless of your qualifications. The right degree needs to be combined with the right experience, the right social skills and a certain commitment to networking. Who you know has never been more important.

2. Your Employer Wants to Help You Grow

Don’t get me wrong – your employer doesn’t hate you. Successful companies understand the importance of their workforce and the importance of keeping that workforce happy. But the days of on the job training are slowly coming to an end.

As the recession tightens its grip on both cash flow and profits, more and more companies are cutting their training programs. If you want to acquire new skills, it’s up to you to make it happen.

3. Hard Work is Always Rewarded

It doesn’t matter how hard you work – if nobody knows about it. And if you primarily find yourself working on low profile, low impact projects, your hard work is highly unlikely to get noticed.

If you want to get ahead, you need to work on tasks that genuinely matter to your employer. When high profile projects are up for grabs, your hand should be the first one that goes up. If such projects are unavailable to you, you’re working for the wrong company!

4. Company Loyalty Matters

Many otherwise intelligent careerists still believe that company loyalty is something to be proud of. It’s not. Company loyalty is often little other than a guise for procrastination. And it rarely pays any better.

If you’re not appreciated where you are, don’t assume that a few more loyal years are going to change that fact. And if your company goes under, as many do these days, don’t expect that loyalty to count for much then either. Be loyal to your career advancement, not your company.

5. It’s All About the Money

Finally, we have the small matter of salary – the greatest career myth of them all. For many people, career success is indeed measured in numbers but there’s more to a career than what you make.

Career satisfaction, the freedom to do what you want with your life and, of course, the ability to sleep at night should all be considered when deciding what you want out of your career. Everyone wants a six figure salary but some people forget to ask themselves what they are willing to give up in order to achieve it.

Ed Smith is a well-known job consultant based in London who shares extensive details regarding  pr jobs  through his blogs.