5 misconceptions about the job

Job and career transitions are becoming more frequent. Many people are forced to learn the hard way that their job search behaviour may be self-defeating or at least, less productive than it could be. One useful approach to this process is to review how you perceived yourself in your last work role and whether or not your self-view was accurate. A re-assessment of your attitude will go a long way toward assisting you to find and secure a more suitable position.

1) You imagined you would be rewarded based on competence and ability. Politics abound in many workplaces. This means unwritten rules determine who will get recognition as much as promoted contests like “employee of the month.” Who you know, who is watching when you’re not paying attention, and who secretly values your contribution, may be far more important than your original skills. Not all workplaces are like this, yet be forewarned.

2) You assumed demonstrating initiative and enthusiasm would move you ahead. The “tall poppy” syndrome is such that people around you and especially above you in a hierarchy, won’t necessarily like it when you work harder. As you raise the standard, they will be expected to keep up or, insecure people above you may decide you’re after their job. Thus your greatest intentions may inadvertently shoot you in the foot. Your efforts to be noticed and appreciated may backfire completely.

3) You figured the more you knew, the better. This is misleading. What people think you know and whom people think you know may be more to your advantage. What you really know is often beside the point, especially if nobody knows you know. Making yourself useful is a game of strategy. You need to learn who needs to know what you know and when, according to your interests and the interests of office peers. If you get it wrong, oops!

4) You gathered colleagues were like adopted family. Not all family members are close and supportive of each other, regardless of circumstances. The sad truth is some people are only willing to be friends so long as you provide or obtain things for them and, they benefit from you. To have office politics in common may give you topics to chat about over lunch, but these people may not share common interests outside the workplace, or share your views and beliefs. If you leave a workplace, you're better off leaving old co-workers and moving on elsewhere. 

5) You believed your track record would mean something. Job experience in one venue isn't always valued in another place. You may land a position because of an internship with a particular company or, having attended the right schools, or knowing a high-level decision-maker. Yet, why you were selected becomes a thing of the past once you start work.  That is a new opportunity to prove yourself. You may have freedom to draw on past experience, but your past is not what will generally give you the edge. It may even cause resentment if you joined a group and were given seniority over people who worked there before you.  How you perform from day one and who notices determines how long you'll stay and in which position.