The one thing no one prepared you for in adulthood? That 9-to-5 grind. And just like the life lessons we learn as kids, it’s the same idea when you get a job. Recently, a Reddit thread by riazuddinroney posed the question, “What’s a career mistake most people don’t realize they’re making until it’s too late?” Here are the most eye-opening responses:
1. “Nobody is irreplaceable, no matter how much you think you are.”
2. “Sometimes the biggest mistake is not speaking up for yourself early on, whether it’s asking for opportunities, setting boundaries, or negotiating pay.”
3. “Staying at a job just for the paycheck and realizing years later you hate your life.”
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4. “Max out that 401k dog.”
5. “You don’t WANT to be irreplaceable. If they can’t replace you, they can’t promote you.”
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6. “Connections crush qualifications.”
7. “People think hard work will get you ahead when, in reality, being liked is way more important.”
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8. “Staying at a job that’s starting to seriously harm your physical health.”
“Or your mental health, which is just as important.”
9. “Loyalty will rarely be noticed and never reciprocated.”
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10. “Thinking that making a lot of money from your job will fulfill you or make you happy. It’s often a trap.”
11. “Not taking PTO. You earned it, and it’s part of your compensation package.”
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12. “Staying too long in a comfortable role. If you’re not challenged, you’re stagnating. Years can slip by before you notice.”
13. “Taking home stress for a job that couldn’t care less about health, big mistake. Mental peace should always matter more.”
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14. “Don’t voluntarily leave a job unless you have another one lined up.”
15. “Not networking enough. A promotion is more easily secured by knowing the right people than by working hard.”
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16. “Backstabbing your way up. You’ll see those people on the way down.”
17. “Almost no one knows what you do every day. You shouldn’t assume your company knows your value.”
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18. “Avoiding accountability every time you make a mistake. You’re better off demonstrably learning from a mistake rather than spending a significant amount of your time playing defense whenever you’re not perfect. Everybody already knows whose fault it is anyway.”
19. “Burning bridges. You never know who you’ll meet later on.”
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20. “The single most important thing to document: The things you’ve done that have made your boss look good. Things you’ve done to improve processes and help your team are cool and all, but reminding your leader of the things you’ve done that made them look good to their own leader absolutely helps your career prospects more than anything.”
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21. “Staying in a job that doesn’t challenge you just because it feels safe.”
22. “Take advantage of as much free training, especially certifications, and cross-utilization training as you can while still getting your job done. It will make you more valuable to the company, better prepared for the job market, and annual reviews a lot easier on you and your boss.”
23. “Not documenting everything. Every task you did, every achievement, and every acknowledgement you get. Most people don’t keep track, and later, they can’t prove their value when it really counts.”
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24. “Staying too long with the same company. You will live to see others come in at a higher salary than you because they already have you. Then you will be expected to train them on their job, which will not earn you extra pay or brownie points. I have a bad habit of becoming attached to a company and staying years beyond what is healthy. Keep your eyes on the horizon for new opportunities and do not let loyalty sabotage your potential growth.”
25. “Thinking your job defines you.”
What’s the biggest career mistake someone could make? Share your thoughts in the comments! Or if you’d rather share anonymously, you can fill out the form below.
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