Brenna Cooper
For anyone looking to climb the ladder in their chosen career field, toiling to get a promotion can feel like an endless task.
After too many evenings volunteering to stay on for an extra hour to going above and beyond your job role, you may be left wondering what else can I do to get my hard work recognised.
Well, now a HR expert has revealed the three things which can make employers cringe - and one of them may actually surprise you.
Advert
In an essay for Business Insider, US-based HR expert Valerie Rodriguez outlined the most common behaviours she sees amongst employees that she doesn't recommend, from the things you say to colleagues to how you behave at work socials.
The most obvious of the three mistakes Rodriguez outlined is not to overshare too many details about your personal life with co-workers.
Now when you spend around 40-hours a week with the same group of people, it's understandable why you may turn to them for advice on events which happen in your life outside of work, however Rodriguez urges people to remember that co-workers are not 'automatically' your friends.
She highlighted an incident where she confided in a colleague that she had been having issues with her car.
Advert
Fast forward a couple of months and she had put herself forward for an opportunity at work which would require her to travel - only to discover that her manager had heard about the car confession and it had negatively impacted her chances.
"As a result, the job wasn't given to me. I was so bummed out, and I felt burned," she wrote, adding that the situation made her realise how sharing even innocent details about your life can be used against you.
"It made me realise I shouldn't share things in my personal life with those I work with," she added.
Most of us are taught to be humble and not brag too much about our achievements and while arrogance can put people off you, Rodriguez added that being too humble can also hinder your progress at work.
Advert
"I've since learned that if you don't advocate for yourself, no one else will," she explained, adding that quieter and more humble employees are more likely to be passed over for promotions.
After working hard during your 9-5, a work party may seem like a welcome opportunity to blow off some steam, but Rodriguez says it's important to remember these people are your colleagues at the end of the day.
While she isn't saying that you should avoid work socials all-together, staying until the end of the night puts you at risk of making an alcohol-induced faux pas.
Advert
And let's face it, nobody wants to end up as the cautionary HR tale about the employee who took it 'too far' at the work Christmas party.