5 Common Reasons People Get Fired From Their Job - The Muse

5 Common Reasons People Get Fired From Their Job - The Muse5 Common Reasons People Get Fired From Their JobI see no point in mincing words here If youre an at-will employee- as most of us non-union members are- you can get fired at any time for no reason at all (so long as it isnt illegal). Thats a fact. But assuming you dont work for an organization thats likely to ax you for well, doing a great job and garnering high performance marks, you probably dont need to overthink this one. With that out of the way, lets talk about some common reasons people lose their jobs (and Im not talking about unavoidable mass layoffs or inability to meet a clearly defined sales goal). No, Im referring to those altogether avoidable things that you have no business doing- unless you dont care about getting let go.1. Stealing Company EquipmentIt sounds like a no-brainer, but take a step back and you might see some less-obvious transgressions. Think no onell notice if you take a stack of printer paper hom e every week? If you accidentally lose your mouse and need to expense another of each? If you pocket snacks, and tea bags, and community honey every afternoon to stock your own pantry?Fine lines, maybe, but all of it is taking whats not yours, something companies consider a serious offense. If you get home one evening and realize you have a stack of Post-its in your bag that you could really use to leave notes for the babysitter, youre probably not going to raise any eyebrows (or suspicion), but if theres ever an ounce of doubt about what youre taking- on purpose or otherwise- the only answer is not to do it. 2. Lying to a Client (or Your Boss)Were not talking about those little lies everyone tells at one point or another. Taking a sick day because you had terrible insomnia and cant fathom the thought of putting on pants is one thing, but telling your anfhrer that a family member died when really you found a cheap flight to Europe is another, wouldnt you say? Misleading a clients ju st as schwimmbad, and dont for a second think that it wont come back to haunt you (these things typically do). Often, we think that fudging the truth will save us from getting in trouble, but when the story comes out, the hot water is bound to be so much hotter. If your boss or clients cant trust you, how will you ever move up? Forget that How will you keep your job? If youre worried about something reflecting badly on you, be the one to initiate the conversation about what went wrong. I promise its a heck of a lot easier than trying to cover it up after the fact.3. Bullying or Harassing a ColleagueYou know this one, right? Sexual harassment or workplace bullying is intolerable and pretty much guaranteed to get you canned if HR gets wind of it. Good. But be careful for all the small ways this might manifest. Shaming a co-workers greasy hamburger and fries lunch could easily be considered obnoxious and mean. Commenting on a colleagues dress or making flirty comments, no matter how su btle, isnt OK if its unwanted. Simply being nasty in an email to a team member you dont like- even if theyre doing a terrible job- is a conversation better had offline with the offending party. Acting like a bully and causing someone to literally dread coming into work each day is one of the best reasons Ive heard for losing your job. So, play nice Be respectful, kind, and aware.4. notlage Doing Your WorkMost of us can relate to going through a rough patch when motivation seems impossible to grasp and were barely eking out a decent days work. Maybe some days, you look back and wonder how you wasted the whole day. Hey, it happens to the best of us. But, struggle to complete any work over an extended period of time, and you can bet your boss isnt having it. If you cant be depended on to do your job (and were not even talking about going above and beyond), then how can you make a case that you deserve said job? Communicate with your manager if you need an extended deadline or if youre approaching burnout, but dont just stop doing your work.5. Calling Out or Coming in Late on a Regular BasisSick and personal days exist for a reason, and you should use them at your discretion and with your supervisors approval. And sure, sometimes the flu will knock you out for a week, or youll have a family issue and need to use all of your personal days across a short period of time. But when you start calling in sick weekly or coming in late every day, you better believe your managers taking notice.Again, we all have hard weeks, where bad commutes or childcare issues play prominent roles. When your absences become egregious, however, you put your job security at risk. Employers want reliable, committed people on their team, and if you cant be this person, theyre bound to find someone who can be. Getting fired is awful- very often for both parties. Former HR professional Dorianne St Fleur says that managers dont enjoy having to fire anyone and will usually try to give chances whe re possible, but when it comes to company policies being blatantly violated, theres no alternative. Your job- aside from doing your job- is to refuse to give them a reason to show you the door. Policies are in place for a reason, so do the right thing, and youre more likely to get promoted than terminated.

4 Factors That Advance Your Career (That Have Nothing To Do With You)

4 Factors That Advance Your Career (That Have Nothing To Do With You)4 Factors That Advance Your Career (That Have Nothing To Do With You)Youre awesome at what you do. Youve mastered the skills you need, gained some solid experience, and built an impressive portfolio. Thats what it takes to land you that promotion or next job, right?Well, yes, thats part of it. But there are many more factors that contribute to your career advancement- factors that have nothing to do with how well youre doing in your current gig. In fact, many of the things that can impact your future and success arent really about you at all.Heres a breakdown of some of the external factors that can influence your professional growth- and the best ways to leverage them into bigger and better things.1. The Right IndustryYes, you can advance your career in any field out there- but your opportunities to climb the ladder are going to be much more plentiful in a field thats growing versus one thats going through tough ti mes. So, its always a good idea to look for opportunities in emerging industries (or at least ones likely to remain stable over time, like education).Of course, thats easier said than done if youve already established yourself in an industry thats waning or going through a difficult period, or if your passions are leading you in that direction. In that case, you dont necessarily have to jump ship, but its not a bad idea to explore other fields you might be interested in. Ever thought about technology or healthcare? Now might be the time to parlay your skills that way. And in the meantime, focus on what you can learn from your current experience, like how to manage teams through change and the best strategies to navigate through layoffs- valuable skills no matter what industry youre in.2. The Right LocationIf you want to work in television production, youre most likely to succeed in LA or New York. If you have an interest in higher education, a state with tons of colleges and univers ities makes sense, like Massachusetts or Texas. And we all know that Silicon Valley is still the capital of tech.In short, if youre committed to a certain industry, its helpful to be in the right place. Its not a hard and fast rule, but when you want to work in an area where your field is less prevalent, there will certainly be fewer opportunities- and stiffer competition for those that do exist. On the other hand, being surrounded by companies that do what youre passionate about is a great way to establish relationships with people who can help you find opportunities and expand your future.If relocating isnt an option, think about other ways you can expand your network and increase your exposure in your industry. Join professional associations, attend and speak at national and regional conferences, or even take on freelance work in other markets.3. The Right NetworkYouve heard it before and youll hear it again Its not always what you know but who. Relationships mean everything prof essionally, and the people youre connected to are often your best bet in finding a new job or receiving a promotion. Dont underestimate the power of meeting and staying close to people in many different positions and companies, even when youre not looking for a job.One of the easiest ways to expand your network is to join a local industry group (like PRSA if youre in public relations, or Toastmasters if you frequently deliver presentations). In addition to helping you meet like-minded professionals, these groups frequently offer training and job boards, tools that ultimately can boost your career growth.4. The Right MentorNo matter how great your industry, your network, or your experience, one of the most crucial factors to career advancement is having the right mentor by your side.For one, theres a lot that youll never learn in management textbooks and seminars- but that you will from firsthand conversations with a trusted advisor. A great mentor can also help you figure out which new areas you can explore within your field and which skills you should be expanding upon.Having a mentor within your company is particularly valuable- she can identify opportunities for advancement you might overlook, guide you through challenging projects, and help you build relationships with higher-ups. fruchtwein importantly, if shes influential, she can earn you recommendations for special projects or teams that you might not have been considered for otherwise. And these are the factors that are going to pave the way for success at your company.If you arent sure exactly how to find a mentor, start by asking your manager or HR for suggestions. It doesnt have to be formal, either- look around and see who the stars are in your organization, and ask them out to coffee. If youre not finding anyone in your company, approach members of professional groups you belong to or check out industry organizations with official mentoring programs.It would be awesome if there was a clear recipe we could follow to ensure a successful career path- but, well, you already know theres not. Career advancement isnt an easy or straightforward task, but by continuing to do great work and identifying and leveraging the other factors that can impact your goals, youll put yourself on the right track.Photo of woman in the city courtesy of Shutterstock.

June 2019 Jobs Report

June 2019 Jobs ReportJune 2019 Jobs ReportIn June, the U.S. economy saw solid job growth, with employers adding 224,000 positions. The gain was higher than most analysts predictions and followed lower-than-expected payroll expansion of 72,000 jobs in May. Since the start of 2019, employers have added more than 1 million positions, or about 172,000 per month, on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).The following sectors created the most jobs in JuneEducation and health services 61,000 jobs addedProfessional and geschftsleben services 51,000 jobs addedTransportation and warehousing 23,900 jobs addedConstruction 21,000 jobs addedManufacturing 17,000 jobs addedUnemployment rate up slightly to 3.7%The national unemployment rate in June was 3.7% - up from 3.6% in May, which was a 50-year low. The unemployment rate for college-degreed professionals who are 25 or older - the most sought-after workers - held steady at 2.1% for the third consecutive month.Meanwhile, un employment rates for many roles that require specialized skills are trending well below the national average, according to the latest figures from the BLS. Some examples are accountants and auditors (1.5%), software developers (1.6%), attorneys (1.4%) and administrative managers (0.8%).What employers need to knowMany candidates have multiple job opportunities to consider in this tight hiring market. And some job seekers will wait until they receive a solid offer of employment before deciding whether they actually want to work for a company. They might even say yes to the job - and then change their mind. In fact, a recent survey found that more than one-quarter of workers (28%) have done exactly that. The top reason job seekers fail to commit? They received a better offer from another company.You cant prevent every promising candidate from changing their mind about joining your organization. But you totenstill want to reduce the chances of that happening. These strategies can help youDont drag your feet. If you think youve found an outstanding candidate, theres a good chance that other employers are courting that person as well. So, be careful not to take too long to hire. Do the necessary due diligence, but then move as swiftly as possible to make an offer.Dont skimp or lowball. In a hiring market with low unemployment, you cant afford to hold back on offering competitive compensation and compelling perks. Present a generous hiring package that makes sense for your business but is also difficult for the candidate to refuse.Stay in contact. Take a high-touch approach to communication with potential hires. From the moment you first reach out to them for an interview through their first day on the job, maintain constant contact with candidates to ensure they are feeling good about the process and youre aware of any questions, concerns or second thoughts they might have.Continue the above approach throughout your companys onboarding process, too. You want to hel p new hires succeed from Day One and help ease their anxieties. The onboarding phase is the time when you need to reassure your new employees that they made the right choice in joining your firm.REQUEST TALENTWhat job seekers need to knowfruchtwein skilled professionals can find job opportunities in the current hiring environment - especially if they are in a hot market or industry. However, the abundance of options can make some candidates fickle with employers during the hiring process. Theyll turn down a position after theyve already accepted it because they received a better offer elsewhere. In some cases, candidates will walk away from a potential employer without any explanation or even a thank-you.You shouldnt accept a job that isnt right for you, of course. But you shouldnt string along or end up ghosting an employer who is interested in hiring you, either. Its just bad form, as well as a surefire way to tarnish your professional reputation. The following tips can help you to avoid creating an awkward hiring situationBe strategic. Are you blasting out your resume to employers at scale, just to see who bites? Are you taking time to consider all the things an employer might offer that would make pursuing a job truly worthwhile? Be thoughtful and strategic in your approach as a job applicant, and youll be more likely to connect with employers who would be a good match for you.Be transparent. If youre interviewing with multiple companies, or even considering other job offers, let hiring managers know. It could prompt them to move faster or extend a more generous job offer.Decide quickly. If you go through the hiring process in good faith but still get cold feet once a job offer is in hand, dont leave the employer hanging. While you dont have to explain your decision, consider offering some insight into why youve said no. It can help the employer to refine their hiring approach - and it will help you to make a positive impression in a delicate situation.W hile you may not be interested in an employers current job offer, you might want to apply to the company again someday. Or, in the future, you might encounter the hiring manager you met at another firm. So, strive to be thoughtful, honest and graceful in every aspect of the hiring process, as it could very well impact your future career path.