We all know the economy is pretty scary right now, especially if you’re looking at the rate of unemployment. Most of us are watching our jobs and our performances like a hawk, making sure we’re giving more, that sort of thing. I even went in for 4 hours on my day off this week to help prepare for an after hours event the credit union I work for was hosting. Giving a little more is important, but there are five specific things you should watch out for as well.

For more about these habits and others, check out the Kiplinger article, 7 Career Killers.

# 1 – Procrastinating

Oh man, I’m so bad about this. One of these days poor Jonathan is going to tell me to take a hike with my procrastinating ways. But, my issue is more that I have too much on my plate and need a better time management system. Still, procrastination is a problem in the workforce and in life overall. It’s ingrained, really. From our childhood school days where we’d wait until the night before a report was due to write it, then turned it in the next day, only to discover we got a decent grade on it when all was said and done.

In corporate America, that kind of last minute work can put you on the fast track to a pink slip. Waiting until the last minute to finish an important project can be a dangerous maneuver for your career, so if you want to keep your job and shine before the big Whigs, then kick that procrastination habit to the curb!

# 2 – Sense of Entitlement

We’re hearing this a lot lately, aren’t we? The problem is, we’ve been raised on instant gratification – which means we get what we want when we want it, and that’s usually now. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last five years, you know that debt has soared to unimaginable levels and people are paying the consequences for that now.

But, when it comes to our job, that entitlement can spell trouble. I like how Kiplinger put it, “no matter how hard we work, we cannot get five years worth of experience in one year.” Feeling that you are entitled to promotions and raises without putting in the requisite amount of time and work will put you on the “trouble” list. And guess who are the first to be cut the minute a company comes up with the lay-off options?

When you first start out remember, you’re going to be the low man on the totem pole and will have to pay your dues. That may mean you’ll take on projects and clients that no one else wants. You may have to work a holiday or two that the older folks want to take off. But, do it with class and you’ll get through the grunt phase a lot quicker and with more respect than your peers who choose to be self-entitled.

# 3 – Not Being a Team Player

This particular situation has a very fine line, one a lot of the self-entitled folks tend to stomp all over time and again. You have to work with your coworkers, not against them. But, the fine line comes in because you want to be recognized for your individual efforts and talents. The trick is ensure that you consider your team and their input while also excelling with your own work. Don’t play the gossiping, back-stabbing game to get ahead and make yourself look good. Do it on your own merits. Even if you disagree with someone, help them out when they need it. Be a team player; otherwise, you may find that there are no teams out there willing to take you on.

# 4 – Settling Into Your Job Description

I did this the other day and had to retract my statement and suck it up. My boss asked me to lend a hand to a department working on some reports. It’s not my job and I had a lot on my plate already, so I told her that wasn’t in my job description. Understand, me and my boss have a friendly relationship where I can be jokingly blunt like that. But, even though I was being funny, I was still essentially, being serious. So, I retracted that statement and told her I’d be happy to help. In truth, I didn’t want to. It didn’t grab my interest and it wasn’t part of my job. But, it was a team player act and it showed initiative on my part. I may not have lost my job over that, but it would have been remembered come review time.

Employer’s would rather have to pull in the reins then ask you to do more, so take initiative and look for opportunities to go above and beyond. You may have a certain amount of responsibilities, but if you want to advance and grow within your company, you’ll need to do more then is expected of you, or your reputation will be that you do the minimum required and that’s it. No one wants that guy or gal on their team. Be conscientious of that.

Also keep in mind that you can’t let what others are doing or not doing affect you. What I mean is, if you have a coworker who seems to get by with doing nothing, has no stress and no ambition to do more, don’t let it bother you. Their performance is noticed by those who matter, but if you dwell and complain about it, that gets noticed too. Let them sink or swim on their own merit, you have enough to worry about for yourself.

# 5 – Not Dressing the Part

I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” Well, this wouldn’t work for me as the job I want would allow me to wear jeans and flip flops. But, the point is, you want to make yourself presentable and professional at all times. This means keeping your hair and nails properly groomed, your clothes in good shape – cleaned and ironed, and your person cleaned with fresh smelling breath. Bad hygiene is a big career killer. If people can’t stand to be around you, you’re not going to get promoted.

This may seem like an arbitrary item to put on the list, but remember, we live in a highly visual society. If you want to get ahead, you have to help those in power visualize you in the higher authority roles. In order to do that, you need to be presentable and clean. There’s just no other way of saying it. Bathe, brush your teeth, and iron your clothes. It will make a difference.

Alright, now it’s y’alls turn. What other habits do we sometimes fall into that can mean the axe for us come lay-off time?

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