7 Ways You're Sabotaging Your Job

By Brittany Loeffler on August 23, 2017

It isn’t uncommon for a college student to hold a part-time job during the semester to make some extra money to go out on the weekends or order some pizza while pulling an all-nighter. Some students may not take their part-time jobs seriously, which is how they fall into habits that sabotage themselves.

But it’s important to always keep your work ethic at top notch and put your best foot forward because the habits you develop now will transfer over to your internships and professional careers.

1. You don’t dress the part

There are too many times college students dress inappropriately for work. This doesn’t mean that they wear skimpy outfits or t-shirts with crude phrases. This can simply mean wearing leggings or overly baggy clothing to work.

Most companies have a dress code that is required. Some employees may try to bend the rules a little and get away with wearing something that does not stand up to the code. Your boss may not say something to you the first time, but if it becomes a consistent habit, you could lose your job over it.

2. Behavior

If you work in retail or customer service, you know how important your behavior is. Even when a customer is yelling at you, you need to keep calm and handle the situation. You may have this down while on the store’s floor, but your personality could change once you get in the break room. If behind the scenes you are vulgar and pessimistic, your boss and coworkers may notice and decide that you do not fit in with the culture of the company. Even if you put on a smile while on the floor, your attitude behind closed doors can affect your job.

via Pixabay

3. Gossiping

Everyone wants to make a friend at work to make their shift go by a little faster. It’s okay to talk about celebrities and what is happening in the world, but it’s not okay to start gossiping about people you know, customers, or other coworkers. Not only does this reflect poorly on you, but it could make the other person feel uncomfortable, especially if they do not share the same views. In order to stop sabotaging yourself at work, stop gossiping.

via Pixabay

4. You’re on your phone

The term most famously used by bosses is, “If there’s time to lean, there’s time to clean.”

Meaning, if it’s slow and you don’t have anything to do, find something to do. If your supervisor or boss finds you on your phone multiple times during your shift, this is a problem. Either you are ignoring responsibilities or are not concerned about keeping a good work ethic. If a customer comes up to the counter and has to wait for you to get off of your phone, it reflects poorly on the company and you.

via Pixabay

5. You show up late

Punctuality is key. Don’t show up late to every single shift. It is your responsibility to come to work on time, even if that means waking up 15 minutes earlier or skipping the wait in line for your Starbucks latte. When something is expected of you, you are obligated to do it. When you show up to work late, it gives your boss and supervisor the impression that you don’t really care about the job.

via Pixabay

6. Crude language

Just like keeping a positive attitude both on the showroom floor and behind closed doors, it’s important to be aware of the language that you use. When you are at work, even if you have a friend, it doesn’t mean you are hanging out with your best buddies. When you are in the breakroom, it is not an excuse to use crude language or talk about vulgar topics.

Remember, your coworkers don’t necessarily want to be around you, it just so happened they are scheduled at the same time. Using crude language reflects poorly on you and could be sabotaging your job.

7. Blaming others

Everyone makes mistakes and everyone does something wrong once in a while. It’s important to be able to take responsibility if you do something wrong or forget to do something while at work. Putting the blame on others shows immaturity and lack of responsibility. It’s a good habit to have, learning to accept responsibility for something you have done.

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