Career Advice: Proven Job Tips For Career Success

Achieving career success is not an exact process.organizations.
Nevertheless, there are common sense rules that4. Job Tip: The organization will never be a perfect
winners follow to achieve their career goals.universe.
Here are six of those real-world career guidelines thatOrganizations are no better or worse than the people
are critical to developing and executing a successfulwho inhabit them. The organization will do things of
career path.which you do not approve; it will make mistakes.
1. Job Tip: Do not hire anyone you can't fire, unlessSo, don't enter the organization with a missionary zeal
you are under the harshest kind of pressure you canto purify the structure, its purposes and those who
resist.make it up. Focus your attention on making your
When you hire a new employee, hopes are high thatbest efforts to move yourself toward your goals
the relationship will work out to everyone's benefit,and those of the organization.
even if it's a shotgun wedding. However, the wiseIf, after time, you find that you cannot achieve
manager will take care to avoid a position where hethese objectives, you have two choices. Compromise
can't dismiss that person if things don't work out.your standards or leave. That is the way it is.
This means resisting situations where employment is5. Job Tip: Don't expect your comrades to support
based on any reason other than the needs of theyou to the bitter end if you are in serious conflict
company and the particular worth and "fit" of thewith the organization.
person being recruited.If you and your associates are in a
When possible run for cover when you are beingknock-down-drag-out squabble with the organization,
pressured by a friend to hire his friend. Especially trybe very cautious if your associates say, "We'll hold
to duck the bullet when the "do hire" messageyour coat, Charlie; you go fight 'em." Or the corollary
comes on a personal basis from the boss.to that, "If you get fired, Charlie, we will leave with
In the real world there may be no escaping. If that isyou."
the case, protect yourself from the start. Have aThat all sounds fine in the heat of the moment. But if
clear understanding with all concerned of the basis onit comes to actual conflict, most people shy away
which you are acting. Insist that everyoneand begin thinking more about job security and house
understands that so long as you are held responsiblepayments than they do loyalty to the cause you
for the results of your department you have theonce shared.
absolute right to hire and fire. You should insist on6. Job Tip: Most people are waiting for something to
being let off the hook if that right is denied.happen. For one reason or another, the majority of
Be sure to document the performance of thepeople spend most of their careers waiting for the
offspring of the shotgun wedding. You need facts,spark to light. They want someone to come along
whether he or she is a raging success or a totaland tell them what to do. They want to wake up
disaster.some morning motivated to achieve success.
2. Job Tip: The only reality in any organization isOn the other hand, a few people are impatient. They
individual perceptions of the information that isare chomping at the bit to shape their world. They
available. Therefore, "reality" is what those in powerwin big or lose big in the process, but they get to
say it is. Learn to live with it.choose the game and set the stakes. Meanwhile,
3. Job Tip: The very attributes that make for athose who wait for career success are dancing to
successful career - independence of thought,someone else's music.
ambition, assertiveness - go against the culture of