You have decided to give your career your best shot, great decision.

There are some mistakes you should avoid that could deter you from accomplishing your career goals and dreams. Do not fret nor panic. I have listed out 10 mistakes you should avoid.

NOT CHALLENGING YOURSELF

A wise man once said that his biggest motivation was to keep challenging himself. There is no short cut to success, you just must do the work. Do not avoid challenges as it would only limit you from recognizing your strengths and weaknesses. Taking the easy way out has not helped anyone neither will it help you. Aim for challenges and grow from difficulties.

LETTING SOMEONE ELSE MAKE CAREER DECISIONS FOR YOU

It is natural to seek career approval or guidance from your friends, family, or mentors. Most people do! However, if you are letting someone else sway you from following your career goals and imposing theirs on your objectives, then you are making a mistake. This is the time to draw the line and concentrate on your goals. You need to put your decisions and opinions first before seeking for validation from outsiders. Be confident in yourself, trust your decisions and follow them out rightly. It is okay to have career mentors who would guide you. Mentors play a variety of roles and are crucial for professional development, but you must make the major decisions yourself.

THINKING YOUR SKILLS WIL DEVELOP NATURALLY

This is one of the biggest career mistakes one could ever make. Your skills won’t develop naturally, you have to make efforts and be on the look out for ways to improve your employability skills. Focus on developing the right skills and not just all skills.

GETTING COMFORTABLE

One of the biggest career mistakes is getting too comfortable in your career. Your career is your source of survival and the foundation of your self-worth, hence you should always look for ways to be better at it.  You should always think about the skills needed for your next job. If you want to continue advancing in your career and attract new opportunities, then you must get out of your comfort zone, stay on trends and search for more ways to be better.

NOT NETWORKING ENOUGH

If you are one of those that dread networking, you might just be losing your professional advantage. Let me tell you a secret. Career growth is largely about who you know and your net worth. Therefore, it is important to build connections that are important to your career. Make career connections with people who think of you when a major opportunity comes up. Be sure you keep in contact with a wide variety of people who help you stay in touch with changes , new trends, as well as economic developments and give you valuable feedback.

ALLOWING YOUR SKILLS TO BECOME OBSOLETE

It is extremely important to stay on top of your game and not allow your skills to become outdated. Take classes, read, keep your professional network strong–whatever it takes to stay current. Go online to research for what is happening in your industry. Keep your technical skills up to date.

NOT BELIEVING IN YOURSELF

If you do not believe in yourself, how do you expect your boss, colleagues, and clients or customers to believe in you? Take up challenges and try out new roles. Do everything you can to build up your confidence.  Remind yourself instead of your strengths, gifts, and abilities. Work on your areas of improvement and look for ways to be better.

Avoid these mistake and your abilities will speak for you.