For those hoping to get a promotion at their workplace, one HR expert has shared some insights on three things to avoid as they could actually hinder your chances of getting one.
An HR expert has urged people not to make this common mistake at work if they are hoping for a promotion.
Valerie Rodriguez, an HR expert, said there are behaviors she would not tolerate when interacting with colleagues. Speaking from experience, Valerie shared some of her insights with Business Insider and said there are certain topics you should always avoid if you have hopes of getting a promotion. The 31-year-old from New Jersey said you should never talk about your personal life with colleagues, be too humble, and never stay more than two hours at a work social event.
Valerie said that you should always avoid sharing too much personal information, even with your best friend at work, as it could come back to bite you down the road. She said: “Sharing too much information at work often does more harm than good because it allows people to make assumptions or decisions for you – even if it comes from a place of thoughtfulness, it’s not a good idea.”
She then shared a personal anecdote, in which she had told one of her coworkers that she was having some trouble with her car. A few months later, she was hoping to get a promotion, but part of the job involved extra car trips, and her boss had told her that he was worried that she would “get stuck” and that would mean she would lose the more senior position. Valerie said that this made her realise that she shouldn’t share personal life problems with her colleagues, as it gives people the “opportunity” to weigh in and make decisions for you.
Valeries’ second point was not to be too humble in the workplace, but she urged people not to be too arrogant. She said she believes there can be a right balance between being kind and empathetic, but at the same time, not letting people “walk all over you” and not putting yourself last when you compare yourself to others.
She said that over the years she has seen the most successful people being more direct and “more outgoing” about what they have accomplished, compared to more “humble” people who have been passed over for promotions. “I myself firmly believed that my work would speak for itself, but I have since learned that if you don’t stand up for yourself, no one else will,” she said.
Finally, Valerie advised people not to overstay their welcome at work events and social gatherings, recommending staying only a couple of hours as she said nothing good comes from “partying together” until the early hours. The expert, who works in HR, said she usually has to stay until the end of any event and admitted she has seen some “unpleasant” interactions between colleagues. It’s often the alcohol, she added, although it can also be sober employees making “bad decisions”. “I say, come on in, hang out at the party and show your face, but staying more than a couple of hours doesn’t always serve a good purpose,” she explained.
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