Getting fired from a company can dent your professional image. Honestly, it's not easy when the boss gives you some 20 minutes to box up your stuff and have a security personal escort you out of the building. Not only it adds to embarrassment, but also can have negative effects on the career. While layoffs are common when the company wants employees with upgraded skills or there is cost-cutting going on, being fired is disturbing.

Common Reasons Why People Get Fired and How to Avoid Them

People tend to do weird things at work, which actually should be avoided. They think there is no one spying, and it's completely okay to do it just because they see someone else do it. However, this is a false notion! Every little thing you do at the company is being noticed, scrutinized and taken note of. While under performance is the major reason to get fired,

Avoid doing these things at workplace If you want to save your job :

1. Stealing Office Stuff :

Just like the company's desktop, office equipment does not belong to you. Thinking that no one will notice a stack of papers you take home every weekend? Or stuffing your pockets with tea bags and snacks available in the pantry? Some people do it to compensate the low pay. But taking what is not yours will definitely be considered as an offense. When the senior management sees it, they are bound to take strict actions and therefore, it's best to play safe if you value the job more than your petty requirements.

2. Being dishonest to boss or clients : 

As the adage says, 'Honesty is the best policy', lying about projects when deadlines are close can get you on the wrong side of boss. Misleading clients when the project has not even started or when your team has not resolved an issue can severely impact the trust they had put in your firm. As a result, the client would think twice before investing money again. Similarly, giving an excuse of being admitted in a hospital when you are uploading photos of sun bathing on a beach can be a red flag. Speaking truth will help you face the consequences with confidence.

3. Domineering or harassing a coworker : 

You might have been a bully at school, but this would not be taken lightly by any employer. Commenting on someone's clothes or passing snide remarks about a colleague who is overweight is an intolerable act. Also, getting flirty with a new employee in the office or speaking derogatory things that make people uncomfortable might be enough to throw you out. If the hiring manager gets a wind of it, he or she is definitely not going to take more than a few minutes to fire you. Hence, read the employee handbook one more time and stringent actions in the sexual harassment policy to keep your actions in check.

4. Procrastinating assigned tasks :

Having a rough day at the work once in a blue moon when the motivation is at the lowest is completely normal. However, pretending not to be fruitful all the time and not completing assigned work on time just because your boss passed humiliating comments in last month's meeting can also be a danger. If you are delaying assigned duties and the entire team is struggling to meet the client requirements because of your lazy attitude, the boss is surely not going to waste time. Ask for an extended deadline to put things right but never spend days doing no work at all.

5. Calling in sick or coming late often :

Sick leaves and casual offs are present for a reason. A viral flu or a family issue is totally understandable and could be approved by supervisor. However, if you start calling in sick every alternate day, it would catch the manager's attention. Also, if you are someone who always signs in 5 minutes after the permitted time, this too is going to get noticed. Giving lame excuses or blaming traffic each time is not a good idea. Be punctual at the office and take off only when there is a genuine reason. Employers like to have reliable and committed people in their team.

Firing an employee is not a win-win situation for the person as well as an employer as they have invested efforts and time in it. Training a new person for the required skill set is also time-consuming and might delay a high-priority project. Hence, to save your job, watch your actions and take preventive steps in advance before it gets too late.

Big Career Goal Steps That Will Get You Closer Today

Here are five steps that will inch you closer towards your career goals.

1. Assess yourself on tough questions :

2. Plans your goals :

3. Create a realistic career road map :

4. Strive for excellence :

5. Have a success mantra :

Working in a 9 to 5 job can cut down your free time and also reduce the daily meetings with your friends or college mates to a great extent. As you step into a world of profession and try to get acquainted with an entirely new routine, you will find yourself following a disciplined lifestyle instead of just lazying around. While the initial few months are a testing time of a career, grumbling over the limited holidays and workplace challenges faced will be obvious. Nevertheless, doing a job can transform you completely and make a better person. Eventually, a self-realization on how the career has made your life better will occur.

Unexpected Ways Career Can Make Your Life Better

1. You will adhere to a strict schedule :

As it will be mandatory to report to duty on time, and one cannot give out lame excuses for coming late or taking frequent sick leaves, following a proper routine and healthy diet will become the norm. Activities like boozing around on week days or catching up for late-night movies will become a thing of the past as you need to be present each day at the workplace. In addition to this, you will learn to go to bed early and even refrain from hitting the snooze button for some morning exercise. You will have a fixed schedule and also plan the day's schedule to avoid being distracted from  goals.

2. You will recognize your sense of purpose for life :

Since reporting to senior authority is given in a job, procrastinating things will be a passé as making an impression is important. Aligning job duties with career goals will not only motivate to work harder, but also help you push yourself to bring out the best. Similarly, unproductive and unhealthy activities after the work will also stop drastically as there will be focus on self-improvement. Once there is a clear idea on how to be potential, there will be a motto. As a result, instead of spending an evening discussing the latest flick, changing TV channels to watch an interesting news or checking on social media accounts, you will find out ways to invest in yourself and grow as an individual. You may listen to motivational speeches by the person you idolize, do certificate courses that are relevant for the job or take steps to improve performance in the office.

3. You will have a better understanding of yourself :

When a particular stage to reach in a career in identified, setting a benchmark , applying mind and energy to achieve it will become your aim. Hence, you will not give importance to petty issues and will learn to ignore things that do not have any significant value. Furthermore, you will be able to recognize what you admire and which things do not matter to you. In addition to this, you will cultivate close bonds with people who have similar thinking abilities and also learn from them as well as avoid toxic people who do not contribute to your development. Doing a job will help to understand the balance between success and failure and also develop ability to digest things when circumstances are not in favor.

4. You will become an inspiration for others :

When you strive to become better in a profession, you indirectly serve as a role model for others. The attitude you carry for completing a task can become an example for other team members and thus increase the productivity of the team. At the same time, you can act as a motivator to friends or peers unwilling to take a step to shape their future just because it seems too risky or requires giving up on things they are fond of. When a perfect work-life balance is achieved, you will be in a better position to explain the benefits of pursuing a career to others and also encourage them to carry out tasks that will surely make them happy. Also, when they finally decide to take the leap, you can play the role of a supporter and motivator when they face issues.

5. You will become more responsible :

Working in an organization can make you a responsible individual and also take out the clumsiness. It will instill a drive in you to excel and make more active to learn different facets about the profession. Apart from this, there will be an improvement in understanding the importance of meeting deadlines, developing quick thinking abilities, and overcoming any adverse situations in life. When following a career dream, you will become more organized and always have a 'to-do list'  before carrying out any task instead of randomly going about things.

When you are jobless or have no specific aim, the mind usually wanders in various directions as rightly said 'an empty mind is a devil's workshop'. Having a fixed goal and an aspiration to become successful in the career  can make you a better individual and even transform your life. To get a career in your chosen field, take a look at resume samples.