10 answers
David
Student
Baltimore, Maryland
1
Question
Asked
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How to be successful in a job without making mistakes
How be successful at your dream job without a lot of mistakes that keep happening and getting in the way when you are trying to accomplish your goal and succeed?
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10 answers
Sara H
Recruiter
2
Answers
Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania
Updated
Sara’s Answer
Hi David,
This is great question and I want to start off by saying - everyone makes mistakes! From entry level to executives, we all make mistakes in our day to day jobs. Transitioning from school to the working world can be really hard. In a classroom setting you are typically working on a project/paper/etc and you submit the final draft and hope that it's perfect. In the business world it is very different. You often continue to work on projects for weeks or years and sometimes the entire project fails or gets discontinued. Sometimes you have to make a million changes and it ends up being successful.
It's definitely challenging, but I recommend reframing how you think - what you may view as a mistake is really just another step moving you forward on your path. Learn from it, understand it and see if you can turn it into a useful experience. I've made SO many mistakes - some big and some small, but each one allowed me to take a pause and reflect as a learning experience.
This is great question and I want to start off by saying - everyone makes mistakes! From entry level to executives, we all make mistakes in our day to day jobs. Transitioning from school to the working world can be really hard. In a classroom setting you are typically working on a project/paper/etc and you submit the final draft and hope that it's perfect. In the business world it is very different. You often continue to work on projects for weeks or years and sometimes the entire project fails or gets discontinued. Sometimes you have to make a million changes and it ends up being successful.
It's definitely challenging, but I recommend reframing how you think - what you may view as a mistake is really just another step moving you forward on your path. Learn from it, understand it and see if you can turn it into a useful experience. I've made SO many mistakes - some big and some small, but each one allowed me to take a pause and reflect as a learning experience.
Hi Sara! Thanks for being a part of Career Village. Hope you find it as rewarding as I have. Kim
Kim Igleheart
Shanna Broadnax
Customer Support
9
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Shanna’s Answer
Focus on learning as much as possible about your job position. Pay close attention to details.
Every one makes mistakes, however Learn from your mistakes so that it does not happen continuously.
Also try to keep positive self talk whenever you are recovering from making a mistake, this will make it easier to focus on correcting the mistake.
Keep a positive outlook overall, work diligently, and pay attention to detail.
Every one makes mistakes, however Learn from your mistakes so that it does not happen continuously.
Also try to keep positive self talk whenever you are recovering from making a mistake, this will make it easier to focus on correcting the mistake.
Keep a positive outlook overall, work diligently, and pay attention to detail.
Sandhya Ramani
Product Owner
1
Answer
Ashburn, Virginia
Updated
Sandhya’s Answer
Great question!
My first piece of advice: get COMFORTABLE with making mistakes. In the career world, it's expected and sometimes even embraced to make mistakes because it shows that you're willing to learn. Mistakes are important indicators of what went wrong - but also what hasn't been considered or what could go right! It's an unfair expectation to you if you expect to go through your career without a single mistake (Trust me I've definitely struggled with this!)
Second: When you can show how you've gotten up after a mistake- those are the points in your life that you showcase your characteristics and talent at recovery. How you get back in the game defines you as a person. In your career, your peers and potential management will want to see if you're adaptable, which means you are expected to make mistakes and pivot within your strategy to account for new information. With that perspective, you'll always want to position yourself where you can safely fail to get new information and get back up to try again.
Third: It's a whole life lesson to get comfortable with failure and recovery, but it's not a lesson you need to learn alone- within your company or school, it's important to find and surround yourself with allies and mentors. When you have people that can model what a healthy relationship with failure looks like- it'll feel less scary to go through it yourself because you're not alone! It's normal for everyone! Plus you've built a community of experience that can help you get through your situation and grow.
All in all, Failure is a part of success and growth. The most important thing is that failure doesn't define you or break your character, it seasons you with stability and wisdom, which are both incredible characteristics in anyone looking to build a career.
Just remember, as much as it really does suck to go through through it- you're not alone, failure is what defined the greats and their successes, this will never define you as a person so long as you always choose to never give up and keep standing up, and failure is ownable, it is something you have control and power over and never the other way around.
Best of luck! I hope it helped :)
My first piece of advice: get COMFORTABLE with making mistakes. In the career world, it's expected and sometimes even embraced to make mistakes because it shows that you're willing to learn. Mistakes are important indicators of what went wrong - but also what hasn't been considered or what could go right! It's an unfair expectation to you if you expect to go through your career without a single mistake (Trust me I've definitely struggled with this!)
Second: When you can show how you've gotten up after a mistake- those are the points in your life that you showcase your characteristics and talent at recovery. How you get back in the game defines you as a person. In your career, your peers and potential management will want to see if you're adaptable, which means you are expected to make mistakes and pivot within your strategy to account for new information. With that perspective, you'll always want to position yourself where you can safely fail to get new information and get back up to try again.
Third: It's a whole life lesson to get comfortable with failure and recovery, but it's not a lesson you need to learn alone- within your company or school, it's important to find and surround yourself with allies and mentors. When you have people that can model what a healthy relationship with failure looks like- it'll feel less scary to go through it yourself because you're not alone! It's normal for everyone! Plus you've built a community of experience that can help you get through your situation and grow.
All in all, Failure is a part of success and growth. The most important thing is that failure doesn't define you or break your character, it seasons you with stability and wisdom, which are both incredible characteristics in anyone looking to build a career.
Just remember, as much as it really does suck to go through through it- you're not alone, failure is what defined the greats and their successes, this will never define you as a person so long as you always choose to never give up and keep standing up, and failure is ownable, it is something you have control and power over and never the other way around.
Best of luck! I hope it helped :)
Scott Foster
Consulting
31
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Scott’s Answer
None of us are perfect and mistakes will always happen...and this is completely normal! Use your mistakes as learning and growing opportunities. This is not an easy mindset to have but just remember failure is OK! Without failure, success wouldn't be possible! Just make sure you are aware of what is causing your mistakes so you don't repeat them.
Dave Seastres
Data Administrator
12
Answers
Richmond, California
Updated
Dave’s Answer
Hi David,
Its impossible to not make mistakes when you're first starting out. Its actually not so bad to make mistakes just so long as you can learn from them. Your employer assumes that you'll make mistakes, not making the same ones and learning from them shows growth and will make you better at your job in the long run.
Its impossible to not make mistakes when you're first starting out. Its actually not so bad to make mistakes just so long as you can learn from them. Your employer assumes that you'll make mistakes, not making the same ones and learning from them shows growth and will make you better at your job in the long run.
Peyton Thompson
Recruiting
11
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Peyton’s Answer
Life is all about making mistakes! Mistakes are how you learn and how you grow. With this being said, don't go out of your way to make mistakes but if you are to make one focus on: What did I learn from this? How can I grow from this?
Whenever you do make a mistake, learn from it and then move on. Stay positive and don't let it tear you down. Remember no one is perfect.
Whenever you do make a mistake, learn from it and then move on. Stay positive and don't let it tear you down. Remember no one is perfect.
Angela Cox
Consulting Program Partner Advisor
85
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Angela’s Answer
Hello! You definitely want to try to learn from your mistakes. Try to keep the mentality that mentality throughout your career. Also, learn from other people's mistakes. It's important to be aware of what your peers are doing and if possible, avoid making the same mistake. Lastly, ask for feedback! If you do make a mistake or you feel that you're doing something that may lead to one, ask your manager and others for feedback. Feedback is so valuable. Most managers like when people ask for feedback because it opens up communication and typically leads to trust. They'll also be very happy if you take their feedback seriously and apply it in your day to day. I hope this helps!
Sikawayi Williams
Counselor
229
Answers
Hampton, Virginia
Updated
Sikawayi’s Answer
Hello David, thank you for your question. First don't focus on the mistakes you may or may not make. Just remember mistakes are a part of learning and growing, you will be moving into a new roll it will take time for before you become comfortable in your new role as time goes on you will find your mistakes become minimal. Best of luck
Lan Chu
Senior Marketing Manager
4
Answers
Costa Mesa, California
Updated
Lan’s Answer
How to be successful in a job without making mistakes
- You will be making mistakes regardless
- Be open to mistakes and learn from them
- Learn from other people's mistakes
- Take accountability and ownership of your mistakes which will garner respect from others
- Awareness of mistakes is one way preventing future mistakes
- Fail fast and learn
- Don't beat yourself up and focus on the solution
- Find ways to prevent mistakes
- If you keep making the same mistakes and access why and be reflective/introspective
- You will be making mistakes regardless
- Be open to mistakes and learn from them
- Learn from other people's mistakes
- Take accountability and ownership of your mistakes which will garner respect from others
- Awareness of mistakes is one way preventing future mistakes
- Fail fast and learn
- Don't beat yourself up and focus on the solution
- Find ways to prevent mistakes
- If you keep making the same mistakes and access why and be reflective/introspective
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1666
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
David,
I encourage you to first decide how you define "success." It will change throughout your life. But always have that definition in mind. Let it guide you. If it's money, there are ways to make good money without college or too many headaches - such as being an electrician that specializes in power supply lines, working for a utility company.
If you want to be a banker, or doctor, or what have you, understand that you will get a lot of training to fall back on. Yes, you will still make mistakes. Training and education is a lifelong commitment, don't let that get away from you.
Fear of failure/humiliation/etc holds many people back. The thing is, mistakes are part of the learning process. It is how we GROW, professionally. If you make a mistake, figure out why and how, and what you are going to do to prevent it from happening again. Hopefully you can do that before having to discuss it with your boss, as, it shows maturity. OWN the mistake. Do NOT make excuses. It is your mistake. Even if it is HUGE, and you lose your job, at your next interview, don't dance around it. "I made a major mistake, it cost the company a lot of money, and they let me go."
The only people who don't make mistakes are those who stay safely in their comfort zones. You have to take chances - calculated risks - and be willing to take on new things, if you aspire to advance professionally.
hope this helps - Kim
I encourage you to first decide how you define "success." It will change throughout your life. But always have that definition in mind. Let it guide you. If it's money, there are ways to make good money without college or too many headaches - such as being an electrician that specializes in power supply lines, working for a utility company.
If you want to be a banker, or doctor, or what have you, understand that you will get a lot of training to fall back on. Yes, you will still make mistakes. Training and education is a lifelong commitment, don't let that get away from you.
Fear of failure/humiliation/etc holds many people back. The thing is, mistakes are part of the learning process. It is how we GROW, professionally. If you make a mistake, figure out why and how, and what you are going to do to prevent it from happening again. Hopefully you can do that before having to discuss it with your boss, as, it shows maturity. OWN the mistake. Do NOT make excuses. It is your mistake. Even if it is HUGE, and you lose your job, at your next interview, don't dance around it. "I made a major mistake, it cost the company a lot of money, and they let me go."
The only people who don't make mistakes are those who stay safely in their comfort zones. You have to take chances - calculated risks - and be willing to take on new things, if you aspire to advance professionally.
hope this helps - Kim