You're Biggest Career Mistake... (just kidding, read the details below!)

Question

I prefer the 'there are no mistakes' perspective, but I think we all can understand having a decision that *feels* like a mistake, so what's the biggest one you've made regarding your career? What learning experience did your less-than-stellar decision give you?

Victoria Crispo · Answer

and note: auto-correct fail and bad morning editing- that should be 'Your Biggest Career Mistake' 
(seems like we can't delete or edit posts!)

Lynn Miller · Answer

Not doing enough due diligence with an entrepreneur who supposedly knew what he was doing. This led me to funding a business model that did not work. business mistake was believing I was too old to stay in the workforce.

Victoria Crispo · Answer

Thanks Bri and K N for your insights! I'm sure it's really helpful for those in the midst of a job search or even mid-career evaluation. Appreciate you chiming in!

Anonymous · Answer

My biggest career mistake was not bailing when everything started to go sideways. I tried to hang in. And paid for it.

Bri369 · Answer

I worked in a department that was obviously not the best fit for me. I wasn't doing a bad job, just not the best I know I am capable of. I also had a supervisor that did not like me personally and would be harder on me than my counterparts. I had the opportunity to take a lower position in a different department, but I thought I could force myself to just work harder and do better in my current position, so I did not take it. 
I learned that a bad fit is a bad fit and no amount of extra work is going to make up for the fact that the job I had was not for me. I was demoted anyways and put into another department that was not what I wanted to be doing. 
I ended up leaving the company soon after and I am very happy where I am at, but it was a bad 2 years of my professional life.

R.E. Gast · Answer

Hanging around longer than I should have in a sexist environment (think stereotypical 90's engineering work culture where a manager may bring those under him to a strip club without a second thought).

I've learned that I generally can't rely on managers or HR to initiate meaningful changes. People are slow to change, and large companies even slower. If I find myself in that position again, you won't find me sticking it out waiting for change.

You're Biggest Career Mistake... (just kidding, read the details below!)

You're invited.

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