4 Costly Career Mistakes Kenyans Make, And How To Avoid Them

By Perminus Wainaina  

Are you in control of your career?

You might be in a great job where you have job stability, you earn a good salary, and you have everything needed to grow and succeed in your career.

However, there are costly mistakes that you could be making without knowing. These mistakes can greatly cost your career and result in stagnation, losing your job, and missing out on future career opportunities.

A good example is Stella (not her real name). Stella was working at a mid-sized technology company and was on her way to become a manager in the company. However, at the beginning of the year, she came across a position being advertised by one of the major betting companies in the region.

The position was paying the same as her current job, but Stella was fascinated by working for a large company. She made the move, but unfortunately, barely a year into the job, the betting company has let go of all its employees –yes, including Stella.

While Stella couldn’t have possibly known the company would close down, she has now been forced back to searching for a job.

While looking for a job, you’re advised what to do, but the advice seems to stop once you get the job.

What mistakes can dearly cost your career, and how can you avoid them?

1. Taking a job just for the money

While money is a key factor in choosing what job to take, it should not be the deciding factor.

A HR manager recently reached out for advice. She enjoys her job, and it gives her time with her young family. She’s gotten a job offer that will double her current salary. However, she will have to relocate and disrupt her family or leave them behind until she’s stable in the new job

While the job offers more salary, it could interrupt her life, career, and the wellbeing of her family.

Before you take a job based on the money, consider other key factors such as;

• Future career plan – does the job you’re taking align with your career goals? If you take the job, will it lead you to where you’d like to be in the next five or ten years?
• Job satisfaction – yes, the job is paying more, but is it something you’ll look forward to? Do you look forward to the job when you wake up? Does the job challenge you to become better? Does it support your ambitions?For instance, if I offered you a million shillings for you to operate a mkokoteni, would you take it? Your answer is likely a big yes! However, you would not wake up excited to pull the mkokoteni the whole day. In the same way, don’t go for a job that you have to be pushed, go for the one that excites you and you’re always looking forward to the next day.
• Growth opportunities – if you take the job, will you be able to grow and advance your career? Will you move up to the next level? Choose a career that will offer growth opportunities. You can measure growth in various aspects including remuneration, responsibilities and promotions.

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