Building a successful career isn’t just about working hard it’s about working smart, too. Many professionals unknowingly fall into habits that stunt growth, shrink opportunity, and slow long-term progress. Shruti Bansal outlines five key mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Ignoring Skill Development — Relying solely on current knowledge leaves you behind. The job market is moving quickly; continuously upgrading both technical and soft skills keeps you competitive in shifting contexts.

2. Neglecting Networking — Strong professional relationships unlock mentorship, collaboration, and opportunity. Skipping networking means trusting your career’s future to chance.

3. Focusing Only on Salary — High pay can’t compensate for poor fit. Long-term satisfaction stems from growth, alignment with culture, and meaningful challenges—not just compensation.

4. Avoiding Feedback — Constructive criticism is crucial for improvement. Dismissing feedback stalls progress and fosters blind spots—don't let defensiveness be your professional anchor.

5. Lacking Career Plan — Without short- and long-term goals, careers drift. Define your next steps clearly to keep momentum and purpose alive.

Together, these five missteps show that intentional strategy not just effort is key to sustained success. Avoiding them sets you on a more resilient and purposeful growth path.