There are a lot of stories surrounding our careers that we have been led to believe are true. Turns out many of them aren’t, but they can be disempowering

From the time we are young, we are always hearing stories about what the workforce is ‘really’ like. Some of these stories and beliefs become imprinted in our brains and are carried with us throughout our working lives and affect how we manage our careers. Much of this information is confusing and conflicting, but we still absorb it because they are myths that are so ingrained in our culture. While some of them are true – university doesn’t really prepare you for a real job, and your marks don’t always matter – others are not, and are, quite frankly, disempowering and prevent people from pursuing their goals. And, as usual, women hear even more of these myths than our
male counterparts. Enough already! Here we debunk six common career myths that are holding us back.

Myth #1: Creatives don’t make money
This myth stems from the fact that many people are unwilling to pay creatives for their work, thinking that the promise of exposure
is enough to put bread on the table. This then discourages people from pursuing jobs in the creative sector, even if that is where their true passion lies. While it’s true that there are many struggling artists and musicians out there, there are plenty of people doing creative jobs, such as designers, architects and sound engineers, and there are ample opportunities for creatives to carve out their own niche, too. Hard work, good marketing and a lot of persistence can pay off and yield amazing financial results.

Myth #2: It’s all about who you know
Another myth that keeps being perpetuated is that hard work won’t pay off unless you know the ‘right’ people. If this were true, then many introverts would be sitting without a job. While networking can be a huge help in getting your foot in the door, finding new opportunities, or expanding a business, your work will – or at least should – speak for itself. This means that if you aren’t good at what you do or are unpleasant to work with, word will get around among your peers, which can actually hinder you from progressing. Network, but doso sincerely, and make sure that you are able to live up to your good reputation.

Myth #3: It’s all about the job title
‘Climbing the corporate ladder’ is a platitude that many people in the workforce use thinking that it’s a necessity and that reaching the topis the only true mark of success. Wrong! Not only are there a lot of people who have no desire to end up in the corner office and are quite content in their mid-level positions, but fretting about job titles and your position is missing the point completely. Some positions with fancy titles offer less job satisfaction than their modest counterparts and, as we know, money doesn’t always buy you happiness. If you enjoy what you do and are making ends meet, don’t feel pressured into aiming higher. 

Myth #4: Don’t bring your personal life to work
A myth that has haunted women since they were first allowed to enter the corporate environment is that they are overly emotional and would bring all their personal drama with them as they entered the office. Not only is this untrue, and really just another way for men
to cling on to their patriarchal ways, but it is also unreasonable. Why? Because we are all human beings who experience a wide range
of emotions, and to expect people to block that out completely and get on with work isn’t normal. There is nothing wrong with being vulnerable. It could, in fact, endear you to people and make your work relationships even stronger. 

Myth #5: Don’t brag about your accomplishments
Being humble is a good thing – it’s a good way to keep yourself in check. That being said, when it comes to your achievements, there is nothing wrong with a bit of shameless self-promotion. A lot of employees keep their accomplishments under wraps for fear of appearing conceited and struggle to be able to promote themselves when the need arises (job interviews, anyone?). The sad reality is that it’s everyone for themselves out there, which means that if you are waiting for others to recognise your achievements, you could be waiting forever. Advocate for yourself and your hard work so that others might also know your worth. 

Myth #6: Don’t go after money or power
For many people, their careers are what define them. Which is totally fine. And even if it isn’t, there’s nothing wrong with being ambitious and wanting to achieve great success and the money and power that come with it. This character trait is something that for a long time has been associated with men and, as such, this is still seen as masculine. But times have changed and we need more women to be at the helm in order to equal the playing field. If you are slogging away because you want to reap some serious rewards and one day drive a Maserati, then we wish you luck on your journey to greatness.  

Words by Ruby Meyers
Photography: Pexels