3 Ways to Develop a Good Reputation on the Job

Your reputation at work is important and can be the difference between an advancing career or one that is stuck in neutral.

A positive reputation means that others recognize your skills and integrity and have you in mind for new opportunities, while a bad reputation can mean you’re easily dismissed from consideration for those opportunities.

Make an effort to safeguard your reputation in the workplace by focusing on these three areas.

Appropriate work relationships. You have a job to do and your employer wants to see that as your focus. Your workplace should not function like a bar; you’re not on the job to pick someone up. Avoid a pattern of workplace romance and flirtation or your boss will view that as your primary interest in the job and won’t deem you a serious candidate for more responsibility.

Watch what you say. And how you say it. Learn to communicate effectively and be positive. Your reputation will be harmed if you speak poorly of your boss and those you work with or are always complaining about your workplace and its practices. Your words should reflect your integrity and character and build up your reputation, rather than tear it down. 

Work hard. Of course, one of the most important things you can do for your reputation at your workplace is to do a good job and work hard. If you become known as someone who can be relied on to do great work you will end up with more opportunities in the future.

Unlike some aspects of our lived, our reputation is something that we can control and change by living out our values, and ensuring that we conduct ourselves with integrity, both on the job and in our relationships with our colleagues and manager.

5 Steps for Rebuilding Your Reputation and Your Career

Your reputation is everything. It defines you and influences how others view you and respond to you. If you do something to harm your work reputation--throw frequent temper tantrums, get drunk at the company picnic, cheat--it can have long-lasting and far-reaching consequences for your career.

How do you rebuild your reputation when you've harmed it in the workplace?

Consider the following 5 steps to begin the rebuilding process.

1. Understand and recognize the problem. The first thing you need to do is recognize and take
responsibility for what happened without blaming others. You alone are responsible for your behavior and actions. You also need to understand the problem. Do you have an anger management issue? Or do you have a drinking problem? Or difficulties responding to authority?

2. Seek help. Once you've identified the problem you need to seek out support and help. This might come in the form of professional therapy, a self-help group, or through a mentoring relationship.

3. Make amends. Seek out those you might have offended or hurt by your behavior and apologize and seek to restore the relationship.

4. Demonstrate humility. It might take some time before you are able to return to the level you were previously at in your career. You might take a pay cut or work in a position with fewer responsibilities. You need to humbly accept the position you now find yourself in and strive to use it to make you more effective and better in your work and career.

5. Do great work. Finally, you must do your very best work and demonstrate excellence in everything you do. Others will respond to the humble way you go about your work and the great job you do. This recognition will begin to turn around your reputation.

It is not easy to rebuild your reputation but with some patience, humility, and hard work, you can restore the successful career you once had.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Dust Off Your Resume This Spring

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

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• Dust Off Your Resume This Spring: "Now that the season is changing, it's time to do an overhaul on this document."


• Employer Report Card: Candidates with Disabilities Identify Many Opportunities to Improve "GettingHired conducted a survey of job seekers with disabilities. The results reveal several areas where employers could improve."


• 6 Tips for Stopping the Excuses and Meeting Your Goals Instead: "People often fall back on excuses and give up on trying to reach their goals. Here are several tips for jumping off the excuses train and forging the path to your goals."


• 4 Strategies for Accompanying Spouses/Partners to Stay Relevant in Your Career Field: "Once you have made the decision to travel with your family, how do you stay up-to-date on career-related technology, best practices, and trends in your industry?"


• How Using Your Job Application to Tell a Story Can Get You Hired: "By adding context to your resume, you give hiring managers a frame for your experience and accomplishments so they can quickly digest your story."