You're probably desperately trying to figure out where you went wrong — what you've done, or didn't do — to drive your boss to promote Jane to senior manager instead of you.
To help narrow down the options, CareerBuilder conducted a survey that investigated which qualities dissuade employers from promoting an otherwise-hard-working employee.
After receiving feedback from more than 2,000 human resource managers covering a wide range of industries in the US, it became clear that behavioral issues were major risks to an employee's chances at a promotion. Even the most diligent worker could miss out on a better position due to a perpetual negative attitude, for example.
The following behavioral factors dissuaded human resource managers from promoting an employee, according to the survey:
- 62% were less likely to promote an employee with a negative or pessimistic attitude.
- 62% were less likely to promote an employee who regularly showed up to work late.
- 51% were less likely to promote an employee who frequently used vulgar language.
- 49% were less likely to promote an employee who regularly left work early.
- 49% were less likely to promote an employee who took too many sick days.
- 44% were less likely to promote an employee who gossiped.
- 39% were less likely to promote an employee who spent office time on personal social media accounts.
- 36% were less likely to promote an employee who didn't clean up after himself/herself.
- 27% were less likely to promote an employee who always initiated non-work-related conversations with coworkers.
- 24% were less likely to promote an employee who took personal phone calls at work.
- 19% were less likely to promote an employee who took frequent smoke breaks.
The following superficial factors dissuaded human resource managers from promoting an employee:
- 44% were less likely to promote an employee who wore provocative clothing to work.
- 43% were less likely to promote an employee who wore wrinkled clothes.
- 32% were less likely to promote an employee with piercings other than traditional ear piercings.
- 27% were less likely to promote an employee who frequently wore clothing that was too casual for the workplace.
- 27% were less likely to promote an employee with visible tattoos.
- 25% were less likely to promote an employee with an unprofessional hairstyle.
- 24% were less likely to promote an employee with constant bad breath.
- 21% were less likely to promote an employee who wore too much perfume or cologne.
- 15% were less likely to promote an employee who wore too much makeup.
If you prove to cause more distractions for colleagues than you do enforce productivity, a promotion might be out-of-reach for the time being. For many, your presence at the office can matter almost as much as the work you turn out.

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