Stupid things people do to get fired.

In a growing but stable economy, job hunters face greater competition for the jobs that are available. Everyone has to work harder and be sharper. Just as your employer cannot be sloppy when competing in world markets, you have to be more serious about the way you conduct yourself at work with colleagues and supervisors and maintain a business-like demeanor at company outings and off-sites.

According to Richard Bayer, Chief Operating Officer of the Five O’Clock Club (www.FiveOClockClub.com), the country’s leading career counseling and outplacement company: “Job security is an oxymoron. Company loyalty is no longer an attribute that managers value. Companies cannot afford to retain employees who are merely competent, they expect people to go above and beyond the responsibilities they were hired to perform and seek out assignments that signal an interest and willingness to move up the ladder.” What’s more, any mistakes people make in judgment or comportment are less likely to go unnoticed. In fact, certain gaffes can stall or derail a career.

Here are a list of the five most common mistakes people make at work that put them at risk of being overlooked for a raise or promotion, or ultimately losing their job. These hints are excerpted from The Five O’Clock Club’s new book, Navigating Your Career (Delmar Learning, 2006, paper, 256 pages). If you are guilty of any of these snafus, stop right now.

Be Careful When You Use your Computer

Your computer is company property and the company may be privy to any message in your email box or on your web browser. People often send jokes or inappropriate messages to coworkers. Sometimes these emails show up in the wrong inbox and can cause embarrassment or hurt feelings. If they include racial or sexual slurs, they can be cause for legal action or dismissal. Be careful with your web browser. Some people have been caught shopping on Amazon.com or browsing pornography sites on company time.

Don’t Misbehave at Company Parties

Some people think company parties are merely opportunities to have fun and relax. Wrong. A company party is a business event and it’s very likely everyone from the company intern to your boss and his or her boss is monitoring your behavior. Watch your body language and don’t stand too close or whisper to co-workers or subordinates of the opposite sex. Drinking to excess is inexcusable and will only get you in trouble. Bad reputations are often the result of inappropriate behavior at company parties

Don’t Disagree With your Boss in Public

Don’t use meetings or public forums to disagree with your boss. If you have a different approach to a problem, don’t question his strategy or point of view in front of a group. It won’t make you look good and it might make his supervisors question his leadership skills. If you want to present your views to your boss, ask to speak with him privately. If you find that you frequently disagree with your boss, you’re probably not in the right spot and career advancement is going to be difficult. Your boss will eventually say, “I don’t need this person around.” It’s probably a good idea to start looking for a new position, either inside or outside the company now!

Respect Your Company’s Culture

In every business there’s a corporate culture or value system you need to embrace or you could get fired. If you come in at 8 am and leave exactly at 5 pm and everyone else starts later and stays later, you should adjust your schedule if possible. If you eat at your desk and everyone else bills lunch to a company expense account, do the same. It’s important to fit in or you’ll be viewed as an odd duck.

Don’t Speak to the Press Unless You Are a Spokesperson.

It’s not a good idea to speak with the press about your company, even if what you have to say is positive. Most companies have one person or department who is charged with the task of speaking with the press. They typically have carefully crafted messages prepared to address particular issues or to diffuse difficult situations.

For more information at http://www.fiveoclockclub.com