Avoid work taboos

Whether it's dancing on top of the bar at the company holiday party, chewing with one's mouth open or falling asleep in a meeting, everyone is guilty of committing some kind of faux pas - social, professional or otherwise.

To avoid putting your career on the line, try to avoid committing the following taboos while on the clock.

Taboo No. 1
Lying about your credentials

You've read the stories in the newspapers that CEOs, celebrities and ordinary workers alike are fired every day for one common crime: lying. In a recent CareerBuilder.com survey, one candidate invented a school that didn't exist, while another went as far as submitting samples of work - that actually belonged to the interviewer. Thirty-eight percent of workers surveyed indicated they had embellished their job responsibilities, 18 percent lied about their skill sets and 10 percent lied about their academic degrees.

Our advice: Whether it's about your education, experience or previous employers, fudging anything on your resume is never a good idea.

Taboo No. 2
Wearing inappropriate clothing

How many times have you heard, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have?" Yet how many times do we see this mantra avoided in our offices? Something tells me that the marketing assistant from the 15th floor doesn't strive for a career in prostitution, so why is she dressing that way? Not only does dressing inappropriately at work send the message that you don't care about your professional image, it also hinders your chances of moving up the corporate ladder.

Our advice: Follow the mantra - and mean it.

Taboo No. 3
Gossiping and spreading rumours

Rumours in the workplace are like gasoline on a trash-can fire- they spread ... fast. While lighthearted conversations around the water cooler are one thing, standing around dishing about your co-workers is another.

Unfortunately, it's a common scenario in most corporate cultures: 19 percent of workers in a 2007 CareerBuilder.com survey said they have spread a rumour about a fellow employee.

Our advice: Co-workers who gossip or spread ugly rumours can harm the work environment. Do your best to stay clear of these people. If you can't get away, at least avoid engaging in the tittle-tattle.

Taboo No. 4
Forgetting someone's name

Have you ever been in a meeting with an important client and, to your horror, when you introduce him to your boss you can't remember the client's name? Such a grave mistake is not only taboo, but it's embarrassing.

The easiest way to overcome this gaffe is by asking the nameless client if he's met your boss. Hopefully, your client will respond by introducing himself.

Our advice: Forgetting a name is natural for everyone. The best way to recover is by trying something like the aforementioned tactic. If your plan backfires, however, the best thing to do is apologize and admit your mistake.

Taboo No. 5
E-mail mishaps

Whether it's hitting "reply all" by accident, sending an e-mail to the wrong person or making adverse comments for all to see, examples of e-mail mess-ups are endless. Be careful when it comes to e-mail; it's not private and can be the quickest way to end your career if you misuse it.

Our advice: Never say anything in an e-mail you don't want to broadcast to the world. Also, keep e-mail use to a minimum and give a little face-to-face time a try once in awhile.

CareerBuilder.com.