askST Jobs: I’m known as a reliable and versatile employee. Will that affect my career?

Explore how being a reliable and versatile employee can impact your career development and potential for promotion. Read more at straitstimes.com.

In this series, business journalist Timothy Goh offers practical answers to candid questions on navigating workplace challenges and getting ahead in your career. Get more tips by signing up to The Straits Times’ Headstart newsletter.

Being reliable and versatile is positive as it signals that you can be trusted and can deliver under pressure.

But it can also influence your career potential as you could be viewed as dependable rather than “strategic”, said Ms Christina Tan, founder of sales training and coaching consultancy Sales Symphony.

“In some cases, employees who are very dependable find that they are not moved into bigger roles as quickly, simply because the team relies heavily on them where they are,” she said.

“This is not always intentional, but it can slow down professional growth if the person is not given opportunities to demonstrate leadership at a higher level.”

That is why it is important for competent professionals to recognise their own value.