Career-Ending Move

A career-ending move is a huge mistake, bad decision or misdeed made by a worker that has big career consequences. A career-ending move is a mistake so egregious that it would likely result in the loss of the employee's job and possibly end their career in their given field. Such mistakes or misdeeds can be lead to public scrutiny for both the worker and their employer, which may lead to termination for the worker.

Career-ending moves are much larger than a faux pas or a mistake. They tend to entail some kind of unethical or even criminal behavior that exposes an employer to litigation, fines or penalties. If an individual worker's misdeed leads to their employer losing money, credibility, share value, licensing or reputation on a grand scale, it could amount to a career-ending move. 

A career-ending move may also occur without malice or intent. When an executive or supervisor in charge of oversight or compliance fails to spot a big enough mistake, misdeed, unethical practice or crime, such obliviousness or failure to supervise could amount to a career-ending move. Career-ending moves may also happen outside of a work context, such as if an executive commits a felony that results in prison time, though that rule may not hold true for other endeavors, such as politics.

While an employer may have to deal with fallout from the worker's actions, the mistake or misdeed — if public enough — may follow the worker around long enough to derail or end their career. Career-ending moves tend to involve jobs that are in the public eye, or involve unethical behavior, fraud or criminal activity that will invariable lead to public attention.

There are many different mistakes or errors that could be counted as career-ending moves. Certain professions carry with them higher standards of conduct that if breached could preclude future employment in that field, either though diminished reputation, suspension of licensing or an outright bar from practicing.

For example, an accountant that knowingly falsifies accounting financial statements or signs off of a falsified audit, if caught, will lose their job and likely end their career. Their licenses can be revoked, and they can be barred from working as a certified public accountant (CPA). A lawyer who behaves unethically by withholding evidence in a trial may be disbarred permanently. And a financial advisor or broker who stole money from clients could be fined, suspended, barred from practicing or associating with fellow members of the industry, have their licenses revoked or face criminal charges that lead to prison time.