professional suicide

Deliberate career ending

Professional suicide is the deliberate or reckless destruction of one's own career, reputation, or standing in a field.

The term borrows the finality of actual suicide to describe actions so damaging that recovery becomes nearly impossible—publicly contradicting a powerful boss, leaking confidential information, or making statements that alienate an entire industry.

Speaking out against the CEO was professional suicide, but she felt she had no choice.

Unlike a simple career setback, professional suicide implies the person played an active role in their own downfall.

Related

nepotism · dishonesty · substance abuse · mismanagement · final straw · insubordination · burning bridges · public meltdown · social media rant · underdelivering · poor judgment · exploitation · discrimination · fraud · whistleblowing · crossing the line · breach of confidentiality · embezzlement

Opposites
career trajectory outcome

professional suicidecareer advancement

Professional upward mobility

climbing the ladder · big break · promotion · rising star · upward mobility

agency in career termination

professional suicidegetting sacked

forced resignation · dismissal · layoff

professional judgment quality

professional suicidestrategic positioning

Deliberate advantageous arrangement

playing one's cards right · calculated risk · playing it safe

Family

professional, profession, profess, professed, professing, professor, professorial, professionally, professionalism

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG