Plagiarism can cost you your job and damage your professional reputation.
Plagiarism is a very serious offense. Whether intentional or unintentional, the consequences can haunt you and jeopardize your professional career. "Plagiarism is the theft of intellectual property," advises the website of Fairfield Schools in Connecticut. Plagiarism involves using someone else's words or ideas without the proper citation or attribution. The consequences of plagiarism continue to increase in severity because, "it continues to be a problem in all levels of education, as well as at the professional level," according to the Knowledge Galaxy website.
Understanding Plagiarism
Plagiarism isn't strictly copying and pasting someone else's work and trying to pass it off as your own. Paraphrasing someone else's words or ideas can also land you in hot water if you don't properly cite the original source. Plagiarism applies to written works, but also to "everyday speaking, essays, music, graphics, video and film," as noted by Fairfield Schools.
Lasting Effects
Plagiarism often happens in high school and college, but is also in professional settings. Engaging in plagiarism at any level will have lasting negative effects as you try to advance in your professional career. Someone caught plagiarizing in high school can fail classes. This can hurt his chances of getting into a top college, and later harm his job hunt. Colleges treat plagiarism as an academic crime. Students are in danger of expulsion, which can mar their professional record. Schools may notify other schools or internships if you are guilty of plagiarism.
Consequences
The professional consequences of plagiarism can be as minor as a simple suspension without pay, or as severe as imprisonment in some cases, such as copyright infringement. Consequences depend on the severity of the act. You could have your degree or license revoked. You could suffer a pay cut or lose your job. More importantly, it taints your professional name, making it difficult to find future employment. Companies may not hire you because of the dishonesty you displayed to plagiarize in the first place. They may question your ethics in other situations that require honesty, too. Even if the plagiarism was unintentional, they may view you as lazy or absent-minded.
Protecting Yourself
Individuals found guilty of plagiarism include journalists, politicians, novelists and college presidents. As noted, plagiarism doesn't always have to be intentional. You can protect yourself by taking detailed notes, always citing your sources, and staying organized. This will ensure that you don't suffer the professional consequences of plagiarism.
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