(QM's Note: I've done presentations for college-bounds students about how they should conduct themselves in the work world. Just thought I'd share.)
1) Be on time to work.
Especially on your first day. If you are running late or are ill, call your supervisor or leave a message.)
2) Meet ALL your deadlines.
(Find out if a project or assignment is due at 9 a.m. that day or before 5 p.m. If you have trouble making the deadline because of current workload, let your supervisor/client know. If you can't come up with a compromise/extension, get your task completed.)
3) Dress appropriately.
(Find out if your company has a dresscode and if so, abide by it. Employers will send you home to change and note it in your employee personnel file. )
4) Don't use the internet during work hours.
(No Twitter, Facebook, BlackPlanet, Myspace, and don't send personal e-mails. Companies are now monitoring your computer and what sites you visit and how often.) This has gotten more people fired than I can tell you.
5) The Power of Networking
(There is a BIG difference between getting someone's business card and actually networking. When you network, you actually strike about a conversation with someone in your field who can help you get to the next level. You keep in contact with them every so often and pick their brain for their expertise. Just doing this helped me in my career.)
6) Look for A New Job While You Have A Job
(If you start getting bored with your job or there are rumors of layoffs, start looking on line (during non-work hours), sign up or join professional groups, update your resume, and let friends know you're looking. It's easier to find a job when YOU have one.)
7) Keep Your Business YOUR Business
( Working in a company is just like being in high school...again. You'll deal with some backstabbers, aggressive fast trackers, gossips, the popular set, and those doing the bare minimum to reach retirement. This is a delicate area. I tend to advise people the following: make a brief appearance at office parties and don't drink, don't share your personal business with co-workers,(no one needs to know you work an extra job or you are going back to school), watch the office politics at work, and volunteer for extra projects (which can work in your favor at your yearly review.))
8) People Are Always Watching
(Sad, but true. You NEVER know who is watching you. People monitor to see how busy you are, if you made it back from lunch on time, and make initial impressions about you and your workstyle. At one job, it seemed the CEO's secretary was ALWAYS watching me. I found out why. She couldn't understand how much work the Marketing Communications Office was churning out. And she heard I started an internship program. She wanted advice on how to create a program like that for the entire agency.)
9) No Personal Phone Calls At Work
(Tell your girlfriend/mom/dad/boyfriend that you can't get personal phone calls at work. They may need to talk to you, but they can call you after work hours. If they have to talk to you, keep the call short. Less than 3 minutes, please. A young friend of mine got fired over this. Answer your phone in emergencies only.)
10) Document, Document, Document
(If bad things start happening on your job, grab a journal and start documenting stuff. List the items/events by date, who said what, and what they said. That way if you have to take to court, you have a recorded record and don't have to rely on memory.)
11) If Your Company Offers A 410K/403B...Sign Up For It
(Why are you NOT taking advantage of free money. If your company matches what you put in, sign up for it. You may not need the money now, but you'll love it age 59.)
12) Vacation Time
(Find out from your HR representative, if you can roll it over or do you lose it? If you can without a penalty than do. If you will lose it, if you don't use it: then use it. Plan a nice vacation, take a long three-day weekend in the summer, or give yourself an occasional mental health day.)
13) Working With People You Don't Like
(You are going to have to work sometimes you can't stand. Don't roll your eyes, develop a thick skin, and get the job done. You only have to put up with them for a small period of time.)
14) Don't Leave Anything On Your Desk, You Don't Want Others To See.
15) Watch How You Treat Others
(It seems like common sense, but people don't always do this. It's not a good idea to curse out your supervisor or use profanity in the workplace. If you have a bad temper do something about it. If there is music in the office, your best bet: bring in earphones for your MP3 or CD player. Find out about the music policy. If you say, you'll do something: just do it. If you don't chances are your boss will hear about it.)
16) Your Yearly Review
(If you don't agree with your yearly review, you can comment on it. Most supervisors won't tell you that. They also won't inform you that you DON'T HAVE TO SIGN IT. If your supervisor tries to pressure you into signing it because they need it back, still don't sign. You have up to 72 hours before you have to give it back. And once you do, if you want to add additional comments, YOU CAN. No one ever shared this type of information with me.)
17) Your Employee Handbook
(Read this so you become familiar with company policies and procedures. Most people don't read it. I recommend you read this during your first week of orientation. I had a former supervisor who tried to pul a fast one on me when my infant daughter had pink eye. He was unaware that I knew the book and I challenged him and our HR Director on a certain point. They lost...I won!! And they had to change a policy.)
18) Keep Your Ears Open
(Don't participate in your company's gossip mill, but just be aware of what's going on. I've heard about job openings this way. If people suddenly stop talking to you, avoid you, or stop answering e-mails or returning calls, you may have cause for concern.)
19) Pick Your Battles Carefully
(You don't want to be labelled as the radical or troublemaker. My rule is if something that bugged or upset you today is still bothering you a week later; then say something about it.)
20) Show Them What You Are Made Of
(Congrats. You are a college graduate and you have landed your first professional job. Those long hours of study finally paid off. That's the good news. The bad news: some people you only got your job because your black. They think your degree isn't good enough and Affirmative Action is doing you a favor. Ignore these clowns and prove them wrong. There's no such as an Affirmative Action degree. You belong here, you earned it, and we both know it. Welcome to high school.)
Posted By: Marsha Jones
Friday, May 14th 2010 at 12:00PM
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