Are you respectful to your clients at work? Do you dress appropriate for work? Do you portray a positive attitude at work? Are you motivated at work to be one of the best there? When it comes to working a job there are certain work ethics and codes of professionalism that should be maintained. In layman terms you do not want to show up to an office job in shorts and a t-shirt (unless it is casual Friday, and that’s acceptable attire) and expect people to think highly of you. While you can look up ‘work ethics’ and see so many different recommendations, we have compiled our top five below.
1.) Attendance
Being on time to work is one of the top top TOP priorities when it comes to working a job. Showing that you are responsible enough to arrive promptly to work shows your employer they can rely on you. Leaving early is okay, but only when it is approved by your supervisor. Coming and going as you please is typically not tolerated in the workplace. Be sure to notify your supervisor ahead of time (giving as much notice as you can) if you have an appointment or will need to leave early for any reason. Not showing up, arriving late, and/or leaving early without notice can all leave a bad impression on your supervisor and negatively affect your performance.
2.) Appearance
Like I mentioned earlier you do not want to show up to work in shorts and a t-shirt, unless that is an acceptable dress code for your career, or it is casual Friday. The way you dress and carry yourself has an impact on people’s perceptions of you at work. You want to make a good first impression not only by what you say, but also with what you wear. Dressing for success is key, and you should be sure to ask about your office’s dress code if you are unsure what to wear.
3.) Organization
Now this one is a big thing as well, because you do not want to seem like you do not have things together. Organization is not only about having a nice planner and keeping a nice, neat desk, organization is about showing off your management abilities. Keeping organized can show that you know how to handle a schedule as well as how to handle or manage people. Highlighting your organizational abilities can open the door to all sorts of professional opportunities.
4.) Character/Attitude
We touched on this one a bit early, but now we will dive deeper. No one wants to be the rude worker that nobody likes and or feels uncomfortable around. We want to portray a positive character at work and come across as honest, dependable, willing to help. You should aim to be the reliable, honest coworker that your boss can trust and rely on. Your attitude reflects more on your emotions towards people. Are you a positive person to work with or are you just negative all the time? Are you confident in the tasks that you are doing for work, are you confident enough to speak up at meetings? Your attitude can be both an asset and a detriment depending on how you utilize it. A positive attitude can go a long way.
5.) Teamwork
Teamwork often goes hand in hand with character\attitude because these attributes will affect your ability to work effectively on a team. Often, you will be working with individuals who work on the same team as you, but this will not always be the case. Be sure to make everyone feel included on the team, regardless of what department they might be from. That positive attitude we discussed earlier will come in handy in team settings as it can help you avoid awkward situations and tension. Do not confuse a positive attitude for complacence though, if you disagree with something or see an issue, speak up but do so tactfully. We can disagree with our teammates without causing a fight. Remember, we do not have to love all our coworkers/teammates, but we do need to get along to accomplish our work.