By Gowrika Sithamparanathan, Career Assistant
It's the time of year where most of us as undergraduate students have secured summer job(s) with hopes of paying back tuition, gaining valuable work experience, developing transferable skills, and building good networks.
I have composed a few tips based on my personal experiences supported by research, to ensure you are successful at work:
Maintain Professionalism
Regardless of what position you hold, it is important to take all assigned tasks seriously and conduct yourself in a professional manner. This includes: professional communication, punctuality, email etiquette, food and cell phone policy, and appropriate dress code. When in doubt, ask your supervisor and always follow the policies and regulations of the organization.
For more information on how to conduct yourself in a professional manner, please visit our tip sheet: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/sites/utsc.utoronto.ca.aacc/files/tipsheets/Employment_Tipsheets/ProfessionalismontheJob.pdf
Completion of Tasks
Make sure you are organized, and keep a neat and tidy space before starting your task.
It is essential to complete assigned tasks efficiently and ask for clarification as needed rather than making false assumptions about the assigned task. This will prevent miscommunication. To complete your tasks efficiently, feel free to create a to-do list that is organized by priority.
For more tips on creating and organizing your to-do list, please check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibGnjSKLqTc
It is also important that you meet important deadlines. If you are not able to meet a deadline for a valid reason, provide your supervisor well in advance notice and suggest an alternative.
Maintain Strong Relationships
Always maintain a good relationship with your manager and co-worker(s). You will be spending a lot time working together. As a result, having healthy relationships with the people you work with will create a pleasant environment and experience for all. It will definitely increase job satisfaction, quality of life, and enhance your mental state of mind. [1]
When you co-operate with one another and work well in an environment, you are able to produce greater results than working independently. Teamwork develops unity, increases productivity, and fosters growth and development. [2]
Be Open to Learning
While you are attending to tasks, be open to learning. If you are experiencing difficulty with the assigned tasks, be open to researching or finding a solution independently, before reaching out for assistance. This is how we learn!
Another way to learn on the job is to make mistakes. By making mistakes, you are learning because you know what NOT to do in the future. Just remember not to make the same mistakes more than once, or put strategies in place to avoid the same mistake again! According to Denis Waitley, an American motivational speaker, "There is no mistakes or failures, only lessons". [3]
Look for ways to expand your knowledge-base and be committed to continuous improvement. This will make your work experience valuable.
Be Positive
Always have a smile on your face and present yourself well since first impressions go a long way. Remember, positive energy is contagious. Make sure you listen before you speak and take constructive feedback well.
Everything is perspective!
Maintain Integrity
Don't put yourself in a situation where you are compromising your morals and personal values. Be mindful and have diplomatic communication when addressing issues, confidential matters, and personal experiences.
Concluding Remarks
I believe the above tips will help you succeed at your current workplace or future workplace(s). If you need further assistance or want to learn more about how to excel at work, don't hesitate to seek for help.
For more assistance, please book an appointment or come in for a drop-in appointment session with a Career Counsellor or Career Strategist at Academic Advising & Career Centre. We are located in AC213. You can also reach us by phone at 416-287-7561.
In addition, please check out our tip sheets at: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/tip-sheets
Wishing you the best,
Gowrika Sithamparanathan
Career Assistant (Work-Study)
It's the time of year where most of us as undergraduate students have secured summer job(s) with hopes of paying back tuition, gaining valuable work experience, developing transferable skills, and building good networks.
I have composed a few tips based on my personal experiences supported by research, to ensure you are successful at work:
Maintain Professionalism
Regardless of what position you hold, it is important to take all assigned tasks seriously and conduct yourself in a professional manner. This includes: professional communication, punctuality, email etiquette, food and cell phone policy, and appropriate dress code. When in doubt, ask your supervisor and always follow the policies and regulations of the organization.
For more information on how to conduct yourself in a professional manner, please visit our tip sheet: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/sites/utsc.utoronto.ca.aacc/files/tipsheets/Employment_Tipsheets/ProfessionalismontheJob.pdf
Completion of Tasks
Make sure you are organized, and keep a neat and tidy space before starting your task.
It is essential to complete assigned tasks efficiently and ask for clarification as needed rather than making false assumptions about the assigned task. This will prevent miscommunication. To complete your tasks efficiently, feel free to create a to-do list that is organized by priority.
For more tips on creating and organizing your to-do list, please check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibGnjSKLqTc
It is also important that you meet important deadlines. If you are not able to meet a deadline for a valid reason, provide your supervisor well in advance notice and suggest an alternative.
Maintain Strong Relationships
Always maintain a good relationship with your manager and co-worker(s). You will be spending a lot time working together. As a result, having healthy relationships with the people you work with will create a pleasant environment and experience for all. It will definitely increase job satisfaction, quality of life, and enhance your mental state of mind. [1]
When you co-operate with one another and work well in an environment, you are able to produce greater results than working independently. Teamwork develops unity, increases productivity, and fosters growth and development. [2]
Be Open to Learning
While you are attending to tasks, be open to learning. If you are experiencing difficulty with the assigned tasks, be open to researching or finding a solution independently, before reaching out for assistance. This is how we learn!
Another way to learn on the job is to make mistakes. By making mistakes, you are learning because you know what NOT to do in the future. Just remember not to make the same mistakes more than once, or put strategies in place to avoid the same mistake again! According to Denis Waitley, an American motivational speaker, "There is no mistakes or failures, only lessons". [3]
Look for ways to expand your knowledge-base and be committed to continuous improvement. This will make your work experience valuable.
Be Positive
Always have a smile on your face and present yourself well since first impressions go a long way. Remember, positive energy is contagious. Make sure you listen before you speak and take constructive feedback well.
Everything is perspective!
Maintain Integrity
Don't put yourself in a situation where you are compromising your morals and personal values. Be mindful and have diplomatic communication when addressing issues, confidential matters, and personal experiences.
Concluding Remarks
I believe the above tips will help you succeed at your current workplace or future workplace(s). If you need further assistance or want to learn more about how to excel at work, don't hesitate to seek for help.
For more assistance, please book an appointment or come in for a drop-in appointment session with a Career Counsellor or Career Strategist at Academic Advising & Career Centre. We are located in AC213. You can also reach us by phone at 416-287-7561.
In addition, please check out our tip sheets at: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/tip-sheets
Wishing you the best,
Gowrika Sithamparanathan
Career Assistant (Work-Study)
References:
1. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:325921/FULLTEXT01.pdf
2. https://www.potential.com/articles/5-important-reasons-why-teamwork-matters/
3. http://awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/35-inspirational-quotes-on-mistakes/
2. https://www.potential.com/articles/5-important-reasons-why-teamwork-matters/
3. http://awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/35-inspirational-quotes-on-mistakes/
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