Basic Skills for Success in a New Job Izumo, G., Bishop, J., & Cole, K. (1999). Workplace Skills: How to Get From Your Senior Year to Your First Promotion. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc. Ludden, L.V. (1992). Job Savvy: How to Be a Success at Work. Indianapolis: JIST works, Inc.

Meet Chris IU graduate IU graduate 21 years old 21 years old New Associate at ABC Pharmaceutical New Associate at ABC Pharmaceutical

Chris the Associate It’s his second week on the job. There was a huge snow storm causing a power failure during the night.

Punctuality Get a reliable alarm clock! Get a reliable alarm clock! Get up early. Get up early. Plan for special conditions. Plan for special conditions. Notify your Supervisor if you are delayed: Notify your Supervisor if you are delayed: -Tell why you’re going to be late -Explain what you’re doing to get to work ASAP -Estimate when you will arrive -Assure your supervisor you will make up the time

Chris the Associate Chris owns 4 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of sweatpants, 1 pair of khakis, and 27 t-shirts. Chris thinks he needs to develop a professional wardrobe for work, so he heads to the Bloomington mall.

Dressing for Success Observe culture. Observe culture. Go easy on trends. Go easy on trends. Start with neat and clean. Start with neat and clean. Watch your scents. Watch your scents. Clean shaven/make-up. Clean shaven/make-up. Look at yourself in the mirror. Look at yourself in the mirror.

Chris the Associate When Chris worked on group projects for his class, there was always one person that no one wanted to work with…and Chris desperately does not want to be this person at work.

Working with Others Get to know other workers and take interest in their jobs. Get to know other workers and take interest in their jobs. Don’t try to change everything….Listen! Don’t try to change everything….Listen! Avoid gossip. Avoid gossip. Appropriate conversations. Appropriate conversations. Be positive and supportive. Be positive and supportive. Show appreciation. Show appreciation. Live in the present. Live in the present.

How to Fit In with Co-Workers Know what your role is and how it affects other co-workers and the company. Know what your role is and how it affects other co-workers and the company. Laugh. Laugh. Ask for help and advice when it’s needed. Ask for help and advice when it’s needed. Do your fair share. Do your fair share. Share credit when it’s deserved. Share credit when it’s deserved. Don’t do other people’s work. Don’t do other people’s work.

The Basics of Effective Communication Think before you speak. Think before you speak. Be clear, precise, and honest. Be clear, precise, and honest. Communicate within a reasonable time frame. Communicate within a reasonable time frame. Communicate with respect. Communicate with respect.

Chris the Associate Chris has been given the opportunity to start a new project. His supervisor wants weekly meetings with him. Chris wants to be prepared.

Communicating with your Supervisor Know ahead of time what you’re talking about. Know ahead of time what you’re talking about. Bring an agenda and questions. Bring an agenda and questions. You should report any problems and results of your work. You should report any problems and results of your work. Be able to follow instructions. Be able to follow instructions. You need to discuss your job performance. You need to discuss your job performance.

Communicating About Job Performance Ask for constructive criticism. Ask for constructive criticism. Don’t be defensive when responding to constructive criticism. Don’t be defensive when responding to constructive criticism. Ask for clarification if you’ve done something wrong. Ask for clarification if you’ve done something wrong. Thank your supervisor for compliments. Thank your supervisor for compliments.

Chris the Associate Chris is working on a project at home and used up all of his printer paper last night. Chris wonders if he should take a few sheets of paper home to finish his task.

Guidelines for Making Ethical Decisions Is it legal? Is it legal? How will it make you feel about yourself? How will it make you feel about yourself? How do others feel about it? How do others feel about it? How would you feel if the whole world knew about it? How would you feel if the whole world knew about it? Does the behavior make sense? Does the behavior make sense? Is the situation fair to everyone involved? Is the situation fair to everyone involved? Will the people in authority at your organization approve? Will the people in authority at your organization approve? How would you feel if someone did the same thing to you? How would you feel if someone did the same thing to you? Will something bad happen if you don’t make a decision? Will something bad happen if you don’t make a decision?

Chris the Associate Chris is looking forward to his first promotion with ABC pharmaceuticals. He wonders what employers really look for in an ideal candidate.

Skills Employers Want to See in Employees Responsibility and ability to follow through Responsibility and ability to follow through Dependability Dependability Work habits Work habits Concern for productivity Concern for productivity Ability to write and speak effectively Ability to write and speak effectively Ability to read and apply printed material Ability to read and apply printed material

Attitudes Employers Like to See Respect Respect Enthusiasm Enthusiasm Motivation Motivation Positive attitudes/“Can-do” attitudes Positive attitudes/“Can-do” attitudes Ambition Ambition

Chris the Associate What other advice would you give Chris?

Evaluation Questions A. Strongly agree B. Agree C. Disagree D. Strongly disagree E. Don’t know 1. I found the presentation of material easy to understand. 2. This Discussion session increased my knowledge on the subject presented. 3. I will be able to use some of the information from this Discussion session in the future. 4. The presenter was well prepared for this Discussion session. 5. This presentation should be repeated in future semesters.