JOBTALKSJOBTALKS

Success Skills in a New Job

Indiana UniversityKelley School of BusinessC. Randall Powell, Ph.D

Contents used in this presentation are adapted from Career Planning Strategies and used with the permission of the author.

Basic Skills for Basic Skills for Success Success

in a New Jobin a New Job

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

Sources

Meet ChrisMeet Chris Recent University graduateRecent University graduate 21 years old21 years old New Associate at ABC New Associate at ABC

PharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

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

PunctualityPunctuality 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-Tell why you’re going to be late-Explain what you’re doing to get to work ASAP-Explain what you’re doing to get to work ASAP-Estimate when you will arrive-Estimate when you will arrive-Assure your supervisor you will make up the -Assure your supervisor you will make up the timetime

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

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

Working with OthersWorking with Others Get to know other workers and take Get to know other workers and take

interest in their jobs.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-How to Fit In with Co-WorkersWorkers

Know what your role is and how it affects Know what your role is and how it affects other co-workers and the company.other co-workers and the company.

Laugh.Laugh. Ask for help and advice when it’s Ask for help and advice when it’s

needed.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 The Basics of Effective CommunicationCommunication

Think before you speak.Think before you speak. Be clear, precise, and honest.Be clear, precise, and honest. Communicate within a reasonable time Communicate within a reasonable time

frame.frame. Communicate with respect.Communicate with respect.

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

Communicating with your Communicating with your SupervisorSupervisor

Know ahead of time what you’re Know ahead of time what you’re talking about.talking about.

Bring an agenda and questions.Bring an agenda and questions. You should report any problems and You should report any problems and

results of your work.results of your work. Be able to follow instructions.Be able to follow instructions. You need to discuss your job You need to discuss your job

performance.performance.

Communicating About Job Communicating About Job PerformancePerformance

Ask for constructive criticism.Ask for constructive criticism. Don’t be defensive when responding Don’t be defensive when responding

to constructive criticism.to constructive criticism. Ask for clarification if you’ve done Ask for clarification if you’ve done

something wrong.something wrong. Thank your supervisor for Thank your supervisor for

compliments.compliments.

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

Guidelines for Making Guidelines for Making Ethical DecisionsEthical 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 How would you feel if the whole world knew

about it?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 Will the people in authority at your

organization approve?organization approve? How would you feel if someone did the same How would you feel if someone did the same

thing to you?thing to you? Will something bad happen if you don’t make Will something bad happen if you don’t make

a decision?a decision?

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

Skills Employers Want to Skills Employers Want to See in EmployeesSee in Employees

Responsibility and ability to follow Responsibility and ability to follow throughthrough

DependabilityDependability Work habits Work habits Concern for productivityConcern for productivity Ability to write and speak effectivelyAbility to write and speak effectively Ability to read and apply printed Ability to read and apply printed

materialmaterial

Attitudes Employers Like Attitudes Employers Like to Seeto See

Respect Respect EnthusiasmEnthusiasm MotivationMotivation Positive attitudes/“Can-do” attitudesPositive attitudes/“Can-do” attitudes AmbitionAmbition

Chris the AssociateChris the AssociateWhat other advice would you give What other advice would you give Chris?Chris?

Evaluation QuestionsEvaluation QuestionsA.A. Strongly agreeStrongly agreeB.B. AgreeAgreeC.C. DisagreeDisagreeD.D. Strongly disagreeStrongly disagreeE.E. Don’t knowDon’t know1.1. I found the presentation of material easy to I found the presentation of material easy to

understand.understand.2.2. This Discussion session increased my This Discussion session increased my

knowledge on the subject presented.knowledge on the subject presented.3.3. I will be able to use some of the information I will be able to use some of the information

from this Discussion session in the future.from this Discussion session in the future.4.4. The presenter was well prepared for this The presenter was well prepared for this

Discussion session.Discussion session.5.5. This presentation should be repeated in This presentation should be repeated in

future semestersfuture semesters..

If you would like If you would like to learn more, to learn more, Career Career Planning Planning StrategiesStrategies textbook will textbook will supply additional supply additional information on information on this topic.this topic.