From the Academic world to the workplace – Actions – Part 1

These tips will make your emergence into the world of work more comfortable and make you more confident in tackling issues that will inevitably arise.  For example, dealing with customer complaints or attending meetings with senior colleagues and important clients, will initially, take you out of your comfort zone.

“Actions speak louder than words.”

1. Commit yourself whole heartedly to your job.  When you go in with this attitude you can’t fail to succeed.
2. Set yourself goals once you have settled into your job.  Make them specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time based.  When you have an aim in sight your job becomes much more fulfilling.
3. Learn to prioritise.  There will always be urgent and important issues to deal with as well as those everyday tasks that can wait.  Always deal with the important and urgent matters first.
4. Make a daily “to do” list to take account of your changing priorities.  This will also help you to feel more in control of your working life and hopefully make it less stressful.
5. Concentrate on working through one item on your list and finishing it.  You will get a real sense of achievement when you finish the day with a few jobs done rather than lots of tasks half finished.
6. Keep your work area clear.  You will be frustrated and distracted if you have piles of paper everywhere and can’t find what you are looking for.  Work areas are not horizontal storage areas!
7. Show you care.  When you see that things could be done more efficiently make suggestions with positive alternatives.  No one will criticise you when you are being proactive and helpful.
8. Be open minded when people make suggestions to you as well.  There is always more than one way of doing something and every day should be a learning opportunity.
9. Learn to take criticism and feedback positively.  Things will go wrong and you will make mistakes but when you respond in the right way you can use these as opportunities to improve your performance.
10. Be “unavailable” on certain occasions.  If you really need to clear your pending tray or get an important job completed on time ask not to be disturbed and you will work through the task so much more quickly.
11. Say no to “I’ll do it now” when your current workload is already overwhelming.  Explain what you have on and set a realistic deadline as to when you will be able to do it.