Student to Employee Transition

 Heads-up about the common business attitudes and behaviours expected in the workplace would be a start, given the challenge of getting relevant and genuine workplace experience.  Here are 30 tips on being professional, whether as an intern, on a work placement or first graduate job:

1. Be punctual – Set the alarm clock on your mobile – “I overslept” won’t cut it; turn up for meetings and on time; colleagues will judge you on this
2. Know the dress code – Are you wearing the right clothing that fits with the culture of the company?
3. Learn business etiquette – Basic manners; what to call people; what are the acceptable behaviours for making phone calls, emails and participating at meetings?
4. Show confidence & energy – An employer will determine this within 30 seconds of meeting you; shake hands firmly; make eye contact; stand up straight; be heard and match your tone to the situation; confident does not mean cocky!
5. Be friendly and sociable – Behaviour breeds behaviour; don’t leave the best of you at home, bring it to work
6. Be positive and enthusiastic – show a ‘can-do’ attitude; Think again before saying “I don’t know” or “That’s not in my job description”
7. Show pride– In your work and in the company; talk things up
8. Serious intent – “There is no time for divas, drama, victim statements or whining” says Mark Babbitt, CEO of YouTern.com ; don’t try and be the office comedian until you’ve proved yourself
9. Take personal responsibility – Own your job; reflect the values of the company in the way you behave; stand up for what you believe in and say it skilfully; make decisions, don’t abdicate
10. Take the lead – You don’t need to ask – leaders do the right things and inspire others; help shape the culture; know when to follow
11. Show genuine commitment and dedication – Meet commitments to standards set by the employer; keep your promises; go the extra mile when needed; you’ll recognise it when you don’t want to let others or yourself down
12. Be accountable – Meet or exceed the expectations of your boss or customers; do what you say you are going to do, on time to the required quality; stand up and be counted for your actions
13. Personal integrity – Deliver on promises; be consistent in what you say; ring people back; ensure your intent, words and actions are aligned
14. Be open, honest and transparent – In your dealings with people inside and outside the business; show respect by treating colleagues, customers, suppliers and partners as you would like them to treat you
15. Be reliable & trustworthy – Don’t cut corners; keep confidences; don’t let people down
16. Get on the front foot – Stay off Facebook when there is nothing to do; find something that needs doing
17. Smart effort with impact – it’s less about what effort you put in and more about the results you achieve and the attitude you show; that’s what your performance will be judged on
18. Get your hands dirty – Just showing up isn’t enough; get on with solving a problem or making a customer happy; help your colleagues
19. Be accurate and thorough – Be consistent, show concern for quality and attention to detail
20. Offer a solution – We all have an imagination, apply yours to problems facing the business
21. Be curious – Show you want to learn by asking great questions; show “ relentless dissatisfaction with the status quo” (Richard Pascale)
22. Commit to personal and professional development – Join a professional association or group; put yourself forward for projects, roles and opportunities; take a personal risk occasionally
23. Develop greater resilience – Accept tough love; take failure and difficult feedback on the chin and bounce back; no-one likes a sulk; learn from experience; be humble and courageous in the face of setbacks
24. Be flexible – To changing circumstances, information and the needs of the customer; be prepared to ‘give and take’
25. Manage your career – Take control of your destiny; make decisions based on how you want to feel in your life; then align it with what the business also needs and wants
26. Communicate well – Be articulate, coherent and concise; listen to understand not to refute; muddled communication leads to muddled thought; don’t use text-speak; remember your grammar and use the spell-checker; be tech-savvy
27. Develop your personal brand – Be known as professional at both what you do and how you do it; develop a positive reputation; be strategic about your identity and public image; don’t bitch about people, the job or the company behind backs or on Facebook; what do you want to be known for?
28. Network online and in person – Within the company, with customers, with suppliers, with industry players; to help you learn the ropes and settle in, build your own confidence and the confidence of others in you and the company you represent
29. Be a team player – Move from ‘I’ to ‘We’ & ‘The customer’; it’s no longer just ‘you’ to consider; pitch in especially when there’s a crisis; don’t let people down; make your unique contribution
30. Embrace diversity – Consciously manage your relationships with people who have different personalities, preferred work styles, values, age, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation

Source By David Shindler|May 6th, 2013|Students & Graduates, Education