8 Steps Towards Professionalism

8 Steps Towards Professionalism

by  on September 6, 2014 
Fashion styleIn need of a job? Want to avoid living on Mom’s couch forever? Professional demeanor can be the difference between being hired or fired. Here are 8 simple tips that you can use to make certain you are prepared to behave like the professional that you are or have the potential to be.
1. Dress “appropriately”
Media Source:http://media1.giphy.com/media/uFcNbEr46h9Is/200_s.gif
Media Source:http://media1.giphy.com/media/uFcNbEr46h9Is/200_s.gif
What is appropriate? Well, this may vary by position. Yet, as a general rule of thumb, if the attire is appropriate for a night club or party, it most likely is NOT appropriate for the workplace.

2.Speak with substance
Media source: https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTwbhpSWYRQQkm6K_PESA6l6yo1mRmvulanArcevwe5dGBwXgIT
Media source: https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTwbhpSWYRQQkm6K_PESA6l6yo1mRmvulanArcevwe5dGBwXgIT
Make meaningful conversation, and answer questions directly, rather than talking in circles. Do not over-disclose, revealing information about your personal life or personality that may not be desired in the workplace.  You should strive to be friendly and confident. Show them that you have important things to say, yet also make an effort to avoid idle talk.

3. Strive for productivity
Media Source: http://tccseagleflyer.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/productivity.gif
Media Source: http://tccseagleflyer.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/productivity.gif
Have a daily agenda and execute it. Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram can wait until your shift is over. Limit time on email if possible, and avoid gossiping with co-workers. The types of things you need to do (or not do) to stay productive will depend on your job and other priorities. Perhaps you and your colleagues could share ideas about how to make the most of your time at work, or maybe you could ask your friends who appear successful at balancing just how they do it.

4. Be Polite
Media source: http://media.tumblr.com/5a13e665f8d0e10fae6319f9dfe9b6cb/tumblr_mzrtqjx8551rqbv0uo2_500.gif
Media source: http://media.tumblr.com/5a13e665f8d0e10fae6319f9dfe9b6cb/tumblr_mzrtqjx8551rqbv0uo2_500.gif
It’s important to be yourself, yet sometimes we all have to bite our tongues and attempt to hide feelings about rude colleagues or supervisors. This is all part of being polite and avoiding unnecessary conflict with others. Being polite can entail smiling, remaining empathetic and open, respecting differences, finding others’ strengths instead of focusing on their weaknesses, and striving to really listen when someone is talking to you.

5. Be on time
Media Source: http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view5/3512793/late-for-work-o.gif
Media Source: http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view5/3512793/late-for-work-o.gif
Being on time is a great way to show respect, credibility, accountability, and commitment to your job. Being late could mean that you will soon be walking into random shops at the strip mall looking for jobs.

6. Be confident
Media source: http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/confidence.gif
Media source: http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/confidence.gif
Confidence says, “I got this. I know what I am doing”. Displaying confidence is often a sign of a great leader. What company wants to hire or continue to pay an employee that doesn’t believe themselves that they can do the job?

7. Display phone, email, and dining etiquette.
Media source: http://media2.giphy.com/media/IWsCNgz8IMwDe/200.gif
Media source: http://media2.giphy.com/media/IWsCNgz8IMwDe/200.gif
There is nothing more distracting than listening to a co-worker burp or chomp their food while on a phone conference, or talk with their mouth full while at a business dinner. A meeting over dinner or an interview that involves dining is not actually about food, so eat before you go or when you are done if you’re hungry.
Many professors and employers complain about college graduates’ email etiquette, so remember to use proper salutations, proof-read, and be formal and concise when communicating electronically. Establishing and maintaining relationships is an important part of many jobs, and, aggressive, informal, or tactless interactions is not a form of professional relationship maintenance or impression management.
8. Value hygiene
Media Source: http://wayvs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ewww.gif
Media Source: http://wayvs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ewww.gif
Wake up, brush your teeth, wash your face…you know the drill. It may be hard to have meaningful, productive interactions with co-workers if you’re allergic to soap and water. Proper hygiene is critical and a courtesy to others.

*Some of the research for this article was done by UIUC undergraduate student, Eric Finney. A huge thanks to Eric for all of his hard work…and sense of humor.

References:
Bartle, E. (2014). What is professionalism? Three different perspectives. Clinical Teacher, 11, 233-234. doi:10.1111/tct.12258
Brannen, M. (2012). Keeping your cool with co-workers. Quill, 100, 31.
*Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Power of a Handshake

Image
The Power of a Handshake by   Lisa Brooks   on   August 13, 2013   What does your handshake say about you? Does it convey that you are confident and self-assured? Or, does it suggest that you are insecure, an emotional bully, or overconfident? Research shows that not only will you be judged by your handshake, you will be forming an impression about the other person when shaking hands. During my etiquette training at the Protocol School of Washington, I was taught to see the right hand as a sensor for discovering the type of person with whom I was dealing. Once you understand the subtle messages of a handshake and learn how to deliver the correct handshake, you will have a significant advantage in mastering your professional image. This article provides guidelines for delivering the correct handshake, as well as it will help you interpret (and avoid) some of the most common types of undesirable handshakes, such as the “dead fish,” the “fingertip holder,” the”glo...
Read more

The Art of Self-Disclosure

Image
The Art of Self-Disclosure by   Jill Bowers   on   June 30, 2013   How much information will  you  disclose in an interview or professional setting? It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” This does not mean you should have to feel insecure that everything you say might be stupid or offend someone. What it does mean, however, is that you should think before you speak. In doing this, you can avoid disclosing  too much  information about yourself. In fact,  what  or  how much  you disclose can influence how others’ perceive you and how much they trust you as a potential employee or colleague. For example, “too much disclosure” may cause an interviewer to think you have “issues” or cause them to question your ability to keep information about their company or clients confidential. Not enough disclosure, on the other hand, can make you appear “c...
Read more

Omnipresence of Sugar

Image
                                                                    Omnipresence of Sugar By Shaun Hurdelbrink and Natasha Cole, MPH, RD on April 28, 2015 Are you aware of sugar’s omnipresence in your life or how much you truly consume? Added sugar is found in many foods: breakfast cereals, fruit juices, granola bars, ketchup, BBQ sauce, soymilk, energy drinks, protein bars, etc. You get the idea. Unsurprisingly, Americans consume “an average of more than 500 calories per day from added sugar alone.” 1  Not only do added sugars themselves contribute several hundred calories daily, but sugar’s low nutritional value makes people “continue to feel hungry” after consuming them. 2  Sugar not only contributes to obesity around the world, but it is also linked to other health problems such as: hypertension...
Read more