THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 - GRADUATES CONCLUDED

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 - GRADUATES - CONCLUDED

This week I’ve been looking at graduates and success.

From: https://www.chcp.edu/blog/10-tips-how-succeed-college/

(The link is for succeeding in college, but I have adapted it)

ATTEND

Show up for work, show up for school.  Yes, there will be days you don’t feel like it.  For work, you can call in sick.  DON’T DO IT.  Only call in sick when you REALLY are sick.  And, in many companies, you can work from home.  

To me, a person who is absent six more than three times a year is maybe “sick of work” (or “sick of school”).

*****

BE ALERT / BE ENGAGED

On the job, be active - don’t walk around half asleep.  Get in the game.  Make a point of being early to work, then say “hi” to your manager, fellow employees, and others.  I like the adage “A turtle only makes progress when it sticks out its head.”  Get involved, go the extra mile.   

*****

WORK ON YOUR SOFT SKILLS

Yes, you need the basic skills.  If you are an accountant, you MUST know your Generally Accepted Accounting Principles - but if you can’t communicate effectively, if you swear or use inappropriate language, and don’t fit into the culture you won’t go very fair.

Boy Scouts had the motto “Be Prepared”.  Yes, you can say “I don’t know” a few times.  But a better statement is “I don’t know, but I’ll find out”.  (Aside, a former student asked me last week what the DSU fight song was.  I didn’t remember but I did find out.”)

*****

BE ORGANIZED

Yes, my mind is like a “steel trap” (no, not really).  I do forget things - but I keep an accurate schedule (on my phone and on my wall calendar).  I also have post-it notes to remind me.  

Before you go to work in the morning, review your day’s agenda, meetings, projects, and expectations.  After work, on your way home, review your day's work.  What did you get done, what is left to do. 

Keep notes on meetings, review the minutes of meeting,  Even while dressing or relaxing, you can be thinking about things that need to get done.

*****

MANAGE YOUR TIME

Watch your time at work.  DO NOT PLAY SOLITAIRE OR OTHER GAMES - EVER!  Don’t take an hour and a half for an hour lunch break.  Be early to work, leave late.  If you have free time read some documentation on new techniques, new languages, new hardware, and new software.  Be current.

*****

GET MORE EDUCATION

If you are in a good spot to get more education, it does make sense in the long run.  Yes, you might have to take on-line and night classes - and they might be on nights that your children have band concerts or volleyball games.

Many companies will pay for additional education in your field. (I was talking to a nurse’s assistant the other day who is going for an additional degree in criminal justice and the company is not paying for that education).

*****

GET INVOLVED

Many companies have webinars and on-campus seminars on all kinds of topics - from retirement planning to volunteering in the community.

But, also get involved with the company in other areas.  Does the company have a particular charity they support (like Big Brothers/Big Sisters)?  If so, be involved.

And, you can be involved by playing on the companies softball or volleyball teams.

*****

HAVE A MENTOR

And, definitely have a mentor - somebody that you can talk with - confidentiality. Maybe you are thinking of switching jobs or switching companies - your mentor can help you think about your changes.  (And, you don’t necessarily want your boss to know that you are thinking about changing companies).

*****

ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE

What do you want in life?  Where do you want to go?  Have you made five-year plans?  Are you working towards your goals?  

Believe in yourself.

*****

LOVE WINS

Karen White, September 22, 2022, ©