The shift from college to the “real world” is substantial. From student to employee. From college kid to working adult. What behaviors, skills, and attributes are needed to succeed, or even just survive, in this new atmosphere? Perhaps one of the most valuable traits to have as an entry-level worker is a strong work ethic. If you are unsure about where to get started, college career coaching may be a great tool for you.
In The Harvard Business Review, Tutti Taygerly discusses the importance of work ethic and how to develop a strong one. Taygerly highlights a statistic from a 2022 Job Outlook survey that reports “87% of employers say professionalism is very important, but only 44% of new grads are proficient in it.” As a new grad and potential candidate, you should demonstrate your drive, passion, and motivation to those involved in the hiring process of the position. Before you can develop a good work ethic, you first need to define it.
Work ethic includes not only how you should act at work, but also the moral and ethical principles, standards, values, and attitudes you should hold as well. These factors are not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to different companies; one company may have a different set of principles than the next as it depends heavily on the company’s culture. That being said, there are some qualities of good work ethic and bad work ethic that are shared across the board. Taygerly, a leadership and executive coach, identifies the four exemplary qualities of a strong work ethic: reliability and dependability, productivity, ownership and autonomy, & collaboration and team support.
As an employee, especially a new-hire, you need to demonstrate that you can be counted on. You also need to produce quality results in a timely fashion. You must take initiative, while also having the ability to take direction from others; this leads into the importance of collaboration. Working for a company is similar to playing on a team: you must work well with others while taking on your weight of the responsibilities.
Do not panic if you are not feeling confident in your abilities regarding each of these qualities. The power of learning does not magically disappear once you graduate… you will continue to observe and learn throughout your career, and your life! Taygerly discusses five ways to build a good work ethic:
- Follow the leader. In order to assimilate into your new career, take the time to watch your coworkers, managers, and bosses. The actions of others in the company will help to define the company’s culture (like we discussed earlier), and you can integrate yourself into this culture.
- Become self-disciplined. Manage your time and your tasks. Occasional procrastination is inevitable, but should not be common, especially as a new-hire. Demonstrate to your higher-ups that you can prioritize your tasks and exert the appropriate amount of energy for each of those tasks, to eliminate burnout.
- Each day is a new day. Begin your morning with creating a priority-based To-Do list. Identify the tasks you must complete and in which order it would be best to complete them.
- Boss mentality. To become a boss, you must think like a boss. Be proactive in your work, even if you are unsure how to complete a task; you can demonstrate that you understand elements of the task, but need to ask a follow up question to fully grasp the assignment.
- No I in team. Collaboration within a company is a fundamental aspect. Master the ability to work well independently, but also within a group setting.
This blueprint will help you build your work ethic, and in turn, become a better candidate in the hiring process. Request a free session with Minetum Consulting to help you get a head start and further your skills as a college student.
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