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The Job Search Pro Advice Column

Get valuable pointers and job search tips from our team of professional career consultants. A different topic is covered every week. If you have a unique situation or problem - or just a comment - that you would like addressed, e-mail us.

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This week's columnist !

Diana Bettinger

Career Specialist

Central Texas Workforce Center - Temple

254-771-2555 xt. 428

Send Diana a question.

This Week's Topic (February 7-13, 1999)

Characteristics of a "Good" Employee

Does anyone plan to start a job or career unmotivated, disorganized, and under prepared? Of course not! Most employers agree that good employees should display: dependability, punctuality, initiative, a positive attitude, ability to get along with others, flexibility, motivation, and the ability to perform assigned duties. Most individuals would look at this list of expectations and find it reasonable. The problem is that the qualities and behaviors listed above are automatically assumed by employers; they are minimum expectations. Most employers do not provide training programs to cover these characteristics because they expect employees to know how to project a good attitude or show up on time each day. Many people do not know if they have these qualities.....so how can you tell if YOU would make a good employee?

Am I a dependable, loyal employee?
Do I show up on time for work each day?
If I am sick or unable to come, do I notify the employer as soon as I know there is a problem?
Do I speak positively to others about my work and co-workers?

Am I a flexible employee?
Do I go into work with an attitude that I will try my best at whatever assignment I am given that day?
Am I willing to take on new assignments or responsibilities?

Am I an employee who takes initiative?
Do I look around to see what needs to be done at my job, or do I wait each day for duties to be assigned to me?
Do I continually ask questions to try to learn more, or do I stick to what I already know and have been told?
Do I suggest changes or new ways of doing things when appropriate?

Am I a positive employee?
Do I exhibit a positive attitude in all that I do?
Do I go out of my way to help others, including co-workers, supervisors, customers, and others I interact with?
Do others seem to enjoy working with me?

Am I a motivated employee?
Am I eager to go to work?
Do I try to learn new things about my job?
Do I try to accomplish the work assigned to me to the best of my ability?
If I were my employer, would I want to hire someone like me?
If I were my co-workers, would I want to work with someone like me?

The most serious mistake a person could probably make is to think, "Well, maybe I'm not the best student or the best employee now, but those aren't REAL jobs. When I enter a career of my choice everything will change." Positive work behaviors do not magically "appear" at the time when a person starts a "real job". Like most good things, a positive work ethic develops over time and with effort.
A popular theory states that it takes 30 days to break a bad habit, so how long does it take to establish a good habit? Good habits don't develop over night, it might be wise to start now.

**This Week's Topic (February 7-13, 1999)**


Characteristics of a "Good" Employee
Does anyone plan to start a job or career unmotivated, disorganized, and under prepared? Of course not! Most employers agree that good employees should display: dependability, punctuality, initiative, a positive attitude, ability to get along with others, flexibility, motivation, and the ability to perform assigned duties. Most individuals would look at this list of expectations and find it reasonable. The problem is that the qualities and behaviors listed above are automatically assumed by employers; they are minimum expectations. Most employers do not provide training programs to cover these characteristics because they expect employees to know how to project a good attitude or show up on time each day. Many people do not know if they have these qualities.....so how can you tell if YOU would make a good employee? Am I a dependable, loyal employee? Do I show up on time for work each day? If I am sick or unable to come, do I notify the employer as soon as I know there is a problem? Do I speak positively to others about my work and co-workers? Am I a flexible employee? Do I go into work with an attitude that I will try my best at whatever assignment I am given that day? Am I willing to take on new assignments or responsibilities? Am I an employee who takes initiative? Do I look around to see what needs to be done at my job, or do I wait each day for duties to be assigned to me? Do I continually ask questions to try to learn more, or do I stick to what I already know and have been told? Do I suggest changes or new ways of doing things when appropriate? Am I a positive employee? Do I exhibit a positive attitude in all that I do? Do I go out of my way to help others, including co-workers, supervisors, customers, and others I interact with? Do others seem to enjoy working with me? Am I a motivated employee? Am I eager to go to work? Do I try to learn new things about my job? Do I try to accomplish the work assigned to me to the best of my ability? If I were my employer, would I want to hire someone like me? If I were my co-workers, would I want to work with someone like me? The most serious mistake a person could probably make is to think, "Well, maybe I'm not the best student or the best employee now, but those aren't REAL jobs. When I enter a career of my choice everything will change." Positive work behaviors do not magically "appear" at the time when a person starts a "real job". Like most good things, a positive work ethic develops over time and with effort. A popular theory states that it takes 30 days to break a bad habit, so how long does it take to establish a good habit? Good habits don't develop over night, it might be wise to start now.

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Page last updated on February 3, 1999 at 1:11 pm by Gerry Fluharty.