To move up in the career ladder, being ‘professional’ at work is a must. Because your level of professionalism at work is an outward display of your level of respect and attitude towards your employer and your job role. “A lack of professionalism suggests a lack of respect towards an employer, which can impact your ability to land a job,” says Nate Masterson, HR manager at Maple Holistics.
On the other hand, if there is going to be a job cut, your lack of professionalism can cost you your job, because ‘professionalism’ is a trait that managers are looking for in their employees. So, how professional you are or how you conduct yourself at work is a decisive factor when an employee is getting promoted or sacked.
How to Be Professional at Work?
- Dress Well and Be Well Groomed
You should dress professionally and appropriately for work. Each company has its own perception when it comes to formal attire. So, pay attention to how your colleagues dress. Often when you get selected for a certain job role, your employer will mention it if they have a particular dress code.
Anyway, you need to make sure that your dress is ironed. It should not be too tight or baggy. Personal grooming is a must as the way you present yourself is as important as being good at the job you do. Be clean, smell good and keep your hair and beard well-kept.
- Arrive Five Minutes Early Every Day
Being punctual is one of the most important specific traits that you should have to be a ‘professional’. When you arrive a few minutes early, it shows your dedication as well as the interest in your job. On the other hand, these few minutes will give you enough time to settle in and give your day a positive start. Do not forget that even small delays do not go unnoticed although nobody would question you about it until there will be a time for a layoff or a promotion. If your office timing is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., do not rush out either. Stay five minutes more and arrange your desk before you leave.
- Check Your Emails and Voicemails Regularly
You need to respond to your emails promptly. The response time should be within 48 working hours. But make sure you respond to your boss’s and superiors’ emails as soon as possible. You can create separate folders in your email inbox for your boss, superiors and important clients, so you will not miss any emails from them. You must prioritize their emails always. When you are sending emails, double-check them for typos as your emails often represent you and your professionalism at work.
At the office, do not be that employee who never picks up the phone. Going by the book, you need to pick up your phone by the third ringing. Learning telephone and email etiquettes will certainly help you become more professional at work. If you happen to be on leave or out of office, you need to check your voicemails and respond to the queries that you have received at the earliest possible.
- Be an Excellent Communicator, but Stay Out of Office Gossips and Politics
At work even with the colleges that you are close to, you need to avoid talking about your private life and the personal matters of others too. During office hours you need to fully focus on your job duties and completing the assigned tasks on time. Limit your conversation to general tops and choose your lunch break and tea breaks to engage in conversation with your colleagues. When you talk try to be precise and as informative as possible. Skip unnecessary details.
- Be Organized
At work, you need to keep your desk organized and clean. Do not be the litterbug at the office. Arrange your work files and other documents in a way you do not have to spend a lot of time looking for them. To track your appointments, meetings, projects and assignments keep a calendar and a note pad.
So, are you ready to go and secure your dream job or the promotion that you always wanted? Keep up your positive attitude and be the most important and needed addition to your team.