Desirable Employee Qualities Section 9.1 Desirable Employee Qualities Back to Table of Contents

The personal qualities that employers look for when choosing employees WHAT YOU’LL LEARN The personal qualities that employers look for when choosing employees continued

Strategies for developing and exhibiting important personal qualities WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Strategies for developing and exhibiting important personal qualities

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Your success in the workplace is largely dependent on your ability to develop and project the personal qualities that most employers seek.

KEY TERMS cooperativeness initiative responsibility self-management

Cooperativeness Cooperativeness is a willingness to work well with everyone on the job to reach a common goal. Cooperativeness is linked to listening skills, responsibility, and self-management.

Cooperativeness How can you be cooperative? Do tasks you don’t like without complaining or trying to avoid them. Do your fair share. Pitch in to help coworkers. Volunteer to help coworkers meet deadlines or reach a goal.

Willingness to Follow Directions Stop whatever you are doing, and listen to directions being given. Listen carefully, even if you think you know the procedure. Take notes, if possible. Identify the goal of the task and the steps leading to that goal. continued

Willingness to Follow Directions If you don’t understand the directions, don’t guess at what is needed. Ask!

Willingness to Learn As a new employee, you will not be expected to know everything. Don’t pretend to know. Ask questions.

Willingness to Learn Be willing to learn any job, no matter how small. If the copier gets jammed, learn how to fix it.

Willingness to Learn Look for opportunities to get more training. Many companies pay for their employees to attend workshops, training programs, or even college.

Initiative Initiative is the willingness to do what is necessary without having to be told to do it. Employers expect employees to do more than they’re told.

Willingness to Take on More Responsibility Companies need to satisfy their customers. The key to satisfying customers is to have empowered employees.

Willingness to Take on More Responsibility Responsibility is the willingness to accept an obligation and to be accountable for an action or situation.

Willingness to Take on More Responsibility Your job becomes more interesting when you take on more responsibility. You also gain more experience and increase your value to the company.

Self-Management Self-management means doing what is necessary to build a better career for yourself.

Self-Management Here are some self-management tips: Set career goals, and develop a plan for reaching them. Monitor your work habits and performance. Ask for feedback on how well you’re doing your job.

Loyalty You, your coworkers, your supervisors, and the owners are all in the same business together. You can show loyalty at work by being positive, looking for solutions, and keeping critical comments to yourself.

Loyalty When there is a crisis, pitch in and help the company get through it. This may involve self-sacrifice and some overtime—maybe even some unpaid overtime.

Desirable Employee Qualities Graphic Organizer 9.1 Desirable Employee Qualities Cooperativeness Initiative Loyalty Self-management Willingness to follow directions Willingness to learn Willingness to take on more responsibility Chapter 9 • Workplace Ethics Succeeding in the World of Work

Key Concept Checkpoint SECTION 9.1 REVIEW Key Concept Checkpoint Comprehension Consider the qualities employers are seeking in employees. How will employees with these qualities enable companies to do less “managing”? continued

Key Concept Checkpoint SECTION 9.1 REVIEW Key Concept Checkpoint Comprehension How is self-management good for you and good for your employer? continued

Key Concept Checkpoint SECTION 9.1 REVIEW Key Concept Checkpoint Critical Thinking What are some qualities that you should look for in an employer?

Desirable Employee Qualities End of Section 9.1 Desirable Employee Qualities Back to Table of Contents