Teenagers will soon be out of school and scouting the streets for summer employment. Securing a job won't be easy with so many businesses failing.
Getting hired is only the beginning; you have to work to keep the job you've been hired to do. An impressive application might get you into the office, but bad work habits can just as easily get you booted out the door.
Working Means Guidelines to Follow
- Always be on time. That means checking the work schedule daily in case any changes have been made. Workers who consistently arrive late to work make it difficult for others who have to take up the slack.
- Dress appropriately. Many companies provide uniforms, but if your employer does not, then heed the most sensible of warnings: Dress to Impress! You're representing the company, and this means no inappropriate attire. Select clothes to suit the job you'll be doing.
- Attend to personal hygiene. No responsible adult should have to be told to shower, brush his teeth, or to use deodorant. The same applies to keeping fingernails trimmed and clean.
Strict attention to appearance tells the boss two things: first, you take pride in yourself, and second, you're bound to take pride in your work.
Competition for Jobs is Great, So Make the Little Things Count
- Keep personal business out of the office and out of the break room. No one needs to know the tearful story of how your boyfriend dumped you over the weekend, or that you called in sick because you wanted to go hunting with your pals. The workplace is not the place for drama between employees, either.
- Never say, "It's not my job." Credit goes to the worker who is willing to take on a challenge and learn as much as possible about the company he works for. The more tasks one masters in the workplace, the more valuable he is to the boss!
- If you have nothing pleasant to say, then keep your mouth closed. If you hate the job or despise your coworkers, then seek employment elsewhere. Before you terminate though, give adequate notice (a week at the very least) and part on good terms. Why? Because a good reputation can make or break your chances on the next job application.
- The employee that rarely calls in sick obviously works more hours. Working more hours yields a fatter paycheck.
- An employee who consistently shows initiative, and who is willing to put in a little overtime now and then to complete a task, is literally banking on the extra effort.
Rules to Know after You Punch the Time Clock
- Keep the cell phone turned off while you're working.
- Horseplay anywhere on the job site is a sign of immaturity.
- Leave the music and headphones, hand-held games, and any other distracting personal items at home where they belong.
- No offensive language permitted at work. This includes off-color jokes, racial remarks, or profanity.
- Sexually suggestive remarks, sexual advances (playful or serious), and even innocent flirting, can lead to immediate termination.
- Many companies require drug testing for good reason. Coming to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a sure-fire way to get fired on the spot.
- Please don't ask to leave work early unless there is an unexpected emergency that can be validated. Otherwise, plan to stay the entire shift. Taking off early so you can watch the big game on TV is not a valid excuse.
Students are hitting the job market at an earlier age, especially during these hard times of economic crisis. Jobs for younger teens under sixteen years, while limited, demand the same kind of performance as those of their older peers.
Whatever the age, common sense works hand in hand with common courtesy. Both pay off well in the long run.
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