20 good work habits to develop

Congratulations! Youve got a job. The new environment may be a little overwhelming at the beginning, but it
is important to start right so you can establish a satisfying career with the company.
Here are the basic skills all newcomers nee to have on any job, an !ualities which the company will be
looking for uring your performance evaluation"
1) Punctual. #e punctual for work. $ven better, be early. %tart the ay feeling rela&e an settle.
2) Initiative. Take the initiative to get things one, even if that means you have to fill up the kettle an boil
the water ' just o it.
3) Neat, tidy and clean. (ake sure your esk or workstation is neat, clean an pleasant. Clear perishable
rubbish immeiately an wash your mug at the en of the workay. The same attitue applies to the general
office area an restrooms ' use them consierately for others to enjoy as well.
) !rganised. The best inicator is to see if your tray, esk, rawers an cabinets are cluttere an messy
or well)labelle an orerly.
") #yste$atic. * goo system smoothens work processes. +enerally, establishe companies have a
stanar operating proceure ,%-./ manual as a guieline. 0f all you have are verbal instructions, evelop
your own checklist of how a task shoul be one.
%) &''icient. %ome people are naturally efficient. You can evelop this skill by thinking things through. #y
oing so, you will know how processes can be one in a faster, smarter an more convenient way.
() Proble$ solving. 1nerstan what you are oing an improvise on e&isting work processes. +ive
feeback, ieas an suggestions to colleagues an clients to help them come up with solutions.
)) *ollow+up. This oes not mean chasing people after a ays notice. +ive them a gentle reminer after a
space of three ays. (ost people unerstan urgency an will help you e&peite matters if you unerline the
importance of the ealine.
*lways e&ercise iligence in matters of finance an when forwaring ocuments to a thir party. Have a
tracking system on your calenar.
,) *ast. 2earn to work fast on routine jobs. #ut this oes not mean rushing to get things one.
10) -ccuracy. 2earn to pay attention to etails especially if you are ealing with numbers an ates.
11) *ewer $istakes. $veryboy makes mistakes, but you shoul aim to make fewer mistakes on routine
jobs. *lways be minful that some mistakes come with a cost.
12) Paperwork. #e goo in your paperwork. Clear paperwork as soon as possible an keep all your files
upate so that you have important etails at your fingertips.
13) Interpersonal. #e frienly, pleasant an have a positive attitue towars your colleagues an your boss.
3ont show your temper, keep a long face or be sarcastic as it is totally unacceptable.
(aintain a pleasant an upbeat telephone)voice when you make or take calls as this reflects the image of
the company.
1) .ea$work. #e a team player. #e willing to share ieas, work e&perience, information, templates an so
on, so other colleagues wont have to re)invent the wheel. This is how you buil trust with each other.
1") !''ice eti/uette. 3ont spen too much time on personal calls, e)mails, te&t messages or tea breaks.
4espect others personal space an esk. *voi using office paper an stationery for personal reasons.
1%) 0riting. 5ork on your letter writing an report writing skills. The only way to o this is to write more.
1() 1eading. $!ually important is the ability to rea, comprehen an grasp the essentials ' concepts,
facts, figures an instructions.
67/ .riority. 8now what is important an what can be shelve. %tay focuse, keep to your ealines, plan
your work for the ay an the week an allow some fle&ibility for last)minute projects.
1,) *iling. This is important as you may nee to retrieve ocuments or answer !uestions by your superiors
immeiately, an they cannot be kept waiting. This applies to both physical files in the cabinet as well as
files on your computer.
20) 1esponsibility. 8now your level of responsibility with the company an take ownership for your job
scope an inventory.
The sooner you ac!uire or boost these skills, the faster you will shine in your new job an impress the
people you work with. ) %ource" %ingapore %traits Times9*sia :ews :etwork
Article by Bernadette Jesu, who works as a consultant with a management consultancy services firm.