Score Points as a New Employee

It’s hard to fit in as a new employee. However, one can quickly impress his or her manager by emulating the personal qualities the manager considers important in the workplace. For example, employers often cite flexibility as one of the characteristics they value most in new hires. Managers tend to remember who contributes weekend time to an urgent project, as well as who finds excuses not to do so.

Employers also prize individuals who demonstrate initiative to make their supervisors’ lives easier by asking what, if anything, they can do to help. Other traits employers admire include discretion, and many business leaders have underscored the importance of not repeating gossip or violating confidences in the workplace,

as such practices could easily compromise an employee’s relationships with co-workers. Image also plays an important role. For example, it’s important to maintain a professional appearance, both in attire and in the organization of one’s office.

Punctuality and reliability are also commonly appreciated in new hires. Additional highly regarded behaviors for such individuals include note-taking to facilitate the understanding and execution of tasks, asking pertinent questions, requesting regular check-ins about assignments, and seizing opportunities to learn new skills.

New hires would also be well served to remember that everyone makes mistakes. Owning up to one’s errors and actively seeking ways to address them demonstrates honesty and professionalism.