Your 20s are often a crash course in professionalism for those of you whose only experience of work is weekend jobs and summer jobs. Jobs that were there to facilitate your summer parties, pay for Christmas presents and kill time in between educational institutions. All of a sudden you’re out and need a job and the specifics of professional conduct can sometimes fly under the radar. Getting into good habits can ensure you keep any job you find yourself in.
Follow the 2 Minute Rule
If a task can be done within two minutes it’s a good idea to give that task priority. Often the largest tasks are tempting to get out of the way straight away but it’s the smaller ones you’ll notice that build up. Time and energy required for completion is how most people assess which tasks are the most urgent and yet what seems minor to you might be of paramount importance to your boss. If its easy why not get it out of the way?
Learn how to Network
You should realise that every opportunity is a chance to network. Often networking is billed as being groups of suited people in a room with drinks, nibbles and the odd PowerPoint slide but most networking can be done at moments where you might not consider it. Building positive professional relationships will benefit you and making a good impression will help people remember you and think of you when they need someone of with your professional virtues.
Email Etiquette
Texting friends and emailing colleagues are in two different leagues to one another. Study the email conduct of other employees and follow it to a tee. It doesn’t mean you can’t humanise your emails, you don’t want to sound like a bot after all. A good basis is starting with ‘Dear’ and ending with ‘Kind Regards’ or ‘Best’ then just the salient information will do.
Clean up Social Media
In the 21st century assume that everyone has access to everything because in most cases they do. Your social media can make or break your career and the correct online presence has gotten people hired but if done incorrectly can get you fired. Try to filter out any images you wouldn’t want your boss to see under ordinary circumstances because these are ordinary circumstances. Assume that if you can find it they will.
Dress Smartly
All places of work have codes of dress and even if that code is reasonably relaxed it’s always good to look well turned out and smart. Its all about making sure those around you, in a professional setting, trust you. Trust is the basis of any professional relationship and immaculate clothing will put your colleagues and clients if you have any, at ease.
