If you don’t have your own business, and you work for a company as an employee, you will certainly have a boss to answer to. Among the many questions that come up when looking for a job, some might be related to it. What will my boss be like? Will I be good enough for him to like me? Yes, it has happened to all of us and this can cause some anxiety.
However, there are a number of habits that we could apply to our day-to-day life at work in order to feel better about ourselves and to be appreciated by our superiors. If you are also looking for a job or don’t know how to gain your boss’s trust, you might find some useful career tips in this article.
Top 8 Career Tips: The Ultimate List
We are used to spending long hours at work. Usually six to eight hours a day, sometimes even more. This is a. good enough reason for us to give the right weight to these hours to make the experience as pleasant as possible. But how? Are there habits we can take into account and make our own, to make our working hours more motivating? Let’s find out together! Below, we list the 8 tips we consider best to boost your career and make your boss appreciate you:
8. Keep learning
Never stop learning: either to grow in the company where you currently work or to gain more personal knowledge. Superiors like it when their employees are ambitious and want to grow within the company. They certainly take this as a positive factor. Besides, if you do exactly the same thing every day, you may become stagnant or your skills may start to fade due to lack of encouragement.
If, for example, you work in a digital marketing company managing social media accounts, perhaps you could study SEO marketing. This way, you could take up content writing for the website in the future. We are sure that you will not lack opportunities for growth, and with your studies, you will be able to get all the necessary qualifications.
7. Ask for and provide constructive feedback
(Source: David Preiti/ Gitnux.com)
Feedback should not be missing in every company. These are suggestions that are intended to have an effect on the people who receive them and to increase their confidence in the work environment. For this reason, the person in charge must be in contact with the employee from day one, so that this fluid interaction arises in all the information that is relevant to the company (1).
Moreover, feedback is very crucial, in that it helps us to improve in our work and to understand the company’s values. Both your boss and your colleagues will give you different opinions. But you will also have to provide them.
Always accept them, show gratitude and discuss in a practical way if you disagree. When giving feedback to a colleague or your boss, always remember to use positive language. Comments should be constructive, so think carefully and find ways not to be presumptuous. In addition, it is essential that employees feel involved and that they can always express their ideas for the good of the company.
6. Don’t make excuses
(Source: David Preiti/ Gitnux.com)
If there is one thing that is frowned upon in a work environment, it is when an employee makes excuses for his or her work. A boss does not like to hear excuses. On the contrary, it is expected that the work is always well done and that it meets the objectives set by the company. However, sometimes it may happen that you cannot finish a job or that the result is not very good. In this case, the best thing to do is to be sincere, without complicating yourself with a series of excuses.
One piece of advice we can give you is to leave personal problems at home. When you enter the office, forget everything that has happened outside. Yes, it is easier said than done, but it is very important to separate personal life from the work. Focus on the essentials and look for the right solutions. You will see that this will be reflected in the work environment and will be rewarded.
5. Remember to disconnect
David Preiti/ Gitnux.com)
A very important fact, especially for our health, is to be able to enjoy moments of rest and disconnection, even during working hours. However, there are cases in which employees are unable to relax, even in their private life, as if they were taking their work home with them. No boss would like to have a stressed and unhappy employee in his or her own company. That’s why, between one task and another, it’s good to take a break from the screen or the phone and get out in the fresh air. You can have a coffee with a colleague, read a magazine or just take a walk to stretch your legs.
And remember that when you have finished your work schedule, you have the right to disconnect. For example, in Spain, at the end of 2018, the Law on the “protection of personal data and guarantee of digital rights” was incorporated. Said law, in its article 88, recognizes digital disconnection as a right that seeks to guarantee, outside working time, respect for rest periods, leaves and vacations, as well as the personal and family privacy of the worker (2).
4. Work well in a team
One of the most important skills in a work environment is teamworking, i.e. the ability to work in a team. Each member has a specific skill and position. They all have to manifest themselves, come into play and relate to each other in a coordinated manner in pursuit of the objective.
They are all important for effective teamwork (3). Even during an interview, there are often questions and activities that test our cooperation skills.
For our boss, knowing that we are able to work also in relation to others is super important, so that goals are met.
Always listen to the opinions of others and never limit yourself to your own ideas. In this way, you can learn from other competent people and improve your own career path. In addition, comparing and updating yourself is vital when working in a team. Each team member should know what the others are doing and where the work stands. If you have any difficulties, you can solve them together. Here are the other advantages and disadvantages of teamwork:
Advantages
- Work gets done faster.
- More ideas and creativity.
- Solutions to problems are found more quickly.
- The relationship between colleagues is stronger.
- Easier to get to know the team.
- Everyone feels involved.
Disadvantages
- It can be difficult to find the solution, due to the number of ideas.
- More time is wasted in making decisions.
- There may be tension if an agreement is not reached.
3. Takes the initiative
(Source: David Preiti/ Gitnux.com)
When a company is looking for a new employee, it expects them to be able to simplify the work of the team. Therefore, they tend to look for people who like to take the initiative. If you are a proactive, independent decision-maker who is able to propose, develop or come up with projects of your own, your boss will certainly appreciate it. During a job interview, you can give examples of past projects you have engineered and participated in.
If you think you don’t have this ability, you can follow a few steps that may help you. Pay attention to co-workers who are more resourceful. Approach these people and try to understand their main characteristics. Try not to be afraid. Whenever you want to do something new and the fear of making a mistake gets the better of you, remember that if you don’t take a risk, you will never know how you will do. Finally, try to come up with some new activities.
2. Pay attention to details
David Preiti/ Gitnux.com)
Sometimes, we are too busy solving big problems that we fail to notice small details that make all the difference. Unfortunately, it is precisely those small details that, if overlooked, could prevent us from making progress in solving the problem. So, if you want to impress your boss, always pay close attention to these aspects. Below is a table with the steps to follow in order to deliver exceptional work:
| What? | How? |
|---|---|
| Focus | Pay attention to what you are doing. Avoid distractions of any kind, even though it is more difficult when working in a team. |
| Check | Always check your homework before handing it in. This way, you will be able to notice what went unnoticed at the beginning. |
| Submit | When you are sure you have analyzed all the details, hand in your work. |
1. Be confident in what you can do
And now the most important thing. Always believe in yourself and what you can do. We are sure that this is the most significant advice of all. If you are an insecure person who always doubts the outcome of your task, it will certainly show at work. Your boss might start to doubt you and regret the choice he/she has made.
Always show a positive attitude, even if it’s not the best day for you. Always watch yourself while you work. Sometimes it is enough to check your tone of voice or the expression on your face, to gain more confidence in yourself. And remember not to come across as arrogant. If your boss compliments you, don’t say you knew you had the skills to do the job. Just say thank you.
Conclusion
To conclude, we can say that feeling good and valued in our workplace should be a top priority. When our boss appreciates the work and the way we do it, it stimulates us to do it better and better. Therefore, we should include certain habits in our daily work so that our professional career can be as successful as it deserves to be. Undoubtedly, for some people it may be more difficult, we are not all the same. However, with a little technique and some tips, anyone could achieve it.
Don’t forget that a company is always looking for employees who meet several requirements. Remember to show initiative and a willingness to learn every day. Build strong relationships with colleagues for flawless teamwork. Take breaks to rest your mind and recharge your batteries properly. And last but not least, always demonstrate self-confidence, both during the interview and on the job itself. You’ll be ready to take your career to the next level.
References
1. Arana, B., Ordoñez, B., Tapia, N., & Pacheco, A. (2020). A study of feedback strategy through job performance measurement in SMEs. 593 Digital Publisher CEIT
2. Azócar, R., 2019. Right to disconnect from work: a need for work-life balance. Public Agenda Issues, 15(119), 1-20. UC Center for Public Policy Source
3. Cardona, P., & Wilkinson, H. (2006, December). TEAMWORK . -.Source
