Career Skills Video: Success on the Job
Transcript:
Success on the Job
VO: What makes a person successful? Is it simply a matter of being the best at what you do? Is it having one specific skill or a combination of skills? Is it more a question of attitude and motivation? Or maybe it's a matter of circumstance— being in the right place at the right time.
Success isn't guaranteed. But there are several characteristics that successful people share—skills and personal attributes that allow them to work to the best of their abilities and to take advantage of the opportunities that come their way. These are the same skills and traits you will need to be successful in your career. They are skills that translate across nearly any job. In fact, they are skills and attributes that can serve you well in every aspect of life.
Each year the National Association of Colleges and Employers asks thousands of employers what they look for in their ideal job candidate, and the answers are fairly consistent.
They are always on the lookout for people with excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. For people who are capable of working as part of a team. They want decision makers and problem solvers. And people who know how to be organized and on top of things.
But there are other personal qualities that are equally important to on-the-job success. Key soft skills like being dependable and reliable. Being honest and ethical. Being adaptable and willing to learn. These are qualities that are taught at a young age, but stay useful for a lifetime.
EXPERT: I think, in a lot of cases, while the technical skills are emphasized on a résumé, it's the soft skills—things like dependability, leadership, communication skills—that get people jobs. Those people with the right combination of soft skills—who are innovative and self-motivated, but also able to do the work as part of a team—those people are easy to train. What they might lack in experience, they make up for in their ability to quickly learn and grow.
VO: What does the ideal employee look like, then? Let's take a look at an example and see if we can spot one for ourselves.
BOSS: So you decided to show up, I see.
BAD EMPLOYEE: I'm only a few minutes late.
BOSS: I'm just thankful you're here. Yesterday you didn't show up at all. You didn't even bother to call in.
BAD EMPLOYEE: Sorry about that. Is that why you're waiting for me out here? To tell me I didn't show up yesterday?
BOSS: No, I was going over some things with Bob about the building. Speaking of buildings...have you finished your bid on the Turner project?
BAD EMPLOYEE: Uh no. Turns out there was a mistake in the estimate somewhere. The numbers didn't match up.
BOSS: Well, did you try and find the error? Was it something in accounting? You could try contacting them.
BAD EMPLOYEE: I could. But that's not really my job, is it?
VO: That's one way to handle it.
BOSS: Decided to show up early today, I see.
GOOD EMPLOYEE: Wanted to make sure I got the bid finished today. Can't hurt to get ahead of the schedule. Beat out the competition.
BOSS: I was just coming in to see about that. So you're almost finished?
GOOD EMPLOYEE: I am, actually. I would have been done sooner, but it turned out there was a mistake in the estimate somewhere. The numbers did not match up.
BOSS: Oh? Did you find the error?
GOOD EMPLOYEE: I went back through all the numbers myself using the software on the server and found some discrepancies, but I wanted to double-check, so I contacted Jim in accounting and we went through it together. He confirmed and told me how to fix it.
BOSS: Well good work! Thanks for stepping up!
VO: By trying to solve the problem herself, the second employee showed initiative and independent thinking. But she also exhibited a willingness to work with others and the diligence to check her work. These are the kinds of soft skills that employers look for when deciding whom to hire...and whom to promote.
Here are just a few more skills you can cultivate to be successful in your career. Being self-motivated and setting and working toward personal goals. Being willing to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things or learn new skills. Learning how to prioritize work tasks and making the most of your time. Motivating others to do their best and lead by example. Accepting responsibility for your mistakes.
EXPERT: Despite what a lot of people think, success in today's workforce isn't strictly measured by sales quotas or bottom lines. Most jobs require just as many soft skills as technical ones. The people who succeed aren't necessarily the ones with the most education or experience, but those who exhibit the kind of leadership qualities that other people admire. There is a difference between knowing how to do your job and knowing how to be an indispensable and innovative member of a team. And that's what most employers are looking for.
VO: Establishing—and maintaining—a successful career is an ongoing process, one that you have to work on daily. Think about the skills and personal attributes you already have. Are they the same ones that are valued in today's workplace? Odds are, you already have many of the soft skills employers are looking for. It's simply a question of putting them to good use. Take a moment and consider the following.