April 25, 2016
Alexander Nedd
[email protected]
Not many college kids can say that they’ve worked their dream job before graduation.
But even at my job, the one problem I’ve found with work isn’t the task at hand; it’s the people.
I hate how unprofessional people act. My job experience has ruled for a wakeup call to students transitioning into their careers. There is a right and wrong way to be professional and more often than not, people fall to the latter.
With any job, common knowledge should include showing up on time, don’t touch what isn’t yours and above all, treating everyone with the same amount of respect you want to be treated with.
But as more millennials make their way into their career, the more I see these basic principles violated on a daily basis.
Common infractions include cursing, gossiping and taking what’s not yours.
This isn’t high school. Hell, it isn’t even college. This is the brutal workforce.
It’s never OK to talk about a coworker behind their back or insult people working with or for you. As a leader it is your duty to convey your company’s message without belittling others.
I work in the news business. Like others in their respective fields, it’s a job that can eat up your best qualities. It’s not for the faint of heart and the most successful candidate has to have thick skin.
But there is a line, one which I hope to never cross in my professional career, when getting the job done blurs with acting like a complete you-know-what.
You can be firm without coarse language. Cursing is never professional. And if a co-worker shares anything with you, be sure to leave it in a respectable manner.
Emotions can run high in any business. It’s the urgency to get something on air, the frustration of no working equipment or a source that won’t go on camera.
No one’s job is ever a piece of cake, but what makes it tolerable is the people you work with, and if you don’t like your job, that’s a personal matter that should not be taken out on others.
There is always a time and place for a conversation. Unless you want it to be your last day on the job, there is never a reason to yell and scream while on the clock performing whatever task your job calls for.
There is a professional way to make changes within your job; if a situation gets out of hand then I encourage you to get in contact with your HR supervisor.
There are times for fun and games, but work is not one of them. While a fun atmosphere might prove beneficial for employers and employees alike, the ultimate goal still remains.
We all have a job to do. It’s time we act like it and make it a priority. You might think your bad habits are OK now, but there is a boss who won’t put up with it in the future.