No Degree? No Problem. These Traits Make for a Great Career By Hire Dynamics CATEGORY: Blog POSTED: June 21, 2021 You’ve decided not to go to college. You may or may not have become certified in an in-demand trade. If you’re wondering if that means you may never enjoy a great career, we’re here to tell you: College degrees and trade certifications aren’t the only means to great work… ….the right attitude and personal characteristics ARE! Honesty As Shakespeare said: “To be honest, as the world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.” Most of us lie at least a bit to our employers. (“Boss, I’m – cough! – sick today and need to stay home.”) And that isn’t too bad in the grand scheme of things. But if you come to be known to your employer as sincere, trustworthy and reliable, don’t be surprised if you start moving up in the organization and/or receive promotions when you ask for them. Good communication skills A good communicator asks for clarification regarding assignments if they’re not sure about something (instead of just moving forward, figuring you’ll fix it later if it’s wrong). They write clearly and to the point. And, they actively listen and repeat back what a manager instructs to make sure they understand directions. Dependability Related to honesty, being dependable is a precious trait. Here’s why. Let’s say you and a co-worker are great at running a forklift in a distribution warehouse. She’s a bit faster, but you’re more accurate. Who do you think is more valuable to your manager? It’s you! Because accuracy – which is a form of dependability– is far more valuable than speed. Your manager can absolutely depend on the fact that you make fewer mistakes. Aside from your skill sets, having a manager know they can always count on the fact that you will show up on time and do what you say you will when you say you will do it is priceless. Flexibility Do you make it a habit to volunteer to come in a bit early when deadlines are tight? Can you pivot from one assigned task to another on a moment’s notice, if your manager asks you? Can you give up the “but we’ve always done it this way” mindset when asked to change procedures and processes? If so, you’re gold! Eager to learn A successful employee is eager to learn new skills and doesn’t necessarily wait for their employer to train them – they seek to better themselves on their own. This doesn’t mean you need to go to college or earn a technical certificate (although you certainly could). It means you’re humble as well as dedicated. You know there’s usually a better way of doing things and you look forward to learning it. In other words, if your employer offers classes or workshops on different subjects or skills improvement, you’re there! Self-reliance Are you someone who, if you see something that needs to be done (and you know how to do it), gets it done without being asked? If you encounter a problem and you don’t know the answer, do you think about it for a bit, first trying to take what you already know and figure it out from there? In other words, no hand-holding is needed for you! Ambition Employers always look for ambitious people to work for them, regardless of their educational level. Showing that you’re working towards something – more skills, more responsibility, etc. – indicates you’re far from lazy and in no way want to keep on keeping on with the same old, same old. So don’t be afraid to share your dream with your manager. If you want to move up in role and/or salary, let your manager know and ask what you need to do to get it. Showcase your positive attitude and characteristics in a new position Hire Dynamics has almost 50 locations in several states throughout the Southeast. Check out our current opportunities and find a great job! Whether you’re a company looking to fill administrative support positions, or a job seeker looking for administrative assistant jobs, Hire Dynamics can help!
