Tag Archives: Productivity Tips

Giving Employers What They Want

What do employers want from their employees? While the answers will vary from company to company, field to field, and manager to manager, there are some common skills and qualities that employers look for in their new employees.

Great team members all have certain characteristics, and they are the characteristics that managers want to see in every new employee. If you are hoping to make a good impression on your new employer, keep in mind that these are likely the traits they are looking for in you:

  • Dependability – Show up on time, dress in a professional manner, turn in the same quality of work each day, commit to the team, and give your manager a sense that when she passes a project on to you, she knows it’s in good hands.
  • Self Motivation – Managers dislike micromanaging their employees almost as much as employees dislike being micromanaged. They want their teams to hit the ground running each day, they want employees to seek out new projects and overcome obstacles on their own.
  • Brand Ambassadors – Employers want strong representatives of their brand – whether they are on the clock or off the clock.
  • Flexibility – Change is inevitable. Employers want team members who can roll with the punches, adapting their approach quickly in the face of change.
  • Teachability – Are you open to learning new skills? How quickly do you pick up on them? Employers want their team members to be open to learning.
  • Empathy – Not every person on a team is going to get along with every other person all of the time. Conflict is a fact of life. But employers want to see a high level of empathy from their employees. Can you put yourself in others’ shoes and overcome conflict to get the job done?
  • Proactivity – When something needs to be done, don’t wait to be instructed to do it. Roll up your sleeves and get things done without having to be asked or told.
  • The Ability to Act on Feedback – When a manager tells you that you’ve done something well, do you repeat that behavior? When you’ve been given a plan for improvement, how quickly do you act on it? The ability to receive and act on feedback shows a high level of engagement in your work.

Employers want employees who have the necessary qualifications to get a job done. But that’s not the full story. When you take the time to understand the “human” qualities that employers want to see, you will be better equipped to deliver results for your manager and your company.

If you are professional in engineering, IT, sales, marketing or operations, the professional recruiters at The Prevalent Group can help you become a candidate that hiring managers want for their team.  We work with some of the most innovative and forward-thinking companies in the country, and we can help you take the next step in your career. Contact us today to learn more.

How To Deliver Results At Work

Ever since The Great Recession, U.S. companies have adopted a lean approach to business. Everyone has been doing more with less for quite some time, and employees continue to feel the pinch. Delivering solid results when faced with a crippling workload is never easy, but it can be done.  Follow this guide to ensure that your boss views you as someone who can deliver “the goods” time and time again.

First, Eat Your Peas

We often put our least-favorite tasks at the bottom of our to-do lists. Try flipping things around and “eating your peas” first. Each day, choose the task you dread the most and get it done right away, saving the remainder of your day for tasks you find more interesting and enjoyable.

When you make your least-favorite tasks a priority, your overall productivity will improve. When you save them until the end of the day, you’re more likely to drag your feet on other projects, thereby “putting off” your most unpleasant work and falling into the procrastination trap.

Say Yes to Less

Every time you accept a new project or task, you are adding more to your plate. If you’re starting to get backed up, it’s time to speak up. Drop by your boss’s office with your task list and show her your current workload. Ask for permission to delegate some tasks. It might make sense to have a more analytical co-worker complete certain spreadsheets, or a more eloquent team member draft deliverable documents, for example. If the goal is quality results, some shifting might make sense for the entire team.

Remember, there is more honor in raising your hand when you feel you’re drowning than there is in delivering poor results because you’re overworked.

Review Results Regularly

Block out time each Friday afternoon to review your week. What did you get done? What went well? Where did you stumble? Are you taking too much time to complete tasks that aren’t a priority? Take stock of what happened, where you spent your time, and which of your goals you achieved. Use that insight to plan your Monday accordingly. It can be beneficial to share your self-reviews with your boss, as well. It doesn’t have to be formal, you can simply send him an email outlining your thoughts and asking for feedback.

When your boss sees how you are spending your time, he might have some insight into future workflow. If he’s been assigning you tasks that waste your time or talent, he can make that assessment when he sees it in black and white.

If you are someone who delivers results time and time again – but you are on the hunt for new opportunities and challenges – contact The Prevalent Group today. Our team of executive recruiters work with professionals in sales, marketing, engineering, IT and operations, and they can connect you with a position that aligns with your long-term career goals.