Before making any personnel decisions about promotion, demotion, dismissal, retention or renewal of contract, an employer will consider many factors. Obviously employees with good performance can keep their jobs. On the other hand, those with poor performance may have high risk of being dismissed. Check the following points to see whether you are an ideal employee.
Wanted
Personal Characters and Abilities:
Diligent and responsible
If you are a hardworking and responsible staff, your boss will delegate important tasks to you. If you are indolent and passive, you will only be given some boring tasks or even be dismissed.
Positive
Not only at the beginning, you should always maintain your active and positive attitude. Seize every opportunity to learn more and improve yourself.
Patient
New recruits are always eager to “show off” their abilities and attract others’ attention. It is always advisable to review your work twice to achieve better results before submitting to your supervisor.
When you are asked to do some complex and time-consuming tasks, you should maintain your patience and avoid becoming rash. Finish the job step by step.
Confident
Confidence is fostered by successful experiences the prerequisite of which is to grasp every opportunity to learn and upgrade yourself.
Can work under pressure
When you are given numerous assignments and are required to finish them within a short time, don’t panic. You should stay calm and work out the sequence of actions according to the priorities. Then finish the tasks step by step.
Always remember that although new duties may bring along new mistakes, a golden opportunity to learn new skills also comes before you. You should take the opportunity to prove your competence. Perhaps your boss will appraise you highly after you have completed the tasks to his satisfaction.
Flexible and highly adaptable
In a dynamic and ever-changing society like Hong Kong, you may find yourself in new circumstances and amid new problems everyday. Each problem is unique in one way or the other and there is no universal answer to all questions. You should always respond flexibly according to the different circumstances.
Good analysis and judgment
Sound judgments are often the sum of personal experiences, good observation skills and relevant training. During your early work life, you may not be able to make the right decisions in most occasions. You can observe how other people are handling things and solving problems. Ask them for advice if appropriate.
You may also find out other people’s viewpoints and how they think and make analysis by reading the editorial or commentary columns in newspaper or other publications.
Energetic and creative
Companies expect new recruits to bring in fresh ideas. You may raise constructive suggestions when the situation warrants it.
Personal Skills
Good communications skills
When dealing with people having different background and roles, you should speak their ‘language’. For instance, when you are promoting a new product to customers, you should avoid jargons. On the other hand, when you are talking with your colleagues or business partners, you may use jargons or technical terms occasionally to facilitate communication.
Good inter-personal skills
Every person has his own strengths and weaknesses. On a complementary basis, team members can work together to achieve the best results. Good inter-personal relationship can facilitate your co-operation with members of different teams and enhance work efficiency.
Basic computer skills
Word processing, preparing statistical charts and reports and Internet surfing have become routine tasks to many employees in Hong Kong. Most employers will very much appreciate employees with high proficiency in computer skills.
Broad knowledge and professional skills
Apart from your own professional knowledge and skills, learn more about other fields such as information technology, economics, public policy and law to broaden your horizon.
You may have more opportunities for advancement if you are acquainted with different aspects of work within the company at an early stage.