Professional Documents
Culture Documents
values
and beliefs that are held by these organizations. The following chart outlines the shift from the traditional
beliefs in the industrial era to the emerging beliefs of the information era.
Growth Growth
• Growth is equated with promotions; climbing the • Growth is associated with personal development
corporate ladder equals success and meaningfulness, and typically involves
broadening one's knowledge and skill base
Permanence Transience
• The longer the tenure, the better; personal • Security is now linked to personal competence
security associates with ‘permanent’ and adaptability; one is unlikely to stay in the
employment; one should stay with the same same setting for very long
employer for a long time
If this is your first year as a professional, this is a time of major transition. While having a job gives
you a chance to put into use what you have learned and to earn income, it also brings many
challenges and lifestyle changes. You may find that you have to work harder the first year. Be open to
learning both about your actual work and about the broader company. The following two sections are
designed to help you develop your professionalism and learn from your experience.
• Be patient not only with your co-workers and boss but also with the tasks associated with your job
• Learn to listen to those around you; take the time to comprehend fully and assimilate their requests or
instructions
• Keep a sense of humour but make sure it's appropriate humour; avoid profanity
Competence
• Set rigorous standards for yourself
• Improve your skills, especially in oral and written communication (no matter what your actual work or field)
• Ask questions or research answers if you're not sure so as not to proceed in error
• Admit and learn from mistakes and accept suggestions for improvement
• Ensure your training program is relevant and in sufficient depth to enable you to perform up to expectations in
your position
• Show initiative
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• Work extra hard
Dependability
• Don’t take on more than you can handle; know your limits
• Do whatever you say you will do (e.g., phone calls, memos, etc.)
Time Management
• Do not procrastinate; prioritize your tasks
• Identify your best time for working on challenging tasks (i.e., a.m., p.m.) and plan accordingly
• Always account for the reality that there will be distractions – plan for them!
Compatibility
• Participate in social activities so that others can get to know you better but keep your actions and reputation in
mind
• Avoid internal office politics while realizing they are very much a reality
• Wear appropriate clothing; observe the attire of others who are where you want to be in your career
Remember to ask for help when you need it. And most importantly, have realistic expectations about the job before
you start.
When you have completed a particular assignment or project, review it. Consider the following questions:
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Data: • When you think about your experiences, are there any particular events, days or activities that
you recall as significant?
• Are there any metaphors or images that stand out in your mind?
Feelings: • When you reflect about these events, days or activities, when were you excited or frustrated?
Thoughts: • What are the most important ideas / things you learned from this information?
• How does what you have learned compare to your initial insights gained from the self-
assessment process in Step 1?
• Where else have you experienced something like this in your life?
• What does this tell you about who you are now and where you need to go in the future?
With a complete analysis of your experiential learning, you will have data and examples for your next resume, portfolio
and job interview.
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like to offer you a more permanent type of work or more challenging work in the future. Ultimately, only you can
analyze the fit. Weigh your feelings carefully and listen to your intuition.
• Duties and responsibilities • What are the core values of the organization?
People working only for money tend to become unhappy once the newness of the position is gone. Being able to learn and get
experience, liking your work and the people, and supporting the philosophy and goals of the organization are also critical factors.
Nonetheless, salary is an important consideration. Base your expectations on your research of the typical salary for that type of
position in that job market. Negotiate to get the best salary and benefits offer you can. Respond to the offer by the date requested.
If you need additional time to consider the offer, ask, but be reasonable in your request. Once you have accepted the job offer, you
are legally obligated to go to that organization. Confirm your agreement in writing.
• Thank-you letters
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Effective letter writing is an essential aspect of your job search. Do you want to convince a potential employer
not to hire you? Send a resume with no cover letter. Send a form letter addressed to “The Hiring Manager”. Or
address your letter to “Dear Sir”, and have it opened by a female manager! Good writing takes time. Compose letters
that reflect your own personality. Do not copy someone else's letters. Send handwritten correspondence only when
requested by the employer.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.
~ Aristotle
Decide on the focus of your letter, tailor your information to the reader, and ensure that all the points keep on topic.
Base your correspondence to employers around what you can do for them, not on what you want them to do for you.
One page is the maximum for letters. Let your enthusiasm be apparent. You do not want to lose the reader's interest
before the person finishes the page. Avoid the words "as you can see", because the reader may not be able to "see"
the point the way you do.
Check your first draft for the number of times you have written "I". Overuse of "I", monotony of sentence structure, and
rambling, boring text defeat your goal of writing an effective letter. Try to limit your paragraphs to no more than four or
five sentences and your sentences to a maximum of two lines. The first sentence in a paragraph introduces the topic
to be covered in that paragraph. Send an original, not copies that look mass-produced. Keep a copy of your
correspondence. Follow-up at the appropriate time because the person to whom you have written may not contact
you.