Q: Dear Connie: My boss keeps talking about new employees not having a strong work ethic. What is he talking about? I have not seen anyone steeling from the company.

A: Dear Searching for Ethics: In the 1950’s, my parents and their generation were known for having a very strong work ethic. The old-fashion definition of work ethic is a dependable, honest, and hard worker.

Many employers have expressed concern that they are having trouble finding strong work ethics in their younger workers. As a young worker, you will want to impress your boss with a strong work ethic by performing well on the job. In today’s job market, managers are often expected to do more with less staff. If you are the employee who is seen as dependable, your chances of success are greatly increased.

Until the past few years, ethics seemed to have little connection with success. Young people could site examples of CEO’s, CFO’s, and politicians who were not held accountable for making unethical decisions and yet were extremely successful. We have witnessed a shift in the value of work ethics. Politicians are being removed from their positions; companies are vanishing because of unethical financial decisions that were made by the company’s management.

In Stand Out, Andrew J. DuBrin gives some tactics that are characteristic of people with strong work ethics.  You can start improving your work status by practicing these suggestions.

·    Demonstrate competence even on minor tasks
 

·    Assume personal responsibility for problems
 

·    Assume responsibility for free-floating (non-assigned) problems
 

·    Get your projects completed promptly
 

·    Accept undesirable assignments willingly
 

·    Follow through on tasks
 

·    Submit timely information
 

·    Be willing to work beyond the standard 40 hours per week
 

·    Look busy

If you take each job you have seriously by being on-time, dependable, honest and a competent hard worker, you will be giving yourself an advantage that leads to success.

Connie’s Career Corner is your source for career information. E-mail questions for future columns to ccc@NCACWorkforce.org or Connie’s Career Corner, Tennessee Career Center, 155 Legends Drive Suite M, Lebanon, TN 37087. Visit us at our new location.

Tennessee Career Center is a publicly funded agency that provides career resources to job seekers and employers in Wilson County. To find out about the free services available, job seekers should attend Resume Writing held each Tuesday at 10 am or call 444-9355 ext. 221.