For the second internship discussion topic this summer, I thought it would be both interesting and helpful to talk about these basic workplace professional skills, especially those which are expected in your specific workplace.
Some skills are pretty much expected “across the board,” such as professional courtesy, being on time, using standard grammar, etc. However, there are other professional skills which are industry-specific, some of which you may not have anticipated at your workplace.
For the benefit of your own personal reflection on the topic - and the shared benefit of raising awareness among your fellow interns - please share with us some of the skills you have observed among your coworkers…those which surprised you…those which you “thought” you already knew…or those which you anticipated.
A few terms to get you started - clothes (including shoes) - cell phone use - slang - protocol (such as the steps required to make a purchase or decision) - initiative - positive/vs./negative speech - office organization - food at work - Here is an excerpt from a recent journal which touches with just one minor topic of workplace etiquette…I am sure all of you can come up with many more!
“One of the hardest things I had to deal with was the transition of people’s names. I still struggle with it in writing my journals. I wasn’t ever sure of the appropriate protocol to use in addressing people. Should I just call them by their first name or Mr. “Jones”, or Mr. “Dan.” I interchanged each one of these, but I rested on Mr. “Dan.” I feel like this is a challenge that lots of young people entering a work environment face. Especially in the south when we are taught from a very young age the subtle art of manners and politeness. Understandably this isn’t a huge workplace issue, but it could be a source of stress to some. And when you add that to a separate stressful environment it could get touchy. I think a class or a seminar on workplace etiquette before the internship begins would be really beneficial.”
(Feel free to use pseudonyms if you are giving personal examples, and as always, if you have challenges which are not appropriate for a public conversation.)
If you have photos of yourself at your internship, these would be a great addition to our blog! Just email me a copy at careerservices@presby.edu, and I'll add them.
Derrick Overholt Said...
ReplyDeleteThese specific details that often come up in new situations, have been very simple to transition to by simly looking around and watching how other co workers respond to certain situations. When my employer took me around ans introduced me to the staff, he used first names for everyone so that is how I have adressed people while I am in the office. My experiance has been very seamless and enjoyable thanks to the people that work here in the office.
Elise Forsberg:
ReplyDeleteBeing in a hospital setting, both of the professions that I worked with, audiology and speech pathology both introduced me to the nurses by their first names and doctors by Dr. (Name) and as for patients, you always call them by Mr. or Mrs out of respect. At my workplace, you were expected to arrive at least 30 minutes before your shift. It is very organized in the hospital and with so much going on at one time, things do get disorganized so at the end of the day, I had to make sure patient files were in the correct settings, and all. As for lunch, they have a huge kitchen on each floor and you eat when it is your lunch hour. It was always fun because I had lunch hour with a bunch of great ladies who were wonderful to talk too. Cell phones are not allowed, most of the staff use pagers instead which both the speech pathologist and audiologist also use and said the hospital provides them but you have to use them at all times, very critical in emergency situations. Clothing is very important, they wear scrubs all the time and an ID badge to verify they work at MUSC and are allowed in certain areas. As for me being an intern, I had to get an ID student badge as well and wear closed shoes all the time and nice work clothes. All in all, it is a very high respected profession.
Rebecca Fudger said...
ReplyDeleteEverything here is pretty laid back. I am required to wear nice clothes, but this just means pretty much anything other than jeans and casual shorts. The most awkward thing I've had to deal with is knowing when my lunch hour is. The first couple of days we all ate lunch together in the viewing room. After those initial days everyone just seemed to do their own thing. The first day we didn't eat together I ended up not eating lunch until about 2:30. I kept expecting to be told to go to lunch. I have since figured out that I am allowed to eat whenever I am hungry, but I still feel a little awkward if I am the first one to get lunch and I always end up cutting my break down to about 15 minutes since I'm not sure how long I'm supposed to have.
Rebecca, you are facing a common challenge in small, privately-owned businesses - actually, it can be a challenge anywhere that doesn't use a time clock for employees.
ReplyDeleteThe danger is that you can easily find yourself burning out without really anticipating it. There are a couple of steps you should take:
First, check with your supervisor to find out how long your lunch break is supposed to be. If it is half an hour, you don't want to end up taking an hour; but, if it is an hour, you may want to ask if it is OK to break it into a couple of mini-breaks. Also see if there are guidelines for when to take your lunch break.
Second, make a plan. It is wonderful to have a solid work ethic leading you to be sure there isn't pressing work waiting before taking a break. But have a time in mind for your lunch break on a daily basis and try to stick fairly close to it. If your break is supposed to be an hour, it can be hard to fill up that time. If so, see if it would be OK to use half of it for your meal and to split the rest into two very quick mental breaks (one afternoon and one morning).
Whether you leave the store or remain in a break area, taking your breaks gives you a chance to get your mind and body refreshed. You can bring a book, take a walk, or whatever helps you get your mind off work for a bit. This helps you refocus for when your break is over.
I stress the importance of developing this habit because a day may come when your workday is stressful. When that happens (at this job or another), you may not feel comfortable taking your full lunch break when you really need it badly unless that habit is already in place.
(A note to the wise among all you great interns - the opposite problem can arise, too. So if your work ethic isn't really solid, make sure you're not stretching your lunch break as long as possible each day.)
Carrie McClenaghan:
ReplyDeleteThe first day I started at the Lowdergroup, I called both of the psychologists here "doctor" names (Dr. Brannon and Dr. Lowder). After I called them those names a couple of times, I was jokingly fussed at for not calling them by their first names (Drew and Milt). Our office manager introduced herself as Sharon, her first name, so that is what I call her and I call our learning specialist, Jackie Thompson whom I've known for years, Mrs. Thompson only because that's what I've known her as even before working with her. Drew and Milt often get upset with me for calling them "sir" when I, for example, answer a question "yes sir" or "no sir". Although I've almost been here two months, I'm still not used to not calling them sir!
I'm not the only person that calls the psychologists by their first name. Some clients that are children even in elementary school also call them by their first names. I've found that the key to this office and to this profession is for the clients to be comfortable. Calling the doctors by their first name can help clients feel like they are talking to a friend and not to a doctor. Calling someone Dr. Whoever can be quite intimidating for young children and intimidation can definitely keep someone from feeling comfortable. A client here should be able to talk freely about anything and everything and with intimidation, that could be near impossible.
Lunch here is very flexible. They encourage me to eat whenever I want as long as it is not necessary for me to be in the office for something else. The psychologists usually wear khaki pants and a button up collared shirts and females wear whatever is comparable to that.
Jordan Pace:
ReplyDeleteClothing here at the US Embassy is as I expected. It's a place where everyday you have to wear a buttonup and nice pants/shoes. Tie is more of an optional thing, but it is "recommended". One of the biggest surprises to me is the Spanish slang that the Ticos (native Costa Ricans) use with one another. I've had to get used to understanding and how to respond to the questions they ask and the ways in which they ask. The food here is fairly cheap in the Embassy, although Costa Rica as a whole is expensive. Lunch here at the Embassy runs around 1,900-2,500 colones ($4-$5) which is much less expensive than everything else here. Overall, everything is as I expected in the workplace with the only surprises being culturally based.
Edward Snead:
ReplyDeleteAt Milliken the whole vibe is pretty laid back. People get to use thier cell phones we can listen to our ipods while we work etc...
But they are very anal about safety. For example: always use the hand rails on the stairs (they do audits every now and then where someone sits at the staircases and marks how many use it and how many don't), Making sure that your chair and computer are set up at the ideal positions for your body (I had to get my desk checked my first week at work), and there are many more for the labs and even more at the plants. But as far as other things go as long as you aren't falling asleep, getting your work done, and are respectful they don't really care.
I learned quickly at my real estate office that first names, and even nicknames, were used to address everyone. I went from calling my uncle, Uncle Laine, to simply just "Big". His son, Laine, became Jr. Within the first week I had about 4 or 5 nicknames being tossed around. Lunch breaks and venues changed every day. If there was an open house showing, which is one of my favorite perks of the job, 5 agents would load into a car and eat lunch at there. If not, it was sort of take a lunch break when everything calms down. Luckily the calm only came late once.
ReplyDeleteI think the most underrated skill that I've noticed in the other people at my workplace is the ability to deal with people who have questions they think they already have the answer to, and are really only looking for details. It's quite difficult to deal with these people, since telling them the truth often leads to them assuming that I don't know what I am talking about, when really they just have a misunderstanding about the subject matter. There is a subtle art that I've noticed my coworker employ in situations like this, in which she places emphasis on the "truth" belonging to some anonymous expert in the field. As a result, the customer assumes that this "anonymous expert in the field" is the incorrect one, not my coworker. While it would be best for any misconceptions to be cleared up, sometimes it's just better to expose people to the truth and then back off, which has been an interesting thing for me to learn so far.
ReplyDeleteTony Micklon:
ReplyDeleteAt my workplace it was very laid back. Some of the employees at the engineering firm wore jeans but the majority of the workers wore khakis with a collared shirt. I saw some people bring food to work and there seemed to be no rule against food inside the workplace. Everyone had to bring their cell phones because it was one of the main ways that they communicated with people outside of the firm. Everything is as I expected and my internship went very well.
Paul Klein...
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing about my internship is that I am around many different types of people so etiquette changes depending on who I am working with. For example, for the majority of my time I am working with college students so I can be myself-which is very laid back. The thing I don't want to do is come across too professional or overbearing with them because I am trying to build relationships of trust where we can dive in spiritually with each others. Another relationship is with campus outreach staff. While still a laid back environment, they are my superiors so I must listen to and respect them in a different way- they are in charge and I must follow. In contrast to these relationships, since I work with a bank in order to make deposits and other financial dealings, I must be presentable and very professional-not exactly my personality! Also what I am learning about the c.o. staff is that they are at the same time relationship and task oriented. They are timely and professional in order to be the most effective in what they do but also very laid back and relational in order to build lasting relationships with students.
It sounds like most of you have fairly easygoing atmospheres at work, without too much drama. One last question I have about workplace details involves "lingo." Sometimes there are just a few key words or phrases in a given field, but occasionally, there is an almost entirely new vocabulary.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone had to pick up on a large new vocabulary in your workplace? We'd love to hear about it!
I'll move on to a new topic later this week. Some of you will be finishing up your course requirements by Friday, whereas we'll have a few newcomers beginning next week.
If anyone has a suggested question for a topic in the next few weeks - something you would like to hear about from your fellow interns - just send it to me via email and I'll try to work it into the conversation.
Scott Todd
ReplyDeleteWorking in a Congressional office definitely requires a certain type of office etiquette. First of all, clothing is extremely important. It is inappropriate to show up to work wearing anything other than a suit for guys, or a dress suit or dress for girls. Wearing a suit everyday in sometime 100 degree heat outside can make the commute to work quite miserable, but it does make the office look professional.
Another thing is that we are taught phone etiquette, as well as direct person to person etiquette. A lot of times, constituents call the office, or even drop by, to state their opinions of the Congressman and how he is performing his job. Sometimes they agree with him, and sometimes they strongly disagree, all the while, we are trained to maintain positive attitudes no matter what.
We are allowed to bring our cell phones to work, but are not allowed to use them. Having people walking around texting in a Congressional office would give the Congressman a bad impression.
All in all, we are told that we must perform any task given to our best, and always maintain a good attitude. Our actions are a direct representation of the COngressman who hired us, and it is imperative to maintain a positive image for him, so as to ensure a reelection.
Tracy Todd said....
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to find out that my co-workers at the Back to the Basics Child Development Center, not only watch the kids but they are also teachers. It's like a little school, they get naptime, play time, lunch, snack time and they go on field trips. The children are to refer to my co-workers and myself as Ms and our first names, instead of our last names. There isn't a dress code for the teachers or the students and cell phones are allowed but they have to be on vibrate. Everyone is so laid back and full of personality. Of course we have to watch our language around the kids and we have be able to address the parents properly. I was surprised to learn some of the codes of DHEC, like the kids must have shoes on in the play area and other codes and they take any violation of those codes seriously. I'm learning so much and I'm enjoying this internship.
Edward Snead:
ReplyDeleteIt seems that at Milliken everything is shortened like at PC with GDH, HP, and so on...
All the chemicals, computer systems, facilities, and agencies have two or three letter "nicknames" that I don't know if they are universal or just a Milliken thing, but it did take a while to catch on to those. I still don't know all of them.
Bennett Saunders
ReplyDeleteAt my workplace everything was real laid back especially because it was the summer time. Everyone wore shorts and a polo or either a PC shirt. You had the choice to go leave and get lunch or either bring your own. ONce the school year comes around and the atheltic teams are back in full gear im sure things start to get a lot more busy.
Drew Wingo:
ReplyDeleteAt the Greenville Drive all the employees stay relaxed and laid back for the most part. There are often alot of jokes and laughs exchanged in meeting but they things that need to be addressed are always discussed. One thing I noticed is the great attention to detail. Our General Manager takes a walk through of the ballpark everyday looking for things that are out of place or need fixing. Anything that is cracked, stained or broken is addressed no matter how small it may be. The Drive are all about presentation so it is very important to pay close attention to anything that needs to be taken care of.
Working in the dance company the 1st week very much how I imagined it would be. We use first names. We only bring water into the dance room. We share how our bodies are doing that day so that we can trust each other and not get hurt. In general, it is just like dancing back a PC. However, my use of phrases like "yes mam" and "yes sir" was considered a tad overly polite. This may just be because I was out of the South.
ReplyDeleteThe 2nd week was harder because I was assistant teaching under another teacher. I wasn't sure how much I authority I had and I didn't want to over-step my bounds. But, it turns out, the other teacher was relieved when I took it upon myself to help her keep the kids behaved and to help the kids learn. I was just worried that I would become the disciplinarian and would over-step my responsibilities. I didn't want her to think I was taking over her classroom.