No matter what type of industry you work in, you likely want to prove yourself as a worthy employee. Not only will you feel personal and professional satisfaction, but you will also be more likely to get pay raises and promotions. Being a good employee is a multi-faceted endeavor. You cannot pretend to play the part; you must hone your skills and modify your behavior. Consider these ways to be a model employee, and watch the benefits that will come your way. It may take time, but the result is worth it.
Highlight Your Strengths
Many companies have quarterly or yearly performance reviews. During these meetings, you must highlight the work that has made you a valuable employee. For example, you can discuss how you helped your team get their sales bonuses. You can talk about how you efficiently trained new hires. Make a list of accomplishments that you are proud of, and do not be afraid to brag on yourself a little. Be sure to take constructive criticism well, and learn from mistakes you make in your career. In this way, you will present yourself as a competent employee who can accept correction when needed.
Show Up To Work
When employers are looking at potential candidates to give a pay raise, they will choose people who are loyal and hard-working. You want your track record to show that you are rarely absent from work. Holidays, vacation time and sick leave are usually built into your schedule, and you are expected to use those yearly benefits. However, you should not be missing work excessively. If you know that you are going to have to miss work, make sure that you give plenty of notice. Being a reliable employee makes you valuable to your company.
Get Along With Your Coworkers
No one likes a busybody in the office. Even if you do not like all of your coworkers, you must learn to get along with them. When your boss looks at people to give raises to, he or she will likely choose the most cooperative employees. You must make a name for yourself as someone who can work with everyone. In this way, you will have the opportunity to work on more projects, and you will likely gain valuable experience. This will make you even more of an asset to your company.
Take on Extra Work
Your employer will not look upon you favorably if you are lazy and do not take initiative. While you do not want to completely overwork yourself, you do need to take on as much work as you can reasonably handle. You should always be able to show proof that you are working hard on whatever projects you are given. When you show leadership qualities and willingness to learn, you will be trusted with more responsibility. More responsibility eventually equals more pay! This can be a great way to secure your position within a company.
Meet Deadlines
Deadlines are put in place for a reason. You should not look at assignment due dates as negotiable things. Instead, you should always meet your deadlines ahead of schedule or on time. Prioritize punctuality in your professional life. If you have problems with organizational skills, try to find ways to overcome them. For example, you can set reminders on your phone to let you know that a project is due soon. You can establish a daily routine in which you take care of the most important tasks first. When you have a system in place, you are less likely to forget essential steps.
When you are trying to earn a raise at work, you must know the right steps to take. You must prove yourself as a worthy employee all through the year. Show that you take pride in your work, be a team player and always be prepared to do a job well.
