Building Employability Skills - Part 2: Professionalism

Professionalism refers to how you represent yourself and the company in a workplace setting. Being professional is important for success in any kind of job. It will help you get in the right mindset, produce high quality work, maintain positive relationships, and feel confident in yourself. When you are first entering the workforce, being professional is something you may have never had to worry about before, but it is a valuable skill that you can learn over time.

Communicating Professionally

In the workplace, it is important to communicate in a way that is productive and allows you to maintain good relationships with your co-workers. This involves listening to others and communicating your messages clearly to avoid any misunderstandings or conflict. For example, instead of saying “that is a bad idea,” you could say “I’m not sure that is the best idea because of [these reasons], why don’t we come up with some other solutions?”. This way, you are expressing your thoughts in a respectful manner and leading the conversation in a forward direction. 

It is also important to consider things from other people’s perspective. For example, if you have to miss a shift you will want to communicate that to your boss as soon as possible so that they have time to make accommodations. Being professional about how you communicate will allow you to be more efficient at work while also maintaining the positive relationships that are essential when working with others.

Presenting Yourself Professionally

Presenting yourself in a professional manner can put you in the right mindset to do your best at work. It will also demonstrate to others that you are dedicated and ready to represent the company. A lot of workplaces have dress codes so that employees can feel confident in giving off a professional image. Dressing for success at work can set you up to feel more motivated and ready to work hard.  

When it comes to presenting yourself professionally, this does not mean that you have to shy away from being yourself. Instead, you can show off how your individual personality and skills can be applied in your workplace environment. For example, if you like being creative then you can use your creativity to come up with new ideas for a work project. There are many benefits to having a diverse team of employees, so sharing your own perspective or suggestions regarding your work is a great way to professionally express yourself.

Another way to demonstrate your professionalism is by taking the steps to show that you are dedicated to your role. This can include having a positive attitude, showing up on time, being present, and being open to feedback. Not only will it help you make a good impression, but it will also help you produce your best work.

Acting Ethically

Ethics in the workplace are the values that the company uses to decide what is appropriate at work and what is not. Almost every workplace upholds certain ethical values within their organization and they will try to hire candidates who they know will match those values. These ethics are important because they help determine what decisions the company will make. 

When it comes to acting ethically, you want to make sure that you carry out your responsibilities in a way that adheres to the company values and their mission. For example, many workplaces value having good customer service and will train employees to provide the best service possible. When you are working, your decisions may be driven by the desire to provide customers a good experience while also not forfeiting your own needs or the company’s needs. Sometimes you may encounter situations where the best course of action is unclear. It is always good to be familiar with the company’s values so that you can use them to guide your actions in ambiguous situations and make the best professional decision you can. If you ever feel unsure with how you dealt with a situation, you can always debrief with your manager so that you can be prepared if it comes up again.

One of the best ways to develop professional habits is to observe the people around you and do what you need to do to be a reliable employee. Once you identify the things that will help you perform at your best, keep practicing them and over time they will become more natural. Many people will continue to keep developing professionally throughout their career and with the right attitude and motivation, you will be off to a great start.

-Sophie Ashton, Co-op Student