Top 5 Characteristics of Ideal Employees

Characteristics of the Ideal Employee

1. Dependability

2. Honesty & Integrity

3. Positive, Proactive Attitude

4. Willing to Work

5. Uses Down Time Productively

Management and executive staff and corporate employers overall see Dependability in these good qualities:

1. Always Follows Directions
2. Consistently Accurate
3. Works Independently
4. Gets Along with peers, management, and clients
5. Good Grooming and Hygiene
6. Always On Time to work and back from breaks.
7. Good Attendance - Does not take off all their sick time just because they have it
8. Cooperative, but asks good questions
9. Upbeat and Proactive Attitude
10. Team Player

This is more than just telling the truth. It includes doing your best work for your work team, your company and your boss. Holding back because one is afraid of working more than others and not be rewarded for it is an immature belief; such an employee needs to sit down with the supervisor or boss and ask about the chances for advancement and raises and how to accomplish them.

The action of doing as little as possible while others make up the difference is not a likeable personality trait at work, at home, or anywhere else. Remember that many founding colonies and new nations began by leaders telling their settlers, "He who does not work, does not eat." Such an employee will make enemies of coworkers and also not be promoted. In addition, this negative trait will definitely show up as a problem on annual performance reviews.

Examples of dishonesty and lack of integrity:

• Working more slowly than the standard pace.
• Having coworkers clock in for them when late. This is usually illegal as well.
• Pilfering work-related supplies and equipment.
• Extended breaks and rest room visits.
• Completing personal tasks on the job, using company equipment and supplies, including the telephone and Internet.

Attitudes project your beliefs and values, and what you think of your job, coworkers and boss. It is shown in the quality of your work. The boss is aware of your individual attitudes at work and is watching them every day. They are as important as the work that you produce. A "positive" attitude does not always mean "happy", but it is better to be upbeat at work rather than brooding and angry, "Positive" can also mean proactive, which means you go after things and don't wait for them to come to you (using initiative).

Good Attitudes:

• Smiles
• Good posture
• Pleasant tone of voice
• Complaining through proper channels, while offering ideas for improvement.
• Respect and courtesy
• Managing conflict and anger
• Good job performance
• Interested in others

Bad Attitudes:

• Blank facial expression or a frown
• Slumping in chairs, leaning on walls
• Sarcasm, unmodulated voice, mumbling
• Complaining on the work floor
• Trash talking about the company to coworkers; enabling bad attitudes among others
• Displaying anger inappropriately
• Substandard job performance
• Ignoring people at work

Good attitudes help get you promoted, make friends, please customers and raise sales. Good attitudes increase your value to your company.

You show your willingness to work with these qualities:

1. Ability and Desire to Communicate- Organizing and present your thoughts clearly.
2. Intelligence- Showing common sense and the ability and desire to learn.
3. Self-Confidence - Showing assertiveness and initiative.
4. Accepting Responsibility - Takes on new challenges, admits mistakes and fixes them.
5. Leadership - Being a good example, taking charge.
6. High Energy Level.
7. Imagination.
8. Flexibility - Adaptable, accepts changes.
9. Gets along with others.
10. Handles Conflict
11. Sets and Achieves Goals - Continuous improvement. Has personal direction,
12. Occupational Skills - Able to do the job and accept new training.

When you are not busy at work, or between major projects, be productive by doing these things:

1. Read trade journals and magazine articles about your company and the industry in which you work.
2. Read about current trends in your industry on the Internet.
3. Ask for, or find, new tasks to do; help someone else.
4. Think of a better way to do something in your job or in the company.
5. Clean and organize your work area.
6. Update your filing systems, clean out old email messages, etc.
7. Write an article about your job or your industry and share it with your boss.
8. Take an online class that is relevant to your job. Some of these are free of charge.