Yes,
Virgina, work can be fun! Since you spend the majority of your waking hours
on the job, why not make the time as enjoyable as possible?
As
a temporary employee, you have a special advantage. Every day brings a new challenge.
Today, you get to be the hero coming in to help a company in need. Tomorrow
you may be someone else’s hero, affording you the opportunity to see many workplaces,
experience a variety of jobs, meet many people, and acquire and hone new skills.
When
you accept an assignment there are many things you can do to ensure that you
get the most from the experience. Here are a few tips to make every assignment
more enjoyable.
Even
before you walk through the door to a new assignment on the first day, there
are steps you should take to ensure the job will work for you.
1
Ask
questions before you accept the assignment. Know as much as you can about
the assignment before you commit to taking the job.
What
does the job entail? What tasks need to be completed? Ask for a description
of your primary work tasks, including physical labor requirements such as
standing and filing for hours. Find out what software programs will be used?
What level of skill is required (basic, intermediate or advanced)?
What
hours are you expected to work? Make sure to clear up any expectations
regarding overtime before you start.
What
are the directions to the job location? Is parking available? If, after
getting the directions, you are unsure of where you are going, take a test
drive before the assignment starts.
If
the assignment doesn’t sound enjoyable, ask if there is anything else available.
While it's not a good idea to get in the habit of turning down assignments,
you can certainly ask for the types of work you'd like best!
2
Be
honest with yourself. Can you perform this job and meet the requirements?
If you aren’t certain you can, discuss your concerns with your staffing service
representative before accepting the position.
Once
you’ve accepted the position and arrived at the job a few minutes early the
first day, try some of these ideas to make the experience more rewarding:
3
Review
the company’s policies. This will give you a clear understanding of what is
acceptable and what is not. Make sure to pay careful attention to policies
pertaining to computer and phone usage. A general rule of thumb to keep in
mind is to refrain from using any company equipment for personal use. This
includes the fax machine, telephone, computer and internet access, just to
name a few.
4
Ask
for a tour. Knowing ahead of time where the bathroom, vending machines, kitchen,
printers and fax machines are will make you feel more at home and comfortable
in your new surroundings.
5
Get
to know your supervisor and his/her expectations. Find out what the company
is expecting to accomplish by hiring a temporary employee. Don’t be afraid
to ask for clear directions if you don’t understand a task. Building rapport
with your supervisor will help you to feel more comfortable should you need
to ask for clarification on anything.
6
Take
Notes. Chances are you're only going to get instructions once. Be sure to
write notes that you can refer to later. This will help you complete your
tasks, as well as show your supervisor that you take pride in getting the
job done right!
7
When
you complete a task, don’t wait for someone to notice. Go to your supervisor
and ask for more work. By doing this, you will demonstrate your willingness
to work hard and competency to complete tasks.
8
Ask
for feedback at the end of the day. Find out if you met your supervisor’s
expectations, or if there is something that you can do better tomorrow. This
will confirm your ability to be open to constructive criticism and minimize
any room for miscommunication.
You’ve
made it through the first day with flying success. Tomorrow, try these ideas
to make the job downright fun:
9
Bring
in a picture to put on your desk to remind you of your motivation to work.
Consider a small plant too. As long as you keep your personal items small
and professional looking (and it isn’t against policy), no one will take offense
to you making your work area more comfortable. It may even provide an icebreaker
to help you get to know your fellow workers.
10
Along
that note, ask someone to lunch. Although your primary reason for being at
work is not to socialize, everyone’s day can be a little brighter if you get
to know the people who work around you. And, it never hurts to network.
Okay,
we promised ten tips but we saved the best for last:
11
Reward
yourself. Set reasonable goals for yourself throughout the work day and make
sure to reward yourself when you meet those goals. It can be something as
little as stopping at Starbuck’s for a cup of mocha on the way home. It may
sound silly but it will help you recognize your daily accomplishments and
feel good about the work you are doing.
All
of these tips combined should help you to produce the most essential ingredient
in any enjoyable job, a positive attitude! Good luck, now go have some fun today!
