Wednesday, 19 September 2012

Your Action Plan

You know you, and through the help of the Self-Directed Search, you've examined your preferences, qualities, and career suggestions more closely. So lets be honest, what do you foresee to be a weakness in your first Work Experience and what is your action plan to remedy the issue?

1.) What is your potentially biggest struggle going to be? For example, transportation, taking initiative and stepping up without being asked, staying off your cell-phone/ipod, arriving every day 5 minutes before you start work, speaking confidently with colleagues, etc., etc. Be honest and state what your biggest hurdle will be.

2.) How are you going to remedy it? Be specific. Be clear. What support systems will you use. What timing or routine adjustments? Who will assist you and how? What are you going to do? Remember, in the working world standards of excellence are the bare minimum. You are expected to be mature, responsible and accountable for all of your behaviour and work habits.

Check out Career-Success-For-Newbies for some helpful tips and suggestions.

39 comments:

  1. Hours
    -I will take marking home
    -I will help in extra activities after school

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    Replies
    1. Good (realistic) plan. Now you will know the joy of exploring students' work and ideas and giving feedback. Keep in mind to look at the calendar before hand and see if there are Pro-D days or holidays and communicate with your employer (or other teachers/teacher-librarians you'd like to volunteer with) in advance. That way you can coordinate all the necessary hours to earn the credit hours for work experience. Maybe try on volunteer coaching and support for a few weeks?

      Delete
  2. I may have a problem with having a mean boss or manager.

    To solve this I will make sure:
    -I am always on time.
    -I am cooperative with other employee's.
    -I will make sure I am nice to the boss no matter what happens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes bosses can be "short" with employees if they're under a lot of stress. Your understanding is appreciated, but there's no way they'll be mean to you. They're professional. You're professional. I think it'll be a genuinely enjoyable and enriching experience.

      Delete
  3. Boredom
    -Ask manager or whoever is in charge for things to do
    -Always try and keep myself busy

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    Replies
    1. True, offering yourself for any necessary duties or assistance will help and they'll appreciate it. Also, don't forget to take initiative with anything you can. Managers will train and explain, but then they step back and expect employees to step up.

      Delete
  4. Transportation
    -Find out bus routes.
    -Try getting there before my actual placement starts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely knowing the bus and skytrain schedules is essential. Record them and save them. You should leave with a lot of time to spare the first day, and then adjust your schedule accordingly.

      What about watching or listening to the morning news/traffic reports just in case?

      Delete
  5. Getting comfortable with other coworkers
    -try to sit and talk to them on my break
    -help them as much as I can while working
    -be friendly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. These are all excellent plans of action, and don't forget the old adage, "fake it till you make it." The sense of comfort and ease will come.

      Delete
  6. 1.) Getting along with others

    2.) Resolutions:
    -Be friendly and speak to them.
    - Speak louder and with more confidence
    - Sit down at break time and talk to them, socialize.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's impossible for them not to like you. Be confident. Be patient. Be yourself.

      Delete
  7. My one issue is going to be being late. I will resolve this by waking up earlier; try and get a later shift; and condition so i can run faster. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha Avnoor, I've never hear of cardio as a strategy in an action plan :)

      Is there any one else that can wake you up in the morning? How much earlier will you be getting up? Do you need to set a second alarm, or pick out work clothes and prep snacks/lunch the night before?

      p.s. I, not i

      Delete
  8. Not breaking something or doing something wrong
    -Listen and follow instructions
    -Be focused and know my surroundings

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure you'll be great Sukhvir. A tip I have for listening and following instructions is repeating them back in your own words after you hear them just for crystal clear communication.

      Delete
  9. My potentially biggest struggle will most likely be transportation. I'm going to fix this problem by researching bus schedules, waking up earlier as well as preparing my things before work rather than right before i go.

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    Replies
    1. Sounds like you have a good action plan. I would recommend leaving extra early the first day, and then adjusting your timing accordingly, once you have a better idea. Save the bus schedules somewhere accessible (your phone), and I love your idea to prep the night before.

      Consider peeking at the morning news/traffic report to get a heads up on transportation and timing

      Delete
  10. Honestly, I think my biggest struggle is going to be socializing. I hope to fix this by not keeping to myself, like I usually do with unfamiliar people. I will also make an effort to get to know my co-workers and anyone else so that I feel more comfortable around everyone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are a confident, lovely young woman. Don't let fear stop you from connecting. What does "not keeping to yourself" look like specifically? When will you get to know your coworkers? At break time and lunch, sit and talk with them?

      Delete
  11. My issue would be not getting involved enough.
    - Make conversation with people who I'm working with
    - Be more confident and out-going

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    1. Many of you seem to be concerned about socializing and feeling comfortable at your work placement. Don't you worry. They will reach out to you, especially in the beginning for training and orientation. After that, it's you who will need to just be yourself and put yourself out there. But what does this look like specifically? Not taking your phone out at break or lunch time, and instead sitting with them and talking about work, life, etc. etc. My advice would be the same as with Danish, "fake it till you make it." Make eye contact, listen and contribute to conversations, grin and joke.

      Delete
  12. My problem might be boredom
    -i got take my social studies text book with me or one of my story books.
    -I could ask my manger or the person assigned to show me around if they need any help with cleaning or something else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the idea of bringing Socials or a storybook to work. Just remember that it is work and so the books, like a phone, would have to wait until break-time and lunch. Boredom is a common issue. My recommendation would be to speak to your employer and other employees of what you can do when regular tasks are completed. Also, as a working girl you know that employers often want employees to take initiative. So if you see something that needs cleaning, organizing, if you can fix displays, practice or learn company info or inventory, do it.

      Thanks for the response Alisha. I know it probably wasn't easy at first. Rest up for World Host tomorrow. See you in the morning

      Delete
  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. My problem might be socializing. I will try and fix that by talking and getting to know other people more like co-workers.I also will try and be more confident and comfortable around others and get to know them better.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I hope World Host helped a bit with appropriate socialization, with the handshakes, the eye contact, etc.

    What can you do specifically to increase your chances of overcoming these hurdles? Will you remember names and speak to colleagues by their name right away? Will you sit with them at lunch or at break and socialize to build rapport and connection?

    What about customers? What are your personal plans and strategies for being confident and social with them? Needs more Robbie. Be crystal clear

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    1. I think I am going to try socializing on my lunch break instead of going on my phone. I am also going to try and remember peoples names since I have good memorization.Overall, Im just going to try being more confident and build connections with other workers over the three weeks.

      Delete
  16. My problem might be using my cellphone.
    - I could turn it off and leave it in my bag
    - I could leave it at home
    - keep myself occupied

    ReplyDelete
  17. You're right Ashley, "unplugging" is a major challenge for many. When you start your placement, you'll need to find out what "keep myself occupied" entails. Is this cleaning? filing? inventory? customer outreach?

    You're bound to have down-time. The challenge will be to feel the boredom and figure out how to move forward without reaching for the instant gratification of your phone.

    My first suggestion would also be to let your friends know to not text you while at work, and to turn it completely off, so you're not even tempted by the "pings" or vibrations if it's around you in the staff room/inventory area, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Transportation
    -Find bus routes
    -Pump my bike tires up

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well you're in luck if you get the elementary school you wanted, and I think they start a few minutes later than us (like 8:45 am).

      It's critical that you arrive 5 minutes early at your work placement, especially as a role model for the kiddies and a great future principal!

      I'd also recommend prepping clothes, lunch, etc. the night before, trying to catch an earlier bus. Even 10 minutes can make the difference. Who can call and wake you up and get you moving? Keesha? Other friends?

      Delete
  19. 1) talking to workers and dealing with edgy customers.

    2) i could get more involved and to deal with the customers i could ask another worker or talk to the manager.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I, not i.

      You're a personable and friendly young woman, just let it out.

      Fake it till you make it. Approach customers and ask if you can help. Approach your colleagues on break/lunch to get more connected and gain confidence. Ensure that you're speaking up, making eye contact and projecting confidence. It gets easier from there.

      Delete
  20. My problem would be showing up on time
    to prevent being late i would go to my job placement ahead of time to see how long it would take me to get there i would also leave five or ten minutes early to make sure i can reach there on time. Also i would get anything that i need to take with me ready ahead of time, so i can just take my stuff and go.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi "Ms. Bertrand" A.K.A. Karan.

      I, not i. And careful with your run-ons or you're going to be an example of "Corrections" Community"

      Being on time is absolutely critical. Great idea doing a timing run-through. Yes, always leave earlier than you think because you still have to check in at your work place and get set-up for your shift.
      Definitely prep the night before. Do you need a wake-up call? Who's your go-to person?

      Delete
  21. 1) i will have a problem with getting there by a bus, i;m afraid i'll take the wrong route and get lost.
    2) I should check all the buses route & find out which one will go to my work place.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Absolutely Angeli, and do a practice run with a friend or family member just to boost the confidence level.

    Also, pack your stuff the night before and leave a little earlier than expected till you get the timing down.

    ReplyDelete