Ensure Successful Onboarding

Posted on Apr 2, 2012 04:05:24 PM

Courtesy of o5com‘s photo stream on Flickr

While the process of employee onboarding is meant to help you transition into a new job by making you feel comfortable and “on-board,” it’s also a process that can help you work toward becoming indispensable. In today’s economy, simply getting a job isn’t enough. You also need to have the appropriate tools to remain in employment. The confidence, knowledge and insight you gain during the process of being onboarded, combined with skills you honed during your college years, can help you become an asset your company can’t bear to part with. Utilize these skills and considerations to become an important part of your company’s vision for the future:

• Learn About & Focus on the Mission. The first few days of a new job can be a bit overwhelming. Information on all aspects of your position and the company is presented and, eventually, it can all become a blur. Make a point of learning about and focusing on the company’s mission. This one statement serves as the guidepost for everything the company does. Knowing the mission of the business can help you become a contributing member toward its achievement.
• Capitalize on Guidelines and Responsibilities. During the orientation process you’ll learn about the guidelines for your position as well as the company’s overall operating procedures. You’ll also learn the responsibilities of your job. Capitalize on this information to ensure you’re spending company time and resources in the most efficient and effective manner possible. Whether you’re working alone on a project or as part of a team, being mindful of achieving the goals set for you by the company helps larger goals get accomplished, too.
• Create Relationships. Unless you’re the only employee in the company, relationships are going to become a very important part of your employment. It’s important to be a team player who can work well with others when necessary and remain focused while working alone. The positive, reciprocal relationships you form with coworkers and management go a long way toward making you an indispensable part of the team.
• Get Involved. Many businesses are involved in the community, or they present opportunities for team building amongst employees and management. Get involved in these opportunities as often as you’re able to do so. The connections you make within the company and community add to the value you bring to your employers and customers by giving you insight into who they are, what’s important to them and how you can best meet their needs.
• Make an Effort to Fit In. Going the extra mile is an admirable trait, but if workaholism keeps you separated from the rest of the team, you’ll end up standing out like a sore thumb, and not in a good way. Be wise with your time and work smarter, instead of harder. This will allow you to have an extra few minutes a day to chat with coworkers about non-work topics to help you fit in as “one of the gang.”
• Balance Detailed Focus With Long-Term Vision. When deadlines are approaching it’s important to have tunnel vision on the project. But as you focus on the details of what you’re doing, do so with one eye on the long-term vision of the company. Every project, assignment, customer and product that’s a part of the business you conduct is also a part of the company’s greater mission. When your efforts are in-line with the company’s goals you’ll be viewed as an indispensable part of the business.

The onboarding process at your new job presents you with a prime opportunity to learn what your new place of employment would find to be indispensable in an employee. Apply consistent, high-quality effort toward daily projects while keeping your finger on the pulse of your company’s long-term vision to make yourself a vital part of achieving that vision. The introductory process you go through upon hire provides you with the preliminary tools needed to build and maintain an important presence and contribution within the company.

Life Happens: Reclaiming Your College Dreams

Posted on Mar 27, 2012 08:19:49 AM

In a perfect world, we would all get into our dream colleges right out of high school and finish in less than four years with a perfect GPA, several excellent job prospects and zero debt. Unfortunately, the world we live in isn’t perfect, and sometimes life interferes with our dreams. Very few things in life will turn out exactly how we want or expect them to, which is why it’s important not to get discouraged by life’s disappointments. Not everyone will start and finish college at the same time and there’s nothing wrong with that. College provides an opportunity to discover new things and grow as a person, which is life-enriching at any age.

The Endless Opportunities for Higher Education

Some readers likely remember a time when only a minority of high school graduates attended college. Although a college education was certainly considered important 30-50 years ago, it wasn’t as popular or as expected of a student as it is today. This widespread change of norms is due in part to the increasing availability of higher education. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there were just 3,231 degree-granting institutions in 1980. This number skyrocketed to an incredible 4,409 institutions in 2008, and continues to grow today.

Not only are there more colleges in general, but also colleges come in many different, highly accessible forms. For example, virtually any individual can attend a community college to earn an AA degree. Online schools, such as AIU, also make it easier for students with busy schedules and other obligations to work toward earning their degrees at their own pace and at any location. Scholarships, financial aid availability, and student loans have also made the expense of college much more manageable for many students. A full ride to an Ivy League college may not be possible, but a semester at a local community college or online school is certainly within reach for students of all different backgrounds and needs.

Preparing to Go Back to College

Maybe you were recently laid off and want to increase your appeal in the job market, or perhaps you want to increase your value in your current position by learning new skills and advancing in your industry. Or perhaps you were a stay-at-home mom or dad and are looking for a job to contribute to the family’s income. Whatever your reason for going back to school, you will want to make sure you are fully prepared for the journey you are about to embark upon.

First things first—you will want to figure out which institution is the best choice for you. If you have scheduling conflicts or aren’t comfortable being in a classroom with several younger students, it may be in your best interest to choose an online school to more effectively work with your schedule. After deciding where you will receive your education, you will need to set up a support system to help you get through your education in one piece. Talk to friends and family about assisting you with your other responsibilities, and maybe even helping you with academic problems you might encounter as well. For example, see if grandma and grandpa will agree to take the kids every other Saturday so you can spend some time studying for your online class.

When going back to school, you must remember to take everything one step at a time. Instead of thinking about the years you have ahead of you to complete your degree, just focus on finishing one assignment, and then one class, and then soon you’ll have that coveted degree and all of your hard work will have been worth it. Remember that everyone has a different path in life and that you’re never too old to try something new and prove what you’re capable of.