10 IMPORTANT WORK ETHICS FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT

1. Reliability

The first and foremost work ethic that you should have is reliability. This
means, your employer and colleagues should be able to rely on you to do a
specific job at your particular role. Any organization is like a chain made up of
links. And you’re one of the links in this organizational chain. When you’re
reliable, you won’t be the weaker or unreliable link in this large chain.
Therefore, your bosses and colleagues can depend upon you to do work on time
and to everyone’s satisfaction. Reliability is most important for teamwork.
Colleagues on your team can rely upon you to perform to your fullest, which
means that any project or assignment would be completed on time and in a
professional manner.

2. Dedication

Dedication to your job is another work ethic that employers look for. When
you’ve dedication, you’ll perform the tasks at hand regardless of the time and
efforts it involves. And you will complete such tasks to the best of your
abilities, without giving excuses or blaming people for inabilities to do so.
Dedication consists of a lot of factors. When you’re a dedicated worker, you’ll
exert extra efforts to make sure that your employer’s business records profits
through whatever your work.

Dedication to your job is another work ethic that employers look for. When
you’ve dedication, you’ll perform the tasks at hand regardless of the time and
efforts it involves. And you will complete such tasks to the best of your
abilities, without giving excuses or blaming people for inabilities to do so.
Dedication consists of a lot of factors. When you’re a dedicated worker, you’ll
exert extra efforts to make sure that your employer’s business records profits
through whatever your w

3. Discipline
Perhaps the most important work ethic is discipline. Because no other work
ethic can exist unless you have a superb level of discipline. Basically, discipline
means arriving at the office or workplace on schedule. And not leaving your
work midway to waste time on coffee breaks, smoking or even using the
washroom just to while away a few minutes.

Discipline also consists of making a proper schedule for your work. This means,
you will prioritize tasks as necessary and go about completing them in a manner
that would help the rest of the company’s workforce get the necessary support
and assistance from you in time. Furthermore, discipline includes not allowing
work to pile up on your desk and executing tasks at the earliest, depending upon
their importance to the organization.

4. Productivity

One more good work ethic to have is productivity. Understandably, every

organization worth its name has its own in-house measures to gauge your
productivity. Productivity is an important work ethic because it can ensure your
promotions and salary raises. The higher your productivity, greater your
chances of bagging a promotion for a senior position and the salary rise that
goes with it.

Your productivity matters because it impacts the overall productivity and profits
of the organization. And when you’ve high productivity, your colleagues are
encouraged and also try to increase theirs.

5. Cooperation

Basically, cooperation is the manner by which you interact with other team
members, company seniors and the company policies during your course of
work and tenure of employment.

When you have a high level of cooperation, teamwork becomes easier for
everyone. When you cooperate with company seniors, they will appreciate your
sincerity to work and extend you all support. And cooperation with company
policies is actually compliance. That means, you’ll comply with all the rules and
regulations of the company.
Cooperation also ranks as a top work ethic because an organization has several
employees, seniors and a set of in-house rules.

6. Integrity

Basically, integrity at workplace means adhering to higher moral principles. If

you’ve integrity, you would be firstly honest to yourself and to your coworkers
as well as the employer. You wouldn’t do anything wrong that’s harmful for
your colleagues or the organization or its business. A high level of integrity
means your colleagues and seniors can trust you with sensitive information,
knowing it’s fully safe and secure in your hands. Integrity also means the way
you look at your overall employment. It includes loyalty to your employer and
colleagues.

It involves staying away from petty office politics and instead, putting the
organization’s welfare above own vested interests. Integrity is a blend of
honesty and reliability. And integrity is the best way to succeed at any job by
winning over the hearts of your colleagues and seniors.

7. Responsibility

No organization on this planet wants an irresponsible worker or staff member.

That’s because irresponsible people often end up compromising the interests of
their employer and undermining the efforts of their colleagues. Therefore,
employers try to assess how responsible you are or would be towards a job,
either while hiring or even when you’re working. Because, employees that take
responsibilities are usually good leaders and excel at their work. You can never
leave aside responsibility and yet do proper work for the employer.

A responsible employee takes on every task with the sole objective of

completing it to the best of satisfaction of the employer. And they take
responsibilities for their team members too. Additionally, taking responsibilities
means also owning up mistakes, learning from them and moving forward in the
job instead of brooding over what went wrong or blaming others. Owning
responsibility is a vital leadership skill. Employers desire such work ethics from
their employees.

8. Professionalism
Professionalism means behaving in a manner that speaks highly about your
educational qualifications, experience and skills. It includes using the right
business etiquette and personal etiquette both at workplace and in personal life.
Professionalism also means the way by which you present yourself to your
employer, colleagues, external entities and your social circle and the way you
go about doing your work. An employee with a high level of professionalism
will always strive for maximum perfection at their jobs.

They will deploy all their educational qualifications, skills and experience to do
the job professionally instead of merely doing some tasks because it needs to be
done. Persons with a high level of professionalism also think outside the box
and find solutions where others fumble or fail. And the quality of their work is
unmatchable.

9. Self- Motivation

It’s impossible to do any work professionally and to the satisfaction of your

employers. That’s because self-motivation rises above all personal interests and
puts the tasks at hand on priority. Often at the time of job interviews, one of the
most common question by employer is “What motivates you?” because self-
motivated employees don’t require a reason to perform well.

They assume the responsibility themselves of executing a task or project well.

And such employees seldom grumble or have grouses over others. Instead, it’s
the fire from within known as self-motivation that propels them to perform
better each time and excel at their work. Usually, self-motivated workers don’t
even require much supervision. When the employer gives them a task, they get
cracking immediately and try to complete it to the best of their abilities.

10. Flexibility

And finally, flexibility is one of the other work ethics that’s important.
Flexibility means the ability to adapt to changes and especially, the need of the
hour. For example, you might have to exert extra efforts and spend longer hours
at the workplace because of some urgent and pressing assignment or project.

You need to be flexible and accept the fact that you won’t be leaving the
workplace at the end of the day. And that you’re willing to travel or assume
other and more responsibilities if needed by the employer.
Flexibility also means getting rid of fixed set of ideas about work and being
open to anything that’s in the greater interests of the employer. Of course, that
doesn’t mean you take salary cuts merely to please an employer. Instead, it
means adapting your work to match whatever the situation that arises. Without
flexibility, it is impossible to work. In fact, HR studies indicate that employees
with a high level of flexibility usually get promotions faster and can execute
tasks better than those who’re rigid.

Knowing Your Work Ethics

Now that you know what’re the top 10 and important work ethics for
professional development, it’s also important to find out whether you have all of
them or lag somewhere. This is possible through an honest self-assessment of
your own professional ethics. You can do so privately.

The best way to assess your own work ethics is by doing a private Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis. This analysis helps
you find various traits. You can easily identify which of the work ethics you
already have and where you lag. That way, you can further develop the existing
and strong work ethics while trying to reduce grey patches by working on them.

CAREER READY COMPETENCIES

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the ability to identify, articulate, and develop one's values,

interests, skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences relevant to personal
growth and professional success.

Teamwork/Collaboration

The ability to successfully build & maintain collaborative relationships to work

effectively together as a team through shared responsibility, respect, & empathy
to complete a shared goal for a common good.

Leadership

Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a

common goal, directing workers and colleagues with a strategy to meet the
organization's needs. To be effective, a leader has to manage the resources at
their disposal. Leadership also involves communicating, inspiring and
supervising. A successful leader understands people’s motivations and enlists
participation in a way that marries individual needs and interests to the group’s
purpose.

Digital Technology

Digital Technology is the ability to leverage current and emerging digital

technologies ethically and efficiently to solve problems, complete tasks, and
accomplish goals. The individual demonstrates effective adaptability to new and
emerging technologies. Digital technologies are any devices and resources that
generate, store or process data.

Work Ethic/Professionalism

Work Ethic/Professionalism demonstrates integrity, resilience, accountability

and ethical behavior. It's the ability to take initiative, maintain effective work
habits (prioritize, plan and manage work; punctuality) to produce high quality
results. With this competency, once should project a professional presence and
understand the impact of non-verbal communication.

Verbal/Written Communication

Verbal and written communication is the ability to articulate thoughts and

express ideas effectively using oral, written and non-verbal communication
skills (to inform, instruct, and persuade), to multiple audiences, as well as to
listen for meaning and understanding.
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving

Critical thinking is the process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing,

applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach an
answer or conclusion. In fact, critical thinking skills are part of the University's
mission: "committed to constructive and critical engagement with the whole of
human culture." This is what we do at Notre Dame!

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Demonstrate openness, inclusiveness, sensitivity, and respectful interaction with

all people and continually strive to account for and respect individual
differences. Engage in and work to create more inclusive communities, schools,
work places, collaborating teams, and agency partnerships to achieve greater
fairness of outcomes.

The Notre Dame Way

"Take what you have learned here at Notre Dame and let it enable you to go
forth and do good. Always be as generous as you can with your time, talent and
all you have. In your family life, your professional life and your spiritual life,
every day of your life, never forget that your charge as Notre Dame graduates is
to be a force for good in the world."
- Fr. John Jenkins (Graduation Message, 2018)

Assessing Your Level of Competency

This is the time to really reflect on yourself and where you are at with this
competency. Ask yourself the following questions to dive deep into your self-
assessment:

 Am I aware of my personal branding?

 Do I have an understanding of business etiquette?
 Am I aware of professional dress requirements?
 Do I have a professional resume completed?
 Do I know how to write professional job search correspondences?
 Do I have quality professional references?
 Is my social media presence (e.g., LinkedIn, Handshake) professional or
do I need to reassess my online presence?
 Am I capable of a salary negotiation and understanding salary packages?
  Am I prepared for the transition from from college to my first post-
graduate destination?
 Do I understand how to navigate workplace politics?
 Do I have professional mentor(s)?

Building Your Level of Competency

Build on your level of this competency through the following:

 Use a planner or calendar to prioritize work/assignments and meet

deadlines in your courses.
 Reflect on a recent challenge and identify areas of growth and
improvement for the future. Review with your rector or a favorite
professor.
 Review your social media through the eyes of a future employer and
determine appropriateness. Have it reviewed at the Center for Career
Development.
 Demonstrate personal accountability and integrity.
 Present yourself as a polished professional. Observe those at a level or
two above you during an internship, or young professionals you meet.
 Contribute in a positive manner.
 Learn from your mistakes and own up to them.
 Keep your personal life private in your work environment.
 Volunteer in a capacity where you can use your skills and expertise.
There are so many opportunities for this at ND.
 Say yes to relevant opportunities.
 Ask one question in every class and/or at every meeting you attend.

SIX WAYS OF A PERSON CAN EXEMPLIFY

PROFESSIONALISM ON THE JOB

Be Timely and Punctual

Being on time is one of the most fundamental qualities of professionalism. A

professional person comes to work before his shift, settles in and is ready to
work for the duration. He is punctual to appointments with clients and
meetings with staff and management. His work is completed on time and he
meets all deadlines given to him.

Taking Responsibility and Being Accountable

Another professional quality is being accountable for your actions. Someone

with a high degree of professionalism takes responsibility for his assignments,
his actions and any problems that arise resulting from his work. If a problem
happens where a client didn't get the product on time because the team
member forgot to transmit it to the operations center, the professional person
will take responsibility and take action to resolve the issue. There is no passing
the buck with a professional employee.

Being Structured and Well-Organized

A professional employee is well-organized. This helps him do his job

efficiently and effectively. His desk is in order with only the necessary files
neatly positioned for him to work on. His desk has files for forms, brochures
and supplies he needs to do his job properly. This prevents him from needing
to run around to look for staples while in the middle of a presentation.

Having Professional Appearance and Good Hygiene

The employee who comes to work with his clothes pressed, shirt tucked in and
matching socks has taken the time to ensure his appearance meets the
standards for his job. His clothes are clean, his hair is combed and he has made
sure to brush his teeth and use deodorant. He'll use mints after lunch or brush
his teeth again. He wants to make sure his first impression in any situation is a
positive one. People have more trust in someone who has taken the time to
ensure a professional appearance.

Being Consistent and Professional

When someone has a strong work ethic, they are diligent in making sure work
gets done and is done properly. This means that work is consistently done well
and efficiently executed. Business leaders want this level of professionalism in
all employees because errors and delays cost money and create other
problems.

Having Humility and Kindness

A professional employee is confident but doesn't walk around the office
arrogantly touting his accomplishments. He is humble and kind, and will offer
to help others. He is a team player who understands his contribution is one part
of a bigger equation. As such, he works with others to make sure that everyone
is achieving everything they can.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL WORK ETHICS

Doing your job diligently with a strong work ethic can help you
perform tasks better, form stronger relationships with colleagues and develop a
positive image for the business.

Strong work ethics lead to higher productivity that results in profits

for the company, advances your career and helps in financial growth through
salary raises and extra perks. Therefore, every good employer tries to determine
if their new employee or even existing ones have good work ethics. They can do
so by posing questions during an interview or by observing the manner in which
you go about doing your job at the specific role. Generally, it is seen that
employees with good work ethics emerge as leaders in their fields by getting
managerial and other senior executive positions.

Ways to demonstrate work ethic:

1. Put away distractions

2. Ask for help to identify areas for improvement

3. Spend your time wisely on tasks that align with goals

4. Organize your notes, inbox and workspaces for increased focus, motivation and time management

5. Take breaks throughout the day to avoid burnout

6. Identify motivators such as tasks, goals or colleagues

7. Practice time management to complete quality, on-time work and be more present in meetings

How to improve work ethic skills

You can exhibit notable work ethic skills by acting professionally and dedicating yourself to the job. Try these tips to

demonstrate your work ethic:

1. Act as an ambassador of the company

Maintain a positive attitude toward the company in both professional and personal interactions. Seek ways to further the

business even if they’re outside the scope of your job. For example, a finance professional may pass a potential lead

along to a sales representative.

2. Prioritize your professional responsibilities

Maintain good attendance, return promptly from lunch and arrive for meetings early. Strive to make personal

appointments that don’t interfere with your work schedule and only take personal calls on your cell phone when you’re at

lunch.

3. Seek professional development

Independently seek ways to improve your work performance, such as taking night classes, attending weekend seminars or

reading industry publications.

4. Review your work

Submit thorough work that you have double-checked for quality and consistency. Manage your time properly so you can

deliver projects early and give each task the time and attention it requires.

5. Show respect to others

Speak politely to and about others in the workplace. Keep your interactions professional to show your respect for others.

Ways to highlight work ethic skills

Showing the qualities of a good work ethic can help you improve your performance in any career. Employers look for the

values associated with a strong work ethic when they’re hiring or promoting employees. Employees can gain hard skills

through training and education, but the soft skills associated with work ethic are more difficult to impart, so hiring

managers typically look for individuals who already exhibit these qualities. Use the following tips to highlight your work

ethic to prospective employers.

Work ethic skills for your resume

A strong work ethic is difficult to convey on a resume but you can emphasize some values associated with it as you

describe your responsibilities in previous jobs. Highlight any instances where a previous client or employer selected you

for a prestigious project or challenging task. This shows you’re trustworthy and reliable. Detail any instances where you

worked overtime to meet a deadline or handle an important issue. List awards and other recognition that you have

received as these show your commitment to the job.

Work ethic skills for your cover letter

Your cover letter gives you some flexibility to discuss your work ethic in more detail. Mention skills associated with a

strong work ethic, such as your dependability and discipline. Mention that you’re seeking a job that will challenge you

and provide room for growth. This lets your prospective employer know that you want to work hard to do an outstanding

job.
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https://smallbusiness.chron.com/meaning-professionalism-work-
ethichttps://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/why-
ethics-is-important-in-the-workplace
https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/getting-started/core-competencies/
work-ethic-professionalism
https://onlinejobsacademy.com/work-ethics/

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/work-ethic