HOW TO MAKE YOUR BOSS VERY, VERY HAPPY!

By Jane Jones

Good workers not only keep their jobs, they receive raises. Here are some tips to help you be a valuable employee.

Jessica and Sherri just got their first jobs. They both work at shops in the mall near their homes.

One of them did quite well at her job. The other, well, flopped. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out which one is which.

Jessica came in late today, but she couldn't help it. (That's what she said yesterday, too.)

Sherri got stuck doing routine inventory again. She did it as quickly as she could and then went home exhausted.

Jessica got a new responsibility and called from work to tell her best friend about it. Of course, she also had to find out how the school football game had gone and what Jeff had said to Stephanie after Math class.

Sherri got sick and called to tell her boss she couldn't come in for her regular shift. She offered to work extra hours on the weekend to make up the time.

Jessica studied for her history exam while working with the day's receipts. Somewhere at corporate headquarters are her notes on World War II.

Sherri watched and listened a lot her first few weeks to pick up a feel for how the store operated. She found out quickly who worked hardest, what techniques worked best with the customers and how she was supposed to look and act while at work.

Jessica reluctantly worked a different shift to replace a girl who called in sick. She told the other employees that "Rene's probably faking it. I bet she just went to the beach." Rene heard about Jessica's comment and now the manager can't schedule them together or they'll fight.

Sherri politely helped everyone who came into the store.

Jessica ignored people she thought wouldn't be spending much money.

It doesn't take long to figure out which girl got fired and which stayed hired.

These scenarios are hypothetical, but according to employers, similar things happen every day. Many people don't know how to work. A few simple principles make the good workers stand out from the bad. Here's a brief list of some working world dos and don'ts:

Do:

• Remember you represent the company you work for. A customer may form an impression solely based on how you treat him or her. Sherri tried to learn as much as possible about hew work place so she could represent it well. Jessica cared more about herself than the customers.

• Make your first impression a good one: dress appropriately for your work place, keep your uniform (if you wear one) clean, keep yourself looking neat (especially notice hair and nails) and smile!

• Try to do more than is expected of you.

• Be honest.

• Watch and listen a lot.

• Call your boss if you can't make it to work.

Don't:

• Lie up to cover mistakes.

Mistakes you try to hide have a nasty way of creeping out just when you don't want them to. Admitting a mistake right away could save your employer money and you your job.

• Make a lot of personal telephone calls, talk to friends or do homework.

• Complain a lot or run another worker down.

• Bring your problems to work. Try to leave them at home so you can treat customers and fellow workers politely and give them your whole attention.

• Waste time. You're being paid to work, not goof off.

• Be afraid to ask your boss how you're doing. Ask how you can improve or take on more responsibilities.

• Be late.

• Be afraid to ask if you don't know how to do something. There's nothing wrong with saying you don't know something and offering to find out.

Your boss probably doesn't think work is the best place to catch up on "the latest."

Taken from Youth 90 magazine