The Real World 101Brought to you by:

Morris EllingtonProfessional Development Program Manager

UTSA Career Services

The Real World 101• Many students are not prepared for the “Real World”

of work after graduation.

• In this presentation, we will discuss…

Successfully transitioning from college to professional life

Doing the things necessary to not only keep, but to succeed in your new career

Take Ownership!

• The first 3 – 6 months of your career are critical!

• Your boss and co-workers don’t really know you – and this is the time you will be establishing your reputation.

• Take ownership in your career and do all the things necessary to build a strong, positive, professional reputation!

The Real World 101 Much of your success in the “Real World” is dependent upon

simple, common sense things:

Dependability Attitude Job Knowledge / training Commitment Avoid negative influences Fraternization

No “Kissing up” Establishing your reputation Learning to work for & with people you dislike Leadership

DependabilityTRUE or FALSE

• More people involuntarily lose their jobs because of poor attendance or punctuality than any other reason.

TRUE

Companies need dependable employees who show up – on time – and work their scheduled hours. Poor attendance and punctuality is critical to any organization’s success

DependabilityTRUE or FALSE

• Most absenteeism in all organizations occurs on either Monday or Friday.

TRUE

The vast majority of people who call in sick are not actually ill.

Dependability

“80 percent of Success is

Just Showing Up”

– Woody Allen

Dependability• Step One in keeping your job and succeeding in your

career is disciplining yourself to get to work – on time – every day.

• Dependability is noticed, and is a huge part of career success.

• There are always reasons to take days off, show up late or leave early.

• In the “Real World” you must accept accountability and ownership for your success and find a way to get to work!

Attitude is Everything• Maintaining a positive attitude is critical to success in any

career at – especially your first year.

• Things will not always go your way. But in order to be successful, you must consistently maintain a positive attitude towards your job, boss, customers and co-workers.

• Having a great attitude is easy during the good times. It’s keeping it during the bad times that separates the successful from the failures.

• Remember, YOU choose your attitude – it doesn’t choose you!

Job Knowledge & Training• Knowing your job is a key to success.

• It’s not enough to know how to perform your job functions, you need to understand why as well.

• Successful people don’t just sit back and wait to be trained.

• Accept responsibility for your own training & development. Be proactive and never stop asking questions!

Commitment• One of the biggest reasons people fail in new jobs is they lose

sight of the vision – why they pursued and accepted the job in the first place.

• If you leave before 12 months you are doing both yourself and your employer a disservice.

• The first year – and especially the first three months of any new job - is the toughest. You truly will not understand what you are a part of for at least one year.

• Make at least a one year commitment and stick to it – no matter how much you don’t like it!

Avoid Internal Factions & “Cliques”• In any work environment there are internal groups, factions &

“cliques”

• These factions are almost always fueled by negativity towards something – usually the boss.

• Although you want to build good, positive working relationships with everyone in your organization, getting involved with these groups can damage your reputation as well as affect your attitude and morale.

• Strive to get along with everyone – but avoid these negative situations and groups.

Fraternization = Big Trouble• It is important that you separate your work and social life.

• It is common to be tempted to become romantically involved with a co-worker.

• Fraternization is ALWAYS a bad idea, and NEVER has a happy ending!

• Many careers have been crippled or even destroyed because of this.

• Be friendly with everyone, but separate your personal and professional life!

No “Kissing Up”• Your boss is not looking for a “yes” person.

• Being an effective employee that is valued by your boss does not mean you will always agree with them!

• Good managers value contrary viewpoints and want to hear different viewpoints.

• Speak your mind – but do so in a positive and professional way.

Build a Great Reputation

• Being a highly respected employee with a solid reputation does not just mean being valued by those above you.

• Treat everyone in your organization with courtesy and respect – from top to bottom.

• The people below you can be a very valuable asset to your career, and are just as important to your success as the most senior person you work with.

Working with People you Dislike• Over the course of your career, there will be many occasions

when you will have to work with – and for – people that you do not personally like or approve of.

• If you are to be successful in your career, you will have to learn to handle these situations in a professional manner. Just remember:

• 1. It’s business – not personal• 2. It’s not your choice. Your employer does not give you a

paycheck to let your personal feelings, attitudes or biases affect the way you perform your job duties.

• 3. Learning to build a strong working relationship with people that are different from you is part of career maturity. Just do it!

Leadership• Employers are promoting people faster than ever before.

• It is not unusual for a new college graduate to be in a position of leadership and supervising people within one year of graduation – or less!

• There are no “born leaders”. Becoming an effective leader is a “learned skill”.

• Many organizations have effective leadership development programs, while others do not.

• To be successful, you must take ownership in learning how to deal with people and become an effective leader.

Develop Leadership SkillsTRUE or FALSE

• “As a manager, the people you supervise will always be your biggest challenge.”

TRUE

Handled poorly, the people you supervise will always be your biggest source of problems and headaches.

But handled properly, they will be your greatest asset and a key ally in your career success.

Leadership• There are no “born leaders”. Leadership is a learned

skill.

• Developing those skills requires an understanding of what motivates people.

• It also requires experience. Becoming a great leader takes time.

Let’s test your knowledge of a few basic leadership concepts…

TRUE or FALSE

• The #1 reason people leave companies is because they were “Bad Hires”. They were not a “Good “Fit” and never should have been hired in the first place.

FALSE!

TRUE or FALSE

• If companies pay more money, more people will stay.

FALSE!

TRUE or FALSE

• Employees emulate their manager’s traits, personality and attitude.

TRUE!

TRUE or FALSE• If I could survive, you should to! If you can’t hack it,

you shouldn’t be here in the first place!

FALSE!Today’s new-hires, for the most part, are members of the Millennial Generation (also known as “Gen Y”). Their ideals and goals are very different than the “Baby Boomers” and “Gen X”

Baby Boomer Characteristics (1946-1964)

• Invented the 60 hour work week• Career Achievement comes before family & personal interests• Disintegration of the traditional family• Distrust of authority• Idealistic – changed the world (civil rights, rock ‘n roll, question authority)• Measure success based on achievement, position / title, earnings• Motto: “Live to Work”

Millennial Characteristics (1980-2000)

• Seek immediate gratification – don’t think long term• Family & personal interests comes before work• Work / life balance more important than earnings / wealth• Time is a commodity – more valuable than money• Pragmatic and realistic• Measure own success – based on their values and criteria, not others• Motto: “Work to Live”

Communication Styles

DESIRED METHODS OF COMMUNICATING:

Greatest Gen Boomers Gen X Gen Y(1922-1945) (1946-1964) (1965-1980) (1981-2000)U.S. Mail Land line phone Cell phone Email

Email Text message

Wall posts

Being Different is Good!• Differences – like those resulting from generational

characteristics – are a good thing!

• These differences make us unique, and help us see things from differing viewpoints and perspectives. If understood and channeled properly, this is real positive!

• Each new generation has different ideals, goals and are motivated differently. Great leaders learn to adapt their style to these differences, while poor managers demand that employees conform to his / her rigid and inflexible style.

• Cultural, gender and other differences must also be considered when motivating and leading people.

But Be Aware!

• Even though effective leaders learn to adapt their style to different people, consistency in how you treat people must always be maintained!

• Different – but equal – is the key!

What is the #1 Reason People Quit?

• A. Pay• B. Hours• C. Better Offer• D. Dissatisfaction with ManagementD. Dissatisfaction with Management

People don’t quit the Company, they quit their Manager

Dissatisfaction with Management• Lack of training• Lack of personalized attention from management• Poor example setting / role modeling• Public criticism• Lack of recognition & appreciation• Self-centered management• Mixed signals / contradictions• Intimidation – management by threats & fear• Employee used as a “means to an end”

Financial Impact of Poor Leadership (Turnover)

Experts estimate that it costs somewhere between $10,000 - $12,000

to replace one entry-level employee who leaves an organization during the

first year of employment.

What Kind of Leader are You?

• Most people fit into one of two basic leadership styles – Theory X or Theory Y.

• Although some people display traits of both, most people will fall strongly into one of these two management styles.

• Let’s look at the basic philosophies of each…

Theory X vs. Theory YTheory X Managers believe:

• The average person has an inherent dislike of work and will avoid it when they can.

• Because of their dislike for work, most people must be controlled and threatened before they will work hard.

• The average person prefers to be directed, dislikes responsibility, and desires security above everything.

• The most effective way to manage people is through fear, threats and intimidation.

Theory X vs. Theory YTheory Y Managers believe:

• The expenditure of physical and mental effort in work is as natural as play or rest.

• If a job is satisfying, then the result will be commitment to the organization.

• The average person learns, under proper conditions, not only to accept, but to seek responsibility.

• The most effective way to manage people is through high expectations, positive reinforcement, and employee involvement in the decision making process.

The most effective way to manage people is through high expectations, positivereinforcement, and employee involvement in thedecision making process.

Theory X vs. Theory Y

STATED SIMPLY:

• Theory X managers make people do things.

• Theory Y managers make people want to do things.

Motivated employees who like and want to do their job will always perform at a higher level than employees who do the job because they are forced to.

Theory X vs Theory Y Management

• All managers are either Theory X or Theory Y managers and, again, some display characteristics of each.

• By better understanding this technique, managers can begin to discard bad Theory X habits and more successfully channel their energies into being effective Theory Y managers.

10 Simple Steps to Effective Leadership1. Teach – share your knowledge. People want to learn and

depend on you to teach them.2. Be positive – always. Attitude is everything in leadership.3. Get to know your people – show a personal interest in them.4. Be a mentor and role model – set the example.5. Honesty & Integrity = Loyalty & Respect6. Take ownership in their career – show the way7. Be connected to the “pulse” of your people and business8. Be flexible – adapt your leadership style to different

generations, cultures and changing times.9. Praise and recognize – at every opportunity10. Practice the “Golden Rule” of leadership

In Conclusion…

“There are many aspects to Effective Management;

Leadership is #1,

Everything else is #2”

THANK YOUand Good Luck!

Morris EllingtonProfessional Development Program Manager

UTSA University Career Center

www.utsa.edu/careercenter