The following is a partial list of the attributes which I bring to any job.
- DEDICATION: I possess a strong work ethic, both in terms of those qualities which all employers ought to be able to take for granted (such as making a conscientious effort to consistently arrive at work on time), and also in terms of my willingness to go the extra mile (such as spending personal time learning new things which will enable me to more effectively perform my job, or working overtime occasionally if it's necessary to do so in order to fulfill my employer's expectations). I don't always know answers to work-related questions, but I am tenacious, so provided that I have some idea of where to look for such answers, and provided that such answers are furnished in a manner which is accessible to people with my general level of knowledge, I can often learn what I need to know in particular situations. However, my dedication also is made manifest by my honesty with regard to my limitations. I'd rather be able to fix things myself, but there are times when I am not qualified to do so. In such instances, trying to muddle through can sometimes compound the problems rather than overcoming them. I therefore think that it's fairer to all concerned for me to be upfront about such matters, rather than pretending to know more than I do.
- VERSATILITY: My diverse background, in terms of my work history and in terms of my education (both formal and otherwise), enables me to apply my office skills and computer knowledge to a wide variety of work environments. Also, I'm not limited to doing office work. I've also worked in a variety of jobs which involved manual labor. I don't consider myself "too good" to clean floors or wash dishes or do whatever needs to be done. Note, however, that I do expect that permanent jobs for which I'm hired will more or less conform to typical expectations for the types of jobs for which I'm hired. (Example: Hiring me as an administrative assistant and then expecting me to do extensive demolition or rehab work on an apartment strikes me as very unreasonable. The two types of work involve entirely different skill sets, and also different levels of physical conditioning.)
- ETHICAL INTEGRITY: I've always believed that the "Golden Rule" is an excellent guide to how one ought to live one's life, regardless of one's job title and level of authority within a company or organization. In other words, I try to treat people as I would wish to be treated, with empathy and respect. This attribute is particularly important when dealing with sales prospects, customers, fellow employees and others. Inasmuch as these are the standards to which I hold myself, I do not think it is unreasonable for me to hold my fellow workers to similar standards of behavior.
- KNOWLEDGEABILITY: I have taken the time to constantly upgrade my knowledge and skills when it comes to such things as computer technology and its applicability to the office environment. It would be disingenuous for me to claim that I know it all, but I do believe that I have an edge over some many other people in terms of knowledge of such things. Moreover, I'm always seeking to learn new professional skills, because I understand that doing so is a necessity in today's extremely competitive job market.
- WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS: If you investigate this blog and website, I think you'll quickly see that I enjoy the process of written communication a great deal. As a published writer, I think that it's fair to say that I'm very good at that process. My typing speed of approximately 70 words per minute undoubtedly contributes to the fluidity with which I am able to write. Moreover, I'm very conscientious and careful when putting things into writing. I won't claim that I never create typos or misspellings, but such incidents are very rare. If I'm unsure about my facts or such things as spelling and grammar, I'm humble enough to look things up online or offline.
- SPOKEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS: In general, my spoken communication skills are on a par with my written communication skills. The fact that I have worked as a radio DJ and news announcer, and also as a telephone professional, undoubtedly helps in that regard.
MY GOALS
This section is still a work in progress!
