Discussion board.

Employer Expectations: Time Management in the Real-World

 College is basically low-stakes practice for the real world.  As we saw in our study skills unit, thinking about your thinking, developing your skills as a self-directed learner, problem-solving, and taking good notes are skills you develop in college that are all applicable (and desirable as an employee) in the working world.

 Time management in the workplace also comes in many forms:  showing up to work on time; working for a set number of hours per day or remaining focused for a set number of hours; and meeting deadlines.  Does all of this sound familiar?  In college you have to show up to class on time, be in class & doing homework or studying for a set number of hours every day, and turn in assignments according to the due date.  The things you're teacher expects of you are the same skills your future employers will expect from you.  

 Think about some of the biggest names when it comes to helping people find employment...

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· ZipRecruiter, 

· Indeed, and

· many more!

 All of these employment websites provide advice for potential candidates, and they're all saying that employers want good time management skills.  Check out a few of these online articles:

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· Employers Want Good Time Management Skills (Links to an external site.)

· 10 Timeless Time Management Techniques (Links to an external site.)

· Important Time Management Skills for Workplace Success (Links to an external site.)

· Time Management Skills: Definition and Examples (Links to an external site.)

· 10 Time Management Skills Every Employ ee Needs

Some of the high points from these articles include:

Setting realistic goals

Create a plan & to-do list

Use a calendar & create a schedule for yourself

Prioritize

Get organized & keep a clean workspace

Avoid distractions

Manage your stress

Schedule your hardest tasks around when you perform at your best

For example: Do you have more energy/more focused in the morning or afternoon?

Circle-Bullet-Blue.png Are you doing your best to hone your employment skills now, while the stakes are still low? Check out this video on how to improve your time management in the workplace:

https://youtu.be/Dok35Inmw5U (watch this)

 All of the tips in this video can be easily applied to your time management in college:

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1. Plan for tomorrow the night before. 

· Rather than get up & make your to-do list for the day that day, you'll be ready to get up & get started without wasting time.

2. Don't get caught in the whirlwind of all the things going on. 

· Keep focused on your tasks & completing assignments.

3. Don't get caught up in "putting out fires."

· "Fires" are challenges or issues that are going to come up, like a flat tire

· Don't let those things consume your whole day

· Remain focused on your tasks

· What 3 tasks did you set out to accomplish that day? 

4. Don't let your focus by constantly broken by distractions

· "At the end of the day, how do you explain your day?"  Were you focused on distractions all day? 

· Can you look at your to-do list and actually measure what you got done?  

· "What did you finish & how did you feel?"