What Employers Expect From You in the Workplace

By Kaitlin Hurtado on August 8, 2018

When you start a new job or start reflecting on your current one, you may start to wonder what employers expect from you in the workplace. The expectations vary from workplace to workplace, depending on a variety of factors. These factors can include workplace atmosphere (relaxed versus fast-paced), what kind of work you are going to be doing daily, and even how long you have been in the position you are currently in. The expectations placed on you by your employer may become a source of stress, but remember that it is all a part of every job and every employer you have is going to have expectations for you coming into the jobs.

Here are some things that are common when it comes to what employers expect from you in the workplace:

man sitting on phone,

Image via pixabay.com

Employers expect you to ask questions when needed

This expectation is especially the case if you are a new employee, but still stands when you have been an employee for an extended amount of time. Like in other areas of your life (mainly school), you may fear to ask questions in case it makes you look inexperienced or incapable of fulfilling your position, but questions are encouraged in many areas of life. Asking a question is inviting an opportunity to learn, and this is something you should remember when you go into a new job.

There is a reason for employers and other figures to add “If you have any questions, feel free to send them my way” or something very similar when speaking to new hires and other employees. You may feel like you are bothering your employer by stopping to ask a question, but you are helping them and yourself out. They most likely will not know you are having difficulty or need assistance unless you otherwise ask them. Employers are not mind-readers, so letting them know when instructions were a little vague, or if you are still unfamiliar with a certain software program will help them work with you down the line, and may even help future employees.

What employers expect is for their employees to openly communicate when they are having trouble with a task or need some assistance, so do not be afraid to ask questions.

Employers expect you to take initiative

Your employer will expect you to take initiative in your position in order to perform well and initiate improvement and growth in not only yourself but to the workplace. If you have not grown as an employee from the day that you started, it reflects a lack of initiative and contribution in the workplace. You want to show that you are actively growing in your position by taking initiative.

This can be contributing in meetings and offering your input, showing genuine interest in tasks or events that are taking place. It can also be offering suggestions on how to improve current methods or practices that are used around the workplace. For example, if you see something that is not being done in the most productive way or can be adjusted in order to be more effective, try suggesting it to your employer. This shows that you are actively paying attention to practices taking place around the workplace, and also actively looking at how things can improve. You are reflecting that you care enough to better the company as an employee.

Taking initiative shows your employer that you have grown from when you first started at the company as you have grown more comfortable in your position and demonstrated what you can offer to the company.

Employers expect reliability 

This expectation should go without saying, but what employers expect most often is reliability from their employees. Reliability covers the basics of what is expected from most employees. Employers expect you to show up on time and ready to work. If there’s a uniform, you are in it. If you are scheduled to work, you are expected to be there.

Employers will expect you to follow company protocol daily as you complete tasks and employers expect you to meet deadlines as they are given, Employers want to be able to give you a task or a deadline without having to constantly check in with you or worry that you have not done it. When you are first starting out as an employee, it is more typical for your employer or a more experienced employee to talk you through some tasks or coach you through your first few deadlines. However, as time passes, you are expected to handle things on your own more often.

You can still ask questions, of course, but your employers will expect you to be able to handle most tasks and deadlines by yourself. They will expect you to carry on like every other employee, having your work done without extra worrying on their part. What employers expect is a reliable employee.

What employers expect from their employees varies depending on the work you are taking part in, but these three expectations are more common throughout employers and will give you a sense on what your employer will expect from you.

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