What is required to be good at your job?



Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 In my opinion if you want to be effective at work and good at the job you do, the key element is that you do a job you enjoy!

It really is that simple!

During my life I have worked for many employers, doing many different tasks - overall I have always picked jobs that I look forward to doing.

It makes it easier if you enjoy work to put the extra effort into your work and in turn you are a more successful employee.
It doesn't make any sense to me to put yourself into a job in which you will be miserable and not enjoy...

Even if the money is great, you will be regret having to go to work each day because it will seem to drag on and on...

If I were to be offered two jobs at once, one that has a larger salary but the other I would enjoy more, I would (and have done in the past) take the role that would offer the higher job satisfaction.

In the past I have had jobs as dull as sticking labels on bottles, scanning books, answering telephones, and putting leaflets in envelopes - I have always found these jobs were so mundane that I always looked for a way to get out of doing them!


However, in my current customer service role, I totally enjoy doing my job! As a result I find myself really pushing myself professionally - which makes me better at the job I do!
 

I've even had feedback from somebody from our head office - they received an email from a customer who was pleased with my customer service they wrote in and commented...

I was happy enough with the praise I received from my manager, however the £25 vouchers I received to thank me was especially rewarding!

So to sum up, in my opinion if you wish to be better at your job, make sure you land a job you really enjoy!

Good luck if you are looking for a job!

- Thelittlerich

Has online shopping put a nail in the retail coffin?

This is the last week of my Christmas job, my contract ends on Christmas eve. I must admit I'm really going to miss the job, as well as all the people I've been lucky to work with over the last couple of months.

The run up to Christmas got me thinking about how retail has changed over the last few years. I heard on the radio that Monday 21st December was the crucial 24 hours in which retailers could meet or fail to meet their sales figures for the end of the year.

The main problem with retail is that consumers are more and more often opting to spend their money online. It is simply so much easier as a consumer to sit in the warmth of your home, in front of the computer and have everything you buy delivered to the door...

Consumers can avoid the queues, the cold weather, the (lack of) parking, pavement rage and being laden down with big, heavy bulky bags...
It simply makes sense, doesn't it?

However, there are several things that you don't get with online shopping: the personal touch.
Apart from maybe a quick chat with the delivery driver, there is no human contact during your shopping spree. There are no sales advisors who can help you choose the best item, make recommendations to you or to have a bit of a laugh with and raise your spirits!

Another downfall with online shopping is you don't have the item until it's delivered.

Many people would prefer to have their shopping with them in their hand after spending their money. Even with companies offering speedy delivery services, there isn't the same guarantee of getting your stuff... Not in time for Christmas / birthdays / anniversary / ever!

Sometimes you want the safe knowledge that your purchased items are with you and not on the back of a lorry somewhere between your home, the depot and timbucktoo!

As an option, I would use online shopping to order hard to find  items, perhaps an item from overseas, but I admit I prefer to go into a shop and browse-buy, flirt with the pretty sales assistants and leave with my shopping in my hands.

What are your thoughts on the online shopping vs retail shopping? Leave your comments below!

- Thelittlerich