On ThE JOB
What Employers Want
coMMunicATion skills Grow
on the job
“ what will separate the wheat from the chaff in what
we do is the ability to communicate both orally and in
writing,” says greg Haviland, a senior manager at one
of the world’s largest technology and consulting firms,
Bearingpoint in austin. “It really distinguishes people to be
able to put their ideas on paper.”
Jim mccarley, co-owner of the opinion research firm
opinions unlimited in Houston agrees. “a solid command
of the english language is essential.”
“There’s nothing worse than spelling errors in emails
or resumes,” states molly Holmes. she should know. she
reads hundreds of emails and resumes each week as
human resources director for liaison resources in austin,
a firm that specializes in recruiting and placing marketing
communications specialists.
dealing with the dAily chAllenGes of business
To succeed in business, it’s also useful to be able to
can lead to rewarding personal development.
speak with ease both to groups and one-on-one. “You
don’t have to be outgoing,” reports Haviland, “but you
have to be approachable and communicative.”
“You need to be able to effectively present your ideas,”
agrees Holmes. “It’s important to be personable versus
someone who just sits behind a computer and hides, and
L
ike many kids, Terry Welch ran a Kool- Multitasking
Aid stand as a child. His was more “I’m not one who likes doing the same
successful than most, he remembers, thing over and over,” says Linda Hulett,
it’s critical to be able to speak well in front of a group.”
because “we had different flavors than administrative assistant in the University of
the Kool-Aid stand down the road.” His Houston’s College of Technology. “I’m the
secret? He would juice up his product with type of personality that likes multitasking.”
ReliABiliTy And PuncTuAliTy
additives such as raspberries or Coca-Cola. An administrative assistant’s job is to
“You’ve got to be punctual and reliable,” says Haviland.
Welch discovered early on that support managers by doing such varied
“It’s an absolute requirement.” But it’s not enough to
working in business means coming up tasks as answering phone calls, scheduling
just show up once. You have to be punctual every day.
with creative ideas that yield bottom- meetings, and filing.
“ninety percent of the people who lose their jobs at my
line benefits. Today, as director of “I knew I wanted to be a secretary in
company do so due to absenteeism,” reports mccarley,
environmental operations for the Dow the eighth grade,” Hulett says, but her
“and we have one of the lowest rates of absenteeism in
Chemical Company in Houston, he
our industry.”
designs ways to help Dow efficiently
deal with waste generated by the Fortune magazIne’s lIsT of
company’s operations.
100 fasTesT-growIng companIes
PResenTABiliTy And diveRsiTy
Collaboration
Includes 13 HeadquarTered In THe
“presentability is important,” states mccarley.
a well-groomed, well-dressed professional
Although the Business, Management HousTon meTropolITan area.
appearance shows a level of respect for
& Administration cluster covers
coworkers, clients, and the company that is vital
a wide variety of activities—
horizons broadened as she acquired
to success. as your parents and teachers
management, accounting, human
more marketable skills. She is pursuing a
always told you, neatness counts.
resources, marketing, business analysis,
bachelor’s degree in project management
most important of all, remember that
administrative support—professionals
online with DeVry University.
you are special. “we look for people who
in all these areas generally
“There are a lot of project management
are their genuine selves,” says Holmes.
spend their days
tasks that I perform in my job right now,”
“we want you to be professional, but
collaborating to plan,
she explains. “When I came here, for
we also want to see what kind of unique
organize, and deliver a
example, I was asked to create a better
qualities you bring to the table. after all,
product or service.
design for office operations. I detailed
it takes a million different pieces to make
Welch, for example,
what the various responsibilities were and
a beautiful mosaic.”
manages 600 employees and a
designed an organizational chart including
budget of $500 million a year.
the new positions that were created.”
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