Career advancement is often contingent on your ability to demonstrate your willingness to work hard whenever necessary. But you have to do more than simply manage your job well; you have to make sure you are noticed.
Some employees believe this means working extra hours or staying later than their co-workers. While this seems like a potentially effective strategy, working longer than your peers does not automatically translate into being seen as a hard worker. In some cases, it may actually work against you.
Why Long Hours Alone Don’t Send the Right Message
As a light industrial employee, you are often given specific tasks to accomplish during your day. By staying late without prompting, you may be suggesting that you can’t complete your fair share within a standard schedule. Ultimately, this leaves a negative impression with management and supervisors, especially if the additional time results in extra hours on the clock for hourly positions.
However, if you are working extra hours because you have offered to take on other responsibilities, and the fact that overtime may be involved is known, then it can reflect positively on your reputation. But it is important to make sure that you are getting enough rest to complete all of the work successfully. If pushing yourself to the limits causes your performance to degrade, then the extra hours are doing more harm than good.
Understand the Metrics
Job performance in an industrial environment is often tied to specific metrics. It could be the creation of X number of pieces during a shift, completing a certain number of orders, or packaging a specific amount of product. Regardless of the standard involved, take the time to understand precisely what is needed from you as a light industrial employee.
Then, commit yourself to meeting that expectation every shift within your normal work hours. Being able to meet performance requirements in the allocated time shows that you are performing as they need. It demonstrates reliability and allows them to plan future activities based on your ability to manage the task at hand.
Be Your Own Advocate
If you are meeting your daily output requirements, and you feel you can do more within your day, speak to your supervisor regarding available options. You may be able to work ahead or your additional capacity may allow them to escalate production. When additional output in your area isn’t necessary, you may have the ability to take on additional tasks that can further your career. And by directly asking your supervisor what you can do, you ensure your performance is on their radar. It also asserts that you are interested in providing even more value to the company than you do today.
Demonstrating your current capabilities and your desire to move forward can show that you are a hardworking light industrial employee who can be counted on. And, ultimately, that is the goal.
If you are interested in finding new light industrial positions that can help further your career, TempStaff works with some of the leading companies in Jackson, MS. Contact us and see how your light industrial career can move forward.
