Job Success

Who is the more successful employee?

After reading about steps you can take to increase your chances of workplace success, determine who is the more successful employee:

Mary

• Works for a mid-sized corporation as a departmental secretary to five team members and a departmental supervisor
• Types 65 words per minute
• Has excellent computer skills
• Rarely asks anyone for help
• Is prompt and efficient on the telephone
• Is occasionally abrupt and rude when taking messages
• Has several complaints in her file from coworkers and customers
• Is rarely friendly
• Complains frequently about her job
• Is reluctant to learn new skills
  
  

Brian

• Works at a university as administrative support for a team of five and a departmental supervisor
• Types 35 words per minute
• Has basic computer skills
• Was out of the workforce for a short time due to an injury
• Has been retrained in administrative skills
• Has no prior experience in the field
• Has a complimentary letter in his file after one month on the job
• Has made some mistakes
• Is friendly
• Shows a willingness and enthusiasm to learn new skills and is showing improvement
  
  

Response:

• There are positive and negative aspects to both of these employees. In your opinion, who is the better employee? Why? Give specific reasons for your choice.
• Let's imagine that Mary and Brian are interviewing for a position as an executive secretary at a large corporation. Who would get the job? Why?