An employee with a strong work ethic is a productive employee. This productivity is seen in the pace of work and your persistence in maintaining that pace. If you can work at a fast pace, that means you’ll be able to accomplish more within the limited time that you are given. You are not the type to give up just because you are exhausted or you suddenly feel lazy. You do not quit until you have completed what you have started.
As an employee or worker, your main concern is to perform your core functions, or the tasks and duties that are in your job description. Therefore, that is the first thing that you should focus on. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense if you score high in punctuality and have a perfect attendance record, but you’re only churning out what is needed, instead of producing great work.
Do quality work. Employers want employees who care about the quality of the work that they churn out, going a step above and beyond the minimum of expectations with regard to the quality of their work. An employee who is committed to quality in his own work is an employee worth keeping because, at the end of the day, his work will form part of the overall quality of the output of the organization.
Be organized. A disorganized employee is seen as someone who may have trouble meeting deadlines and producing quality work. It’s similar to how your personality is often judged by your personal hygiene. If you have dirty nails or unkempt hair, you’d be immediately judged – especially by those you are meeting for the first time – to have problems keeping things together. It’s the same thing if you are disorganized, say, in how you maintain your work area. If you are working with tools and machines, leaving them lying around may even result to accidents and injuries. Being organized shows how you are able to prioritize, and will also provide an indication of how you can contribute to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the company.
Be consistent. You have to continue working at your peak, getting the best results, even when no one is watching. Some employees, in their desire to impress their bosses, will only visibly put in more work if they know they are being watched. This is not how you demonstrate a strong work ethic. On the contrary, it will only paint you as pretentious, which is one of the worst things that can taint your work ethic.
It is “do, not say”, and “act, not tell”. At the end of the day, it is your output and your work that will speak the loudest volume about your work ethic. Show great results, and you’ll be seen as someone with a great work ethic.