Professionalism
Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.
Sample Behaviors
- Act equitably with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization
- Maintain a positive personal brand in alignment with organization and personal career values
- Be present and prepared
- Demonstrate dependability (e.g., report consistently for work or meetings)
- Prioritize and complete tasks to accomplish organizational goals
- Consistently meet or exceed goals and expectations
- Have an attention to detail, resulting in few if any errors in their work
- Show a high level of dedication toward doing a good job
Develop
Over the course of your educational experience at TU, you can gain proficiency through some of the following methods:
- Join an academic, honors or professional student organization
- Enroll in an ethics course
- Conduct career conversations
- Find part-time or full-time work opportunities (find on- and off-campus work through Handshake)
- Demonstrate work ethic by working on- or off-campus
- Visit the SuiTUp Professional Attire Closet
- Get a professional headshot taken at the LinkedIn Photo Booth (Iris Air)
- Attend networking events on campus (i.e., job fairs)
- Seek executive roles and active membership in clubs/organizations
- Join a professional organization related to your field
- Search for an Internship
- Enroll in the Design Your Career Plan (EDUC 121) course
- Build your network with alumni via the Tiger Mentor Network
- Learn more about Accepting & Maximizing Internships
- Update your resume and LinkedIn profile regulary
Develop your skills
LinkedIn Learning
Develop your professionalism skills by completing these free LinkedIn Learning courses. Select the course title below, click “Sign in,” and use your TU email to get started.
- Professional Networking and Influence
- Holding Yourself Accountable
- Holding Your Team Accountable
- Personal Branding on Social Media
- Prioritizing Effectively as a Leader
- Powerful Prioritization with the 80/20 Rule
- Learn to Control Your Attention
- How to Manage Your Attention and Your Priorities
- Setting Business Unit Goals
- Setting and Managing Realistic Expectations for Your L&D Program
Articulate
Use the following list of action verbs to describe activities related to professionalism and work ethic:
achieve; acknowledge; adjust; award; commit; complete; examine; execute; exhibit; deliver; demonstrate; meet deadlines; provide; receive; recognize; take responsibility for; understand
Sample Resume Bullet Points
- Achieved highest award in Girl Scouting for developing, coordinating and implementing a healthy eating and fitness campaign for local elementary schools
- Recognized for leadership and outstanding contributions to the university and campus life
- Demonstrated tact and communication skills with coaches and parents in explaining rules and procedures
- Provided therapeutic communication to adult psychiatric patients while maintaining confidentiality
- Exhibited customer service skills when addressing patron concerns
For additional resume assistance, visit the Career Center's Resumes page or schedule an appointment.
Interview Questions
Be prepared to answer common professionalism and work ethic interview questions including:
- What challenges did you face in a previous job or leadership role and how did you handle them?
- Describe a time when you recognized and overcame your biases.
- Give an example of how you have acted with integrity in a work environment.
- What kinds of decisions are the most difficult for you? Describe one.
- Give an example where you adjusted your approach to working with a team after receiving feedback from a peer or co-worker.