Professional Conduct and

Workplace Behavior
Myrna Rudder
Allen Rioux
What Companies Want
Positive Attitude
Proficiency in Field of Study
Communication Skills (oral & written)
Interpersonal Skills
Confidence
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
Flexibility
Self-motivation
Leadership
Teamwork
While on the J ob
Maintain a good attendance record
Be on time and work required hours
No clock watching
Orient yourself to the new environment as quickly
as you can
Learn how the system works and follow it
Adapt to written and verbal communication styles
Speak proper English avoid slang, etc.
Learn safety rules and obey them
While on the J ob
Learn co-worker names
familiarize yourself with positions and duties
Always be tactful and courteous
Adapt to internal politics
Dont be afraid to ask questions
Learn to cope with realities of the work world
Not everything is going to go your way
Learn to build on what you know
While on the J ob
Be able to take suggestions and criticism from
people
Establish good work habits:
Keep records of assignments given
Pay special attention to detail
A job well done is evidence of your ability and
readiness for more complex tasks
Excellence and enthusiasm balanced with the
ability to learn through constructive criticism,
usually result in assignments with increased
responsibility
What NOT TO DO!
DO NOT: Make personal phone calls while at
work
DO NOT: Search the internet - unless it is part of
your job - do not go to ANY obscene sites!
DO NOT: Conduct yourself like a party animal
during the week and or weekend
NEVER: Come to work intoxicated!
DO NOT: Give the hint of being dishonest - it
could ruin your whole co-op!
Expected Behavior
BE RELIABLE
Be to work on time, dont miss work
If you are forced to miss work for some reason
out of your control, call work ASAP
BE WILLING TO WORK
Do your job - go above and beyond what they
ask
Also do extra things to help everyone around
you get the job done
Expected Behavior
BE RESPECTFUL
Show respect for company, boss and fellow
employees
KEEP J OB SEPARATE FROM SOCIAL
AND PERSONAL LIFE
Dont make dates in the office or take up your
bosss or co-workers time with discussions of
your personal life
Expected Behavior
Violation of any of these rules will result in a no
credit for your co-op experience if the violation is
serious
If the infraction is severe, the student may not be
allowed to co-op again until remedial action is
taken
The student will be expected to write a letter of
apology to the company if the infraction involved
inappropriate behavior
University conduct policies apply to students out
on co-op
Safety in the Workplace
Follow company policies regarding safety in the
workplace
Wear safety glasses, noise protection, wear certain
protective clothing, gloves, hats, lab coats, etc.
Stay clear distance from dangerous equipment and
machinery
Do not put hands where they shouldnt be!
Not even as a joke!
If there is a safety violation, you must bring to
supervisors attention ASAP!
Safety in the Workplace
Safety is very important for a number of reasons:
Your health and well-being are the most important!
Every day there are literally thousands of lawsuits
filed by individuals and companies regarding
safety - or lack of safety in the workplace.
We need you to be very cognizant of this
important issue
The Exit Interview
Both you and your supervisor will fill out an
evaluation form based on your co-op experience
The forms are available online:
http://www.eng.utoledo.edu/coop/studenteval.htm
http://www.eng.utoledo.edu/coop/employereval.htm
Make copies for yourself for reference
This must be done 3 - 4 weeks before you
complete your co-op
The Exit Interview
Be professional in any writing:
Student quote from evaluation, I cant wait to get
the heck away from this dumb company, these
stupid people, and this awful town.
In a professional environment, one dumb
sentence could ruin it for you
It could also be a violation of the Co-op
Behavior Policy
Things to Remember
You are representing YOURSELF as well as the
UNIVERSITY of TOLEDO!
YOUR REPUTATION as well as the University of
Toledo's REPUTATION will be on the line if you do
not succeed!
People read what you write and it is important that
you be professional in all communications and
circumstances
Make yourself proud! Be a great representative for
UT! Do a good job! Learn a lot!