Good time management is key to maintaining your job and it can also help to build up good routines in your day. Once you are in work, it is very important you manage your time well, which you can read about below.
Tips for good time management
Travelling to work
Make sure you leave early enough to travel to work so you arrive on time - do a trial run of your drive, bus journey, cycle or walk to work before you start, this will ensure you are prepared for the traffic and can factor in any potential delays. Remember, if you are running late for work it is important you let your line manager know as soon as possible.
Arriving and starting work
If you start work at 9am, it is good practice to get there for 8.45am, make yourself a drink and get ready for the day ahead. Also leave yourself time to complete the task you are working on before the end of your working day - if you finish work at 3pm, do not drop everything and leave, make sure you finish the task you are working on first and that your work space is left clean and tidy.
Understanding your rotas
Rotas can be written in different ways depending where you work, for example some companies use a 24 hour clock format, some display rotas on a noticeboard and some send them electronically. It is important you understand the times you start and finish work, as well as when your breaks are. If you are having difficulty understanding your rota, please speak to your employer or/and your Employment Coordinator.
Planning your day
When you start work, you will begin to understand how long specific tasks should take or how long you take to complete them. From this, you will be able to plan your day effectively and manage your time in the most productive way possible. If you are struggling to complete or understand certain tasks, speak to your line manager and your Employment Coordinator about this as there are many different strategies that can be used to help with this. It is always better to ask for help rather than doing a task incorrectly. If you have no work to do, ask your line manager or a colleague for another task to work on.
Taking a break
Make sure you take your allocated breaks - depending on how many hours your shift is you may be entitled to a tea break or lunch break. If you get a break, it is important that you take it to get a rest from work, this is good for your own wellbeing and can lead to you being more productive.
JET Support
Employers expect employees to be on time for work and to be able to do the tasks allocated to them, otherwise you could be at risk of being asked to attend a performance review meeting with your manager, or even be at risk of losing your job. If you are struggling to manage your time, speak to your Employment Coordinator as soon as possible for assistance.