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Night Maneuvers

© Stephen Weistling

God, I loved that place, and it all started on the graveyard shift.

Thank you for enduring my trip down memory lane. But, in closing, let me recap some of the advantages of the night shift with a list of things you can do to make an impression and enhance your career.

1. Take advantage of the peace and quiet by learning more about your job by reading, studying, and asking questions.

2. If you're working at a job such as a tech support center, you may have international customers that will notice your helpfulness.

3. Keep in touch with your bosses through phone and email. Often, you may develop a more personal relationship, since you're taking more responsibility and they aren't as distracted as if you were on the day shift trying to make an impression.

4. Make things ready and sharp for the day shift. When they arrive for work, they'll know you weren't goofing off all night, and will be aware of who was taking charge.

5. Take advantage of this time to take on more responsibility, train others, and find new ways to impress the boss.

Stay enthusiastic. Keep your energy up by getting enough sleep and eating right. Your rewards will come soon, and you might even get to work the day shift.

Ref: "Graveyard Shift Isn't Always a Dead-end Job" Wall Street Journal, Sept 20, 2000.