Asking for Help

When you are at work, there might be times where you need help.  You are not expected to know everything about your job and responsibilities.  Sometimes it is hard to ask for help.  But, it is important that you do ask for help when you need it so that you can do your job correctly and quickly.   It is okay to ask for help when you need it.

You should talk to your supervisor / boss when you need help.  Sometimes, it is also okay to ask a more experienced co-worker for their help. 

You should ask for help if:

• You are unsure of how to do something.
  
  
• You have been looking at something for a long time without knowing what to do.
  
  
• You do not know where to find something you need (e.g., work supplies). 
  
  
• You are not sure how your supervisor would like the task to be done. 
  
  
  • Example: At a restaurant, you could fold the napkins or put them in the glass. If you’re not sure where the napkins go, ask!
    
    
  • Example: When stuffing envelopes at an office job, you are not sure what order to put the papers into the envelope. You should ask for help in this situation rather than guessing.
    
    
• You are feeling upset or overwhelmed by your work.
  
  
• You are not sure how to deal with an angry or difficult customer.
  
  
• You are not sure how to answer a customer’s question. 
  
  
• You are not going to meet a deadline.

In all of these cases, you should ask for help!  When you get the help you need, you will do your work task correctly and quickly.

When you need to ask for help, here is what you should do:

Walk over to your supervisor (or experienced co-worker). If they are on the phone, you need to wait until they are off the phone.  It is not appropriate for you tap them on the shoulder or to stand right next to them and wait.  That might make them feel irritated with you.   Step away from them or come back later if you can.   If they are talking to someone else face to face, you need to step back away from their conversation and wait until the person is alone.  Then say something like, "Excuse me, is this a good time to ask you a question?" Then, politely and calmly say something like, “Excuse me, I am sorry to interrupt you.”  Then, ask your question or politely ask them to come and assist you.  When they help you with what you need, you might need to write down their instructions so you will know what to do next time. Be sure to say “thank you.”