Independent

On this page you are going to develop knowledge on Independence, what it means, why it is important for your career and how you can develop this.

What does it mean to be independent?

Being independent is closely linked to being self reliant. Being independent means being able to follow instructions properly and carefully with little or no help.

What does it mean to work independently?

Working independently is the ability to work self-sufficiently on assigned tasks. You might receive direction on projects from a supervisor or manager, but they can then trust you to accomplish tasks with little to no supervision. Working independently can involve a sense of responsibility and self-reliance as you work to finish projects and assignments.

Learn more about the benefits of being an independent worker

What are examples of being independent?

Examples of being independent at work

Being able to manage your time effectively
Organising your workload and completing tasks without being asked.
Taking initiative to come up with new ideas and projects.

Examples of being independent at home

Maintaining good personal hygiene
Maintaining your personal finances
Making safe and positive choices about your life and personal goals.

Examples of being independent at College

Finding your industry placement to support your professional development.
Balancing your workload and making sure you are completing work/assessments on time.
Taking responsibility for your own actions, and acknowledge and own up when things may have gone wrong and think of ways you can improve.

How can being independent help your career?

We can often confuse being independent with being able to do exactly what we want without answering to anyone but this isn’t what me mean and it certainly isn’t the skill employers are looking for.

Being independent is about being able to manage yourself: taking initiative when required, knowing what needs to be done and doing it without a constant need to be reminded and taking ownership when things go wrong.

being independent means you have developed great skills such as managing your own time, being able to complete tasks and being organised which are all vital skills that employers look for in employees!