Adapting with My Coworkers and Working Environment During My Internship at Bumi Sawunggaling Hotel Bandung.

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ii Maranatha Christian University

ABSTRACT

Tugas Akhir ini dibuat berdasarkan kesulitan yang saya hadapi selama menjalani proses magang di Bumi Sawunggaling Hotel Bandung. Selama magang saya bertugas sebagai resepsionis yang bertugas menangani layanan reservasi, check in, dan check out tamu. Masalah yang saya alami adalah kesulitan dalam beradaptasi dengan lingkungan kerja yang baru. Tidak mudah bagi saya beradaptasi dengan lingkungan dan orang-orang yang baru, mengingat saya adalah orang yang tidak begitu pandai dalam bersosialisasi. Hal tersebut berdampak cukup besar pada kinerja saya dalam melakukan tugas saya sebagai resepsionis. Kesulitan ini pula yang membuat saya melakukan kesalahan-kesalahan dan menghasilkan kualitas kerja yang kurang baik. Oleh karena itu, saya mengangkat topik mengenai bagaimana cara untuk beradaptasi dengan mudah di lingkungan kerja yang baru.

Berdasarkan pengalaman saya selama magang di Bumi

Sawunggaling Hotel, penyebab kesulitan saya dalam beradaptasi adalah saya bukanlah orang yang mudah bersosialisasi, saya merasa sangat canggung dan kaku berinteraksi dengan orang-orang baru. Selain itu saya juga tidak mempunyai pengalaman bekerja, dan saya tidak memiliki

pengertian yang jelas tentang pekerjaan sebagai resepsionis. Dampak yang ditimbulkan dari sulitnya beradaptasi adalah saya membuat beberapa kesalahan dalam proses kerja, saya tidak bisa mengerjakan pekerjaan saya secara efektif, dan saya sempat mendapatkan teguran dari atasan dan staf lain karena kelalaian saya dalam bekerja. Saya mendapatkan tiga solusi untuk menyelesaikan masalah tersebut. Ketiga solusi tersebut adalah dengan bertanya kepada staf lain yang sudah berpengalaman, melakukan observasi terhadap staf lain untuk

mengetahui cara kerja mereka, dan dengan bersosialisasi di lingkungan kerja. Terkait dengan tiga solusi tersebut, terdapat juga dampak positif dan negatif dari setiap solusi.

Berdasarkan dari analisis yang saya lakukan, saya menyimpulkan bahwa solusi terbaik untuk menangani masalah selama saya magang adalah dengan menggabungkan ketiga solusi tersebut. Ketiga solusi itu sangatlah penting untuk dilakukan bagi pegawai baru yang sulit

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v Maranatha Christian University

A. Background of the Study B. Identification of the Problem C. Objectives and Benefits of the Study D. Description of the Institution E. Method of the Study F. Limitation of the Study G. Organization of the Term Paper CHAPTER II. PROBLEM ANALYSIS...7

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1 Maranatha Christian University

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A . Background of the Study

I did my internship at Bumi Sawunggaling Hotel (henceforth

BSH) from December 2014 until January 2015. I worked as a front

office staff from Monday until Saturday. I worked for 8 hours per

day and the working hours were from 8 a.m until 4 p.m. My job

descriptions are receiving phone calls, making reservation for the

hotel guests and handling check in and check out service. As stated

by an article entitled “Hotel Front Desk“ that “Receptionists check

guests into and out of their rooms, give information about hotel

services and the local area, resolve complaints or problems and

may direct other members of staff, such as bellboys or members of

housekeeping” (par. 1). As a front office staff, I have to be able to

handle my job, especially when there are a lot of guests in the hotel.

When I did my internship in BSH as a front office staff, I had

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It is stated by Elendo and Bychenkova that, “For every person new

workplace is a kind of stress, he has to get used to new rules, get

acquainted with and get used to unknown people, learn behavioral

norms and rules of company” (par. 2). On the other hand, I realise

that adaptation is important. Nath states that:

Adaptability means to modify and adjust according to the

environment and situation. For a good worker, he must have the

quality to adapt and work in any environment and situation. Skills

are not only pertained with the subject knowledge and talents, but

also include certain soft skills like adaptability. Many soft skills are

required in today’s scenario to fit oneself in his work place.

Adaptability is one of the most important soft skills that allow one to

adapt or get along in most situations at work. It is the skill that is

very essential to interact with supervisors, coworkers, customers,

and clients.Adapting yourself with your co-workers and office

environment is the first lesson that you will learn when you first join

in a concern (par.1).

Furthermore, Elendo and Bychenkovastated that, “Adaptation is a

process of employee acquaintance with activity and organization and a

change of his behavior in accordance with environment requirements”

(par. 6).As a new staff, it was not easy for me to interact with

other hotel staff. I could not do my job effectively, and I did not

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performance and my interaction with other staff because I did not finish

my job well.

Based on the above explanation, I would like to discuss my

difficulty in adapting into a new workplace during my internship. I

expect to find the best solution to overcome the problem. Based on,

the information from the book and the articles that I have read, I find that

a lot of people who have graduated, have similar problem in this

situation, especially when they enter the working place for the first

time.

B. Identification of the Problem

The problem I am going to analyze in this paper is formulated in

these questions:

1 . Why did I have difficulty in adapting with my coworkers and working

environment during my internship as a front office staff at BSH ?

2 . How did my problem influence my work performance ?

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C. Objectives and Benefits of the Study

The first objective of the study is to find out the causes of my

difficulties in adapting into my new work environment as a front office staff

in BSH. The second objective is to show the effects of my difficulties in

adapting into my new work environment to develop my interpersonal skill.

The third objective is to present the best solution to overcome my

difficulties in adapting to new workplace environment.

The benefit of doing the research for the hotel staff in BSH is that

they will be able to get more information about how to deal with new hotel

staff. For the readers, I hope they will get some information about the

solution, if they have a similar problem. For me as the writer, this term

paper will help me to get some knowledge about adapting in a new

workplace environment, when I enter the working place in the future.

D. Description of the Institution

This data is based on BSH profile described in a photo displayed in

the hotel. BSH was officially started on April 27th, 1998. It is located on

Jalan Sawunggaling 13. The hotel has an Art Deco style with 22 rooms

and 45 staff. Before becoming a hotel, BSH was the house of Merv.

Bossch Jacobs, which was built in 1920. After the independence of

Indonesia, the house was given to Indonesian goverment and it was used

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Arismunandar suggested that the dormitory to be used as a public

building for ITB guests. A year later, in 1998 the building was turned into a

hotel. Now BSH is known as a hotel which has nostalgic atmosphere

especially for ITB alumni.

E. Method of the Study

The method that I applied in this term paper is field research by

doing observation during my internship in Bumi Sawunggaling Hotel

which was done from Desember 22nd, 2014 until January 11th, 2015. I also

use library research to find some relevant theories from the books and the

articles from the Internet. The theories are used to analyze the causes, the

effects, and the best solutions.

F. Limitation of the Study

The focus of this study is my difficulties in adapting to my coworkers

and workplace environment in BSH during my internship from Desember

22nd, 2014 until January 11st, 2015. This term paper will discuss my

problem as a new front office staff who has difficulty in adapting in a new

workplace environment. The subject of the research is myself as the front

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G. Organization of the Term Paper

The term paper is divided into ten parts. It starts with the Abstract,

the next part is the Declaration of Originality, Acknowledgements and

Table of Contents. There are four chapters in the term paper. The first

chapter is the Introduction, which consists of Background of the Study,

Identification of the Problem, Objectives and Benefits of the Study,

Description of the Institution, Method of the Study, Limitation of the Study,

and Organization of the Term Paper. Chapter Two presents an analysis of

the problem which explains the causes and effects of the problem.

Chapter Three discusses the potential solutions that solve the problem.

Chapter Four, the last chapter, is the Conclusion. The last parts of the

term paper are the Bibliography and the Appendices, which contain the

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CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION

In the previous chapters, I have analyzed the problem that I had

during my internship at BSH, which is my difficulty in adapting with my

coworkers and to new working environment. There are three causes of the

problem. The first cause is I did not have any working experience in a

hotel. The second cause is I was not a sociable person. The third cause is

I did not have clear understanding about my job description. Besides, I

also found three effects of my problem. The first effect is I made some

mistakes in doing my job. The second effect is I got negative feedback

from other staff. And the third effect is I did not do my work effectively.

There are three potential solutions to solve my problem. The first potential

solution is I will ask the senior employees who have experiences to help

me to get more information about the job. The second potential solution is

I will observe the other staff doing his/ her work in the front office and

interact with them. The third potential solution is I will socialize with other

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17 Maranatha Christian University Based on the analysis, I conclude that the best solution to solve my

problem during my internship is combining all of the potential solutions

because asking, observing, and socializing are all important to improve

myself and solve the problem of adaptation. All potential solutions need to

be applied because they are related to one another. Asking and observing

would not be effective without socializing with other staff. By socializing I

will interact with other staff, I can ask about my problem and I will get the

solution. If I just observe other staff without asking them, I might

misunderstand the situation because I do not get the explanation. If I just

socialize without observing and asking, I would not get any information

and I might just waste my time. The three solutions are some steps for a

new employee who has a problem in adaptation. The first is, I will ask the

senior employees or other staff who have experience to help me to get

more information about the job. The second, I will observe the other staff

doing his or her work in the front office and interact with them. Observing

will help me in my work performance to be better in practicing my job

description. And the third I will socialize with the other staff. It will make

good relationship with others. Combining all three potential solutions will

be the best way to solve the problem that I got during my internship in

BSH as a front office staff. At the end of my final term paper, I hope that

the term paper could give useful information for the readers, the hotel

staff and anyone who gets the same problem. It would be good to do the

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18 Maranatha Christian University the job as a preparation, because good preparation has a big influence in

work quality.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Printed Sources

Cooper, Cary, and Susan Cartwright. Steps To Success. Deal With Stress.

London: Bloomsburry Publising Plc, 2004.

Electronic Sources

Elendo, Ekaterina and Elena Bychenkova. “Adaptation of Employee on New

Workplace.” www.rekadro.ru. 27 June 2015.

<http://www.rekadro.ru/en/rabotadatelu/info/management/9.

html>

Garcia, Lily. “When Socializing At Work, Just Be Yourself.”

Washington Post.com. 6 February 2008. 26 April 2015.

<

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“Hotel Front Desk.” www.beyond.com. 2013. 8 March 2015.

https://www.beyond.com/tourism/front-desk/defined

Johnson, Tom. “Asking Question Is More Important Than Finding Answer

Why.” idratherbewriting.com. 27April 2012. 13 May 2015.

<

http://idratherbewriting.com/2012/04/27/asking-questions-is-more-important-than-finding-answers-why/ >

Kelly, John. “How Adapt To a New Workplace.”

money.howstuffworks.com. 2011. 22 February 2015.

<http:/ www.money.howstuffworks.com/bussiness/starting-a-job>

Lewis, Jared. “How Negative Feedback Affects

Employees.” smallbusiness.chron.com. 2012. 17 May 2015.

<http://smallbusiness.chron.com/negative-feedback-affects-employees-26262.html>

Nath, Siddharth. “How To Adapt In Your Work Place”

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<http://www.slideshare.net/siddharth4mba/how-to-adapt-in-your-

work-place>

Smith, Elizabeth. “Purpose of Workplace Observation.” Ehow Contributor.

2010. 15 May 2015.

<http://www.ehow.com/info_7785816_purpose-workplace-observation.html>

Smith, Jacquelyn. “How Much Coworker Socializing Is Good For Your

Career.” Forbes.com. 24 September 2013. 3 April 2015.

<

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/09/24/how-much-coworker-socializing-is-good-for-your-career/>

Star, Toni. “How to Adapt to Your New Workplace Environment.”

mindtools.com . 23 January 2011. 22 February 2015.

<http:/www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCDV_29.htm>

“The Challenges of Socializing at an Office Job” ( When You’re Less

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<http://www.succeedsocially.com/officejob>

“Young People Lack Workplace Skills Firms Say In Survey.”

www.bbc.com. October 2014. 3 April 2015.