What "ability to work on multiple tasks" really means

If you work in IT support, especially on the technology side, you are interruption driven. Simply put, your day is determined more by the events on the network and computers than by your own agenda. There is a slight differentiation between what makes a good employee capable of working on multiple tasks and a liability that leaves unfinished and halfhearted attempts at work in his or hers path: ability to multitask.

What ability to multitask really means is ability to prioritize without bothering those around you or above you. It means being able to respond to the events during your workday, address the urgent issues and still complete your original tasks.

It does not mean that you put equivalent effort in all tasks, or perform them all at once, or seek guidance in a completely disaffected way. Unless you’re being paid minimum wage, more is expected of you.