Five Tips for Standing out in Your First Job

With a very competitive job market and many candidates to choose from, getting a job can be a difficult task.  Keeping that job can be a challenge as well.  Knowing these five steps will give you the knowledge on how to maintain that job, as well as becoming a superior employee.

Be the One Everyone Wants to Work With

Members of Generation Y, or those born roughly between 1978 and 1993, unfortunately, have a reputation of showing up to work with a sense of entitlement. Combat this perception by showing that you're willing to pay your dues and learn from any assignment, owning your career progression and being a "can-do" person. If you encounter roadblocks, marshal your resources to get around them rather than letting a project languish.

Surpass Your Boss's Expectations

Find out what the boss wants from you first, and then brainstorm ways to go above and beyond the call of duty. You can also establish a good rapport by making your new boss feel needed. Show that you are ready and willing to be guided, and bond over the fact that he has some years on you. Understand the value of self-sufficiency, and approach your boss with a problem or complaint only if you've explored all options for resolving it yourself.

Carve a Niche for Yourself Through Innovation

Ask yourself what your company or department needs, and think about how you can use your unique set of skills and talents to provide it. So what if you're hardly a Renaissance man or woman? You're still new blood. Can you offer a fresh perspective on a vexing problem that has been plaguing your managers for months? Can you find a way to do something faster and more efficiently?

Take the Extra Step to Help Someone

Beach-ball management, or bouncing a request over to a colleague because it's not your responsibility to handle it, is all too common in the professional world. If someone asks you a question and you don't know the answer, make it your business to find it. By doing whatever you can to ensure your department or organization is perceived in a positive light, you will add value and stand out as a team player.

Subtly Promote Your Achievements

If you want people to take notice of you, you must make your accomplishments visible. How do you share your contributions without being perceived as arrogant or boastful? The key is enthusiasm. If you emphasize your passion when describing an achievement, people will think you're just excited about it. An excited person appears earnest, and it's hard to be critical of someone who's earnest.

Citation: A. Levit “Five Tips for Standing Out in Your First Job” Yahoo! (2011). Retrieved June 13, 2011. http://career-advice.monster.com/in-the-office/starting-a-new-job/5-tips-for-standing-out-in-your-first-job-hot-jobs/article.aspx.