Starting a new job can be an emotional experience.  One the one hand, you are filled with anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead of you in your new job.  On the other hand, you are feeling a bit apprehensive and nervous about what is expected of you and if you will fit in with the rest of the employees. 

If you want to make a good impression, both to your boss and your co-workers, follow a few simple rules and you will develop into a respected professional within the company. Being professional and always striving to move forward are characteristics one should have if they want to advance in their job. Here are a few other rules to follow:

Be Yourself

Remember that you are an individual. Consequently, you should not emulate bad example from older staff. For instance, you will be surprise to discover that some older staff does not normally come to work on time or that they normally go before the closing hour. Do not imitate them. They may have reason for that which you may not know. Besides, you may not know their position in the firm. So, imitating them can be inimical to your career. Always be yourself and be convinced in what you are doing.    

Respect Other Employees

When you are a new employee, there is the tendency for you to feel that you have arrived at the end of the world. Do not be carried away by the euphoria of being employed for the first time. It is just a step to the next level. Therefore, you should always try respect people who have been in the company before you. Being respectful does not mean having a low image of yourself. No, you should also take pride in what you can do and have a glorified image of yourself. The point is that you should not be saucy or disrespect other staff.      

Be Goal Oriented

As a first timer, you need to be goal oriented. Always plan what to do before you come to work each day and make sure that you achieve your goal before closing for the day. It is good for you to have a jotter where you will note down all you want to do before coming to work. This will help you not to forget anything.

Be Organized

Some people are not organized even in their career. They can mistake one file with another. This is very bad and a can spell doom to your career. The key to efficient work performed in a timely manner is all about organization.  Unorganized employee’s waste time looking for things and this does not look good in front of the boss.

Peace between Co-workers

The people you are working with should be your friends. In the real sense of it, every person you are working is a potential employer. You can never tell how the person will be of help to you. Therefore, try to be good terms with them so that they can be of help to you when you need them.  Never burn your bridges when it comes to anyone you work with.  We don’t know what the future holds and the world is a very small place.  You never know when you might see them again or even need something from them down the road.

Take a Professional Course

When you are employed newly the tendency is for you to forget everything about your academic life. This should not be the case. You need to take some relevant part-time courses in order to add to your resume.  In most organizations, promotion is done based on your academic qualification. By taking up some part time course you will be brightening your chances of getting promotions.

The above tips can help you to have a successful career as first time employee.

When we are in the universities or high schools, we are dreaming about the day we will be employed and what we will be able to achieve with our first salary. After your education, you worked hard in order to be employed. Now that you have been employed another problem comes up and that is how to grow in your career. This is indeed a very big problem facing every first-time employee. When you are employed you will discover that your salary will not be enough to buy you a car you have been dreaming about. You will like to get to the next position so that you will able to achieve your goal.

It is not abnormal for you to work towards getting to the next level in your profession. But one thing that you should understand is that your success depends solely on hard work. There are quite a number of books that provide a lot of tips for enhancing your career. Reading these books is very good and recommended but you should know that there is no easy road to success and all these tips provided do not guarantee 100% certainty. There isn’t a career enhancement tip that is scientific. But you can only increase your chance of getting to the top through the application of these tips. Below are some of the tips that will help you to better your chances of getting to the next level in your career.

Hard Work

As a first time employee, your chances of growing in your career depends on how hard working you are. Generally, in everything we do in life we need to be hard working in order to succeed. Without hard work we will rarely succeed in whatever we are doing in life. The same is applicable to your career especially as a first-time employee. You need to create a positive first impression in your workplace. You can only create a good image of yourself in your workplace through hard work. Employers normally watch their new employees to see how they perform in the office. People that differentiate themselves through hard working will be noted. If there is any challenging task such people are called up to take up the task. The implication is that they will be promoted to a higher level quickly especially when they are consistent in their job.

On the contrary, if you create a bad impression at first instance by not being hard working it will be hard for you to change it. There is the tendency of the employer having negative impression about you. This may not be your actual self be you have marred your chances of getting to the next level by not being hard working.

Be Disciplined

Discipline is another virtue that you should cultivate as first time workers in order to get to the next level. You need to be disciplined in your job. Always ensure that you are punctual to work and close work when you are supposed to do so. Do not come to work anytime you like and go when you like. Let your employment letter be your guide. In your employment letter, the condition of the employment is clearly stated. Never you forget that and work according to it. Make sure that you deal with all the files that come to your table before closing work.

Employees that strive for greatness usually reach their goals.  Why is this? When you set goals and work hard towards reaching those goals you will succeed.  If you do not have the motivation to succeed, you will fail.  You must apply yourself everyday at your job if you want to be noticed and promoted.  If you are a new employee, this is even more crucial.  You must start off on the right foot.  You must prove yourself and show your boss that he did not make a mistake hiring you by being a motivated employee who always strives to reach the next level.

Taking Initiative

When you are finally employed, it is time to defend your degree. The only way to prove that you merit your degree justly is by being creative and taking the initiative in your office. In many firms promotions are given base on how creative and initiative workers are. If you’re brain dead in offering ideas that will help the firm to grow, the probability that you will be promoted is very slim. But you can easily be promoted when you are creative and active. The truth is that no employer will like to lose an intelligent employee who has contributed very well to the progress of the firm. Such employees are rewarded with promotion.

Be Hard Working

You do not need to be told that success is rewarding. The fact remains that there is no success without hard work. If you are hard working, you employer will definitely know and you will be rewarded for hard working with promotions or salary increment. So, if you want to be progressive in your career you have to be hard working.

Add to your Degree/Resume

Many people who have risen to managerial positions in some firms can boost their resume. While working as a manager, you can also take some professional courses. You will be given certificate at the end of the program. Present your certificates to your employer once you have received them. During the time for promotion such people that go the extra mile are normally promoted. No matter how hard working you are there are certain positions in a firm that are meant for people with some professional and academic qualifications. So, if you are dreaming of climbing to that level then you have to get the necessary certificates for that position otherwise you will remain where you are.

There are different ways you can add to your resume and list of qualifications. Besides taking part-time courses, you can also attend seminars. It will help you to grow in knowledge and also to increase your worth. Anytime you get a new certificate, include it in your resume. It will make your resume much more appealing to employers.

Gain Valuable Experience

Many employers we have today did not start as employers. They worked in many places before they reached the position they are in today. One of the best ways of growing in one’s career is work in many places. Do not stay in one firm for life. Always look for an opportunity get new offer. Normally, if you get an offer while you are working you will be given a higher position and higher salary in order to attract you. That means that you have climbed to another level in your career. But you have to be very careful in changing your career. Always move to more popular firms with potential of giving you a better future prospect and job security.

The corporate world is and always will be competitive.  So many professionals need to continue their education through professional development courses or seminars to always have an edge.  To move forward in your professional life, one must embrace continuous education. This is accomplished in many ways.

There are professionals that utilize the P.I.E. theory to help with their professional advancement:  

• P = Performance; meaning one must really be a champion in his career or knows what he’s doing for short. 
• I = Image; which is more of earning the respect of your colleagues.
• E = Exposure; where you must see to it that your work is known to key businessmen. This is the most important part of the theory. 

Together with image, exposure is the networking part.  So studying this theory, it implies that success in your professional career depends not only on upon what you know, but also who you know.  An inevitable combination perfected by genuine expertise in your line of profession.  Mastering this theory will greatly play a role in a professional’s raise for advancement.

There are other ways to professional advancement besides the ones mentioned above.   One is by joining support groups that can push your professional advancement.  One such group is civic organizations. These are locally based.  Becoming a member in one of these civic-minded groups will give you opportunity to rub elbows with key businessmen who are humanitarians and are usually successful in different industrial sectors. 

Another support group may be the business networking groups.  Joining them will allow you to network with fellow business men in your area, giving each other support, referrals and achieve their career goals.  Professionals can also join hobby clubs or non-profit organizations.  Examples of this are sports clubs. Join in one where you have a passion for. It can be very comfortable for you meeting up with people with same interests and therefore build a relationship which is a good jump start.  

Professional associations as the name implies are groups are associated to the same professions and a great chance is it is related to your profession or industry. These groups will provide a highly concentrated number of professional colleagues who can really open new doors and opportunities. 

After identifying these groups, try to locate them online by city or county. Try to locate which are relevant groups in your community.   Then, investigate closely by checking their websites, surf for articles, look for the chairman of the group and maybe ask him how to join them.  Attend one of their meetings just to check what’s going on, don’t try to meet up right away with key people but do talk to one or two members, attend their meetings at least twice, so you can have an idea of the organization and what it can offer to you.

Next thing to do is to get you involved. This is after you’ve decided which group to join in. If possible become a member of a committee where you can be active while learning or building skills.  Give it your best shot. Get the most out of it.  If you think that the group is not giving you the advancement you need, then you can always find means to get out, join other support groups.

If there is one thing for sure, it is you – the professional – that needs to explore all the resources possible for your professional growth and improvement.  Try these methods apply them and surely you’ll go steps higher in your profession.

Although well educated professionals in today’s fast changing world need to keep pace in order to remain competent to be able to achieve their plans and goals. This means that they not only maintain their skills and capabilities but also continuously broaden their knowledge and improve their personal qualities in their chosen professions.  So how is this accomplished? 

To many professionals, continuous education is the answer.  They say it’s the best tool to help professionals advance in their careers.  However, professionals should not limit educating themselves within the area of their professions. To broaden means also to explore other areas related to their profession.  What we are trying to say here is that professionals need to acquire several tools, which will prove helpful in the development of their careers.

For example, they can study to improve their communication skills; this is a very important skill which needs to be improved since as a professional, you will be constantly negotiating with different people. Maybe take lessons on time management skills where you can learn to make use of resources and you don’t have to be a one-man-band.  Taking control of all the departments in your line of work is a big responsibility. Your main job must be that one that is integral to the kind of service or product your profession provides.  Also, professionals can take lessons on interpersonal skills development, which is more of how you carry yourself in your business deals, how you interact with all kinds of people, including capability to listen actively, delegation and leadership.  This is a must today, to seek advancement in their knowledge on the new technology. 

One of these is knowledge on the computer, since it is the computer age, a professional must be updated with the use as well as the applications needed, internet is a powerful tool in communicating with colleagues, business partners, business prospects, wherever they are in the world, they are reachable through computer technology.  Also, studies on how to boost your productivity; seminars, workshops, business meetings can play a role in boosting productivity.   Professionals can even learn how to connect effectively, either personally or through the internet.  These are just to name a few.  All these, aim at enhancing growth in one’s profession.    

Besides opting for continuous education, professionals can do these simple steps to improve themselves like reading books and business magazines, which are readily available in the bookstores or in the libraries.  Watch movies or video CD’s on new topics which many of these are available in educational bookstores or by attending free workshops by entrepreneurs. To become updated with such events, you can check out ads on the television, in magazines, your local newspaper, or in your own office.  Research in the internet and take some online courses which you think will enhance your abilities or simply meet up with your colleagues where you can share ideas build relationships for future business deals.

In this time of economic recession, every employee is looking forward to a promotion and advancement in his or her career. This is because career advancement is the easiest way to get a salary increment. Normally, employees move from a good job to a better one or from a low rank in the office to a higher one. When you are promoted or when you get a new offer, there is always a change in the salary you are paid and other allowances. The problem is that many employees do not know how to advance in their career or when the opportunity for career advancement presents itself.

According to the opinion of many career advancement experts, you can look for another job or another position when your old job is no longer challenging you. That is when you have given all you have and the job becomes so easy. At this time, you need to try something else in order to grow in your skills, competence, and even personality.  If you remain in your old office at this time, boredom and frustration will set in. You will no longer be motivated to continue. Everything seems to be a routine. Indeed, you need a change of job in order to progress to the next level.

However, you are the sole determinant of your professional future. There is no other person that will take you to the next level that you are dreaming of except yourself. If you are a little bit confused on how to progress in your career, then this article will be of help to you. Below are some of the tips that will help you to progress in your career.

When you feel that you are no longer challenged by your current job or that you need to try another higher responsibility in your office, it is advisable for you to discuss it with your boss. Many employees sometimes lack the audacity to discuss their future in their company with their supervisor or employer. It is always good that you have a face to face discussion with your employer about your future in the company.  You need to be mature and gentle in doing that. Having a discussion with your boss does not mean quarrelling with your boss. If you use hard words on your employer, you are destroying your career future.

The best way to do that is to dialogue with him in friendly manner. Share your own career plan with him. Tell him why you need a change of office or why you deserve a higher position. You boss will definitely respect you for your openness and will also tell you his own side of the story. At times you may think that you are doing well without knowing that you are not satisfying your boss. In such discussion, your boss may reveal to you how he or she evaluates you. If you are truly hard working and creative, your boss will not like to lose you to another employer. He or she will definitely promote you.

There are some people who start a career and their career did not last past a year due to the internal crisis in their companies, which eventually led to the collapse of the company. Definitely you would not like to suffer the same fate. This is one of the reasons why you have to consider the reputation of the company you are seeking employment in.

If you are working in a company with low profile, you should bear in mind that your job is not secured. However, this does not mean that all newly started companies do not guarantee job security. There are some new companies that are trustworthy. You should always find out from the internal organization of the company. This will always show itself in the quality of services they render.

Another reason why you should take reputation of the company you are seeking employment with very seriously is that your market value is connected to the company you are working in to a certain extent. There are some companies that speak volumes and command respect in the labor market. On the other hand, there are some companies that have no value in the labor market.

If you are working in a dynamic and reputable company, the reputation of your company will definitely follow you. Having such a company on your resume as a previous place of employment will definitely increase your market value and also give you respect. Most employers consider that when they are employing experienced employees. It is normally assumed that if you have worked in a reputable company, you have acquired a reasonable level of experience and skills in the company. Sometimes your responsibility in your former company is overtaken by the name of the company if you are undergoing an interview. This is why you should take that seriously.

You need human connection in order to grow in your career. When you work in a company with good number of employees, you have known a lot of people. You may not know how this will help you in future. Most of the people you meet in your working place are potential employers.

Are you a leader? Leadership skills are very important in career management. If you are dreaming of becoming successful in your career, then you have to acquire some leadership skills. Definitely, there will be a point in your career that some people will be under your control. The way you manage and lead those under you will determine how successful you will be in the office. If you cannot manage your workers very well you will end up not maximizing the available resource and this will spell doom to your business or office. So, you need to develop your leadership skills.   

You should endeavour to take up some professional courses in leadership and also other areas relating to your field. This will help you to acquire the necessary skills you need in order to manage your workers if you eventually become an employer.

When it comes to your professional career, we all want to move ahead to increase our position and salary.  Do accomplish this one must take a good look at where they are and where they want to go.  Making a list of your qualities, strengths and weaknesses will help you to positively evaluate yourself and know where you belong. When you have noted all these, find out whether you have all the skills that you are expected to have and which one is lacking.

The next thing you should do is to take a look at your life outside your profession. When you are not at work what activities to you participate in? Where do you travel to when it’s your time off? List those things that you do outside work which may help you in your career and the things that are not necessary for your growth in your career.

Find out what other employees think about you and your performance in your company. You need to ask your closest friend in your work place to evaluate your performance and tell you which area you need to improve on. He should inform you about your greatest weak points and then your strong side. This should be done in all honesty. This is why you have to look for a friend that will be open to you.

When you have gone through all these process, the next task before you is taking action on your finding. You have known what other people have done in order to get to the prominent position. You have also known their mistakes. Your friends have helped you to evaluate yourself. His view about your performance represents how other people see you.

If you have not gotten the necessary academic qualification that will take you to a higher level like the people you have known their professional histories, then you have to begin with that. Take some part-time courses in any course related to your field. This will help you to get the necessary academic qualification you will need to get to the top.

You need to do some professional courses also in order to get to the top in your office. Most people in your office who have moved into a higher position did not depend solely on their academic qualification. You will discover that most of them also did one professional course or the other. You need to follow their footsteps to achieve the same results. The old saying “Knowledge is power” is true in the corporate world.  Learn all you can with professional courses and training and it will pay off.

By now, you have known your weak points and strong points. This is time for you to work on your weak points. Make sure that you improve on them. You should build on your strong point. This will help you in the future. You should also make sure that you have acquired those skills that are needed for optimal performance in your field of endeavour. Always be docile and show willingness to learn from others who are in the office before you.

Those things that you do outside your working that do not help you in any way to grow in your professional life should be avoided. When you have done all this, you will be surprised to see yourself one day in a position that you did not even dream of. Surely, your market value has become higher than you expected.