Whether you’re a new kid on the block or going into your 10th year with your company, you may have found difficulty making yourself stand out amongst your colleagues at one time or another. There always seems to be that one person who swoops in with ease and steals the attention, oftentimes scoring opportunities for themselves that you may not be offered. Becoming a star employee is certainly worth striving for, and plenty achievable for everyone! Fortunately, we are here to give you 5 tips to get to the top of your employers’ list and hopefully land that promotion you’ve been itching for.

BE AN ACTIVE LISTENER

This (should) go far beyond your workplace, but for our purposes, let’s say we are only referring to active listening while you are at work. This begins from the day you start and receive training and extends to years down the road when you are sitting in your 5th meeting of the day. Being an active listener is a skill, that if perfected, could alone set you apart amongst your colleagues as it seems to be few and between. When someone is speaking, whether it be someone presenting in a meeting, your boss during your review, or your colleague, the number one rule is eye contact. If you are not making eye, contact it can be assumed you are not listening. You should also be active in the conversation, reiterating key points the speaker is making, and is applicable, offering your own feedback, and keeping the conversation moving in a productive direction. If you are not making eye contact or being actively involved in the conversation the only answer is that you probably don’t care about the information being given and the person speaking to you may refrain from including you in the future.

BE ADAPTABLE

Especially nowadays, with The Great Resignation still upon us, you may likely be asked to wear many hats at your job. The direction you are moving in on Monday may not be the direction you are moving in on Tuesday, so remain adaptable. Remember it is a good thing if you are being tasked more frequently as whoever is tasking you are likely doing so because they know you are capable of completing the work. Be open to constructive criticism and new ways of doing things as it can likely enhance your performance and make you stand out amongst your peers. A new solution to a problem is just another tool under your belt and your goal day-in and day-out should be for your tool belt to be locked and loaded!

TAKE INITIATIVE

One way to make yourself stand out as a star employee is not only finding new and improved ways of completing tasks but when you have achieved completion of said tasks, asking for more work. Nobody will be impressed if you can finish X, Y, and Z in half the time it took Joe to do it if you spend the rest of the day twiddling your thumbs. Take initiative in asking your colleagues if they need help or better yet, ask your boss for additional work. This will show them that you are eager to learn and do more and may keep you at the forefront of their mind for that upcoming promotion. Learn as much as you possibly can and keep your mind open to learning from every person you come across. You never know what lessons will stick with you and help you out in future endeavors.

BE RESILIENT

Remember that every employee, yes, I mean every employee, makes mistakes. Do not let anyone tell you that they have completed each task to perfection since the day they started in their role because they are lying. We are human, we make mistakes. Honestly, if you’re not making mistakes, you are likely also not learning and advancing. Anybody can play by the book, but it’s those who make mistakes and put changes in place to refrain from making the same mistake again who will achieve greatness.

FOLLOW TRENDS

Focusing on not only key industry trends but also new and improved software systems can greatly help you stay ahead of your competition. Taking online courses or reading up on new trends in your industry is a great way to stay on top and potentially present your findings to your employer to improve the efficiency of operations. Knowing these new systems can greatly improve your chances of leading a new project or assisting with the implementation of said software into your company.

If you find yourself needing a new challenge in your career please give us a call at (518) 275-4816 where we are happy to help find just that!

LATEST READS FROM WALRATH RECRUITING: