I’ve been at my current firm for 3 months now, and I’ve set up an informal performance discussion with a manager so that I have an idea of how I’m doing (and to get a tiny taste of what the formal mid-year review would be like).
It’s a little overwhelming to start at a new job and have to do so much learning, but it’s got to be done. If I want to move forward in my career and earn the promotions & performance bonuses, I’ve got to 1. make sure my work is high quality (can I get some “value-add” with that?), 2. build relationships, and 3. negotiate and advocate for myself.
#2 and #3 would be MUCH easier if I’ve got #1 down, but all of those factors are important. I don’t think I am terrible at negotiating / advocating for myself, but it’s definitely an area for improvement and something that I need to work on.
I have to say that my internet role model in this regard is Single Ma – her negotiation skills and assertiveness is something to be admired and emulated by any young professional. Now, I don’t expect to get to where she is in the next 6 months or 2 years (she’s got a decade on me! – but not sayin’ you’re old, Single Ma!), but just like saving for retirement, it’s never too early to get serious about managing one’s career.
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Hi. I am a long time reader. I wanted to say that I like your blog and the layout.
Peter Quinn
That’s really wise of you. I would imagine that looks really good in your boss’s eyes — it shows you want to be the best employee you can be, shows you care about your job, and makes you look very motivated and hard-working. Kudos to you for taking the initiative to do that…I bet most people don’t, which will make you stand out from the crowd.
Watch out there now! Never refer to my name and “old” in the same sentence. That’ll get ya cut! LOL!
Ok, just kidding. But you summarized the game in 3 steps. It really is that simple. Deliver a quality product/service, make yourself so valuable that you’re damn near irreplaceable, be dependable, always keep your word, do what you say you’re gonna do, and become a subject matter expert or the “go to” person in a specific area. This is what I call planting the seed, which usually takes about a year.
The latter two are part of the ‘seed planting’ process, but #1 is the foundation that makes everything else easy.
For what it’s worth, I think you’re on the right track. You can’t deliver unless you know what is expected.
And by the way, I’m honored.
I also thing single ma is a great example.
And I’m currently the most baffled about how to do #1. It’s like… Leadership on this task stinks.