Climb up the ladder starts with day one at new job

A common mistake made by employees at a new job is to let too much time elapse before getting involved in the center of a department's activities. The old adage that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step applies here, in that a journey to get ahead in the workplace starts with the very first day on the job.

There is a natural tendency for new employees to want to sit and observe before attempting to make an impact. New workers must realize that the company did not hire you to sit on the sidelines. Most often, new recruits are hired based on past experience and because a recruit's specific strong points fit in with the way things operate at a particular company. The company did not hire a blank slate with the hope of filling it. The demands of the new economy have employers bringing in employees who will make an immediate contribution.

With this in mind, new employees should take extra steps not only to make an outstanding impression on superiors, but to show that a high level of confidence exists in their own abilities to succeed. This increases the on-the-job recognition factor, and shows a desire to make an immediate impact -- something that sharp managers will sense, increasing the chance that the new employee will receive high-level and highly visible responsibilities right out of the starting gate.

The following are points and techniques to consider for making a noticeable impact at a new position.

First in, last out: Resign yourself to arriving early and staying late. No employer likes a clock watcher. There may be times when you have to find things to do toward the end of the day. Realize that your mere presence past quitting time, although there really is no such thing as "quitting time" in this new economy, goes a long way in the visibility department.

There will come a situation where a manager needs help in, say, solving a customer problem shortly after most employees have left for the evening. Any help that you can offer in solving the problem will be remembered more than if that same situation came up during the course of the normal business day.

Maintain your "likability standard": Being disliked by someone in authority is the single most important reason employees become buried in particular departments or discharged, not because of lack of skills and abilities. You were liked when hired, and that standard must be maintained. However, it will not continue automatically; it takes constant work.

In the workplace, people fall out of favor if they become careless or too overconfident about themselves. It is so important to mentally review what the employer liked about you when you were hired, and then strive to maintain or even improve upon those qualities.

Demonstrate your team attitude and abilities: No employer likes a rogue employee. It is never appropriate to demonstrate your uniqueness and creative talents by divorcing yourself from the team atmosphere that most employers try to create.

Instead, go out of your way to assist peers to show that you can be depended upon. Do extra leg work for the team, even if it means working extra hours. Doing extra work for peers will serve a big purpose in the bigger picture: When you need a peer to come through for you in an intense situation, you can count on it.

Volunteer yourself: Volunteering to do extra assignments is an excellent way to show superiors that you are ready to be an impact-employee. However this can be a delicate situation. On one hand, to volunteer for extra work or become involved in the company's community activities is an excellent way to be noticed, but on the other hand you must not appear that you are taking on the extra responsibilities simply to get promoted.

You might consider finding out what your supervisor's favorite civic or charitable activities are and volunteer to work for those organizations. That will bring you into regular contact with the supervisor in a nonjob situation, which should increase your visibility and give you additional opportunities to make a favorable impression.

Do not be afraid to do a little "calculated bragging": Calculated bragging means to pick your spot and be subtle when showing superiors specifically how you are doing. No one likes to listen to someone talk about him or herself constantly.

However, there are ways to let superiors know that you are doing an excellent job without giving the appearance of braggadocio. Make it a point to tell your supervisor what you have done, and see the supervisor with substantive new ideas to be talked about face-to-face as opposed to writing a memo that cannot possibly have the impact of a one on one meeting.

John A. Challenger is chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., the global outplacement consultancy that pioneered outplacement as an employer-paid benefit in the 1960s. Challenger is a recognized thought leader on workplace, labor and economic issues.