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 Get your career off to the right start By Susan Bowles, special for Gannett News Service No task was too small for Maria Eichelberger when she joined Manufacturers Hanover Trust a few years ago. Even though she'd just graduated with a degree in international finance and investment, she would have washed the floors at her first full-time job if anyone had asked. "I'd basically do anything they asked me to do, and do it with a smile," says Eichelberger, 35, who now manages a wealth-management office for AmSouth Bancorp in Florida. "People thought I was crazy, but it got me noticed."
That's the point. Your first job out of college can set your career in motion — or have lasting, negative consequences. To help you through the minefield, test your savvy with the following quiz. 1. True or false: My education has prepared me well. Answer: False. Chances are, you're a newborn when it comes to industry realities, regardless of your academic honors or GPA. "Not everything is like a textbook," Eichelberger says. "How you execute those skills, that's what's important." In other words, this first job is the beginning of your real education — the place to learn how to deal with accounts that don't balance or marketing plans that aren't expertly executed. "You want to learn as much as possible," says Robin Ryan, a Seattle-based career coach and author. "Speak up and ask questions." 2. The best way to advance in a job is to: A. Do what I'm
told. Answer: A and C. Do what you're asked, and do it cheerfully. Go beyond the job description. In her book What To Do With The Rest Of Your Life, Ryan interviews some of the country's top CEOs. Their advice: The best way to get promoted is to get results. You do that by learning your job quickly and exceeding expectations — even if it means putting in some time outside the office, Ryan says. "You're now paid as a salaried person," she says. "It doesn't mean you only work 40 hours." Another way to get results? Volunteer for projects, particularly those that matter to top managers. Think about the consequences of what you're doing, says Mary Helms, president of CoachWise, a Delaware-based executive coaching and leadership development firm. Who's the recipient of your work? Does that person work inside or outside the company? What do they really want? "Try to picture these results in a larger context," she says. 3. I'll succeed most quickly if I: A. Keep my head
in my own business. Answer: C. "It's always good to hitch yourself to a star," says Carole Campbell, a director at the executive search firm Stanton Chase International in Dallas. Take time to find out who has the real power at your company. Then tell them you admire their work. Ask them to have coffee. "People respond to that," Campbell says. "People love to be asked their advice," Helms says. "If someone tells you something that feels negative or seems like criticism, that's a real favor they're doing for you." While building bridges to senior employees, don't forget to mine contacts in human resources. HR professionals can hook you into training and professional development programs that may be helpful as your career advances. 4. True or false: I'm working well and I have a mentor. It's OK to drop my membership in professional organizations. Answer: False. A professional group will help you network and build your reputation, Ryan says. More important, the contacts you make there can help you deal with work problems. Seasoned professionals already have scars from the battles you're now fighting, and they'll be able to provide some guidance and perspective. "People get into political battles with people, sometimes through no fault of their own," she says. "There's a lot of politics going on, and you need someone a little more experienced to deal with it." You also may want to join one or two civic groups. Many corporations expect their employees to give back to the community, and the involvement pays off. "It's altruistic, and it's networking," Campbell says. 5. Promotions depend most on: A. My work. Answer: All of the above. The top ways to get noticed on the job often have nothing to do with work, says Susan Bixler, president of the Professional Image in Atlanta. Instead, you're identified by the impressions you make each day through e-mail, voicemail, manners, wardrobe and even the conversations you have in the elevator. "When people overhear conversations that don't really establish us as the professionals we want to be, it diminishes us," she says. Call it self-branding: The work persona you create is what people will remember. "The more proactive you are, the quicker and faster you're going to succeed." 6. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed right now. My best course of action is to: A. Keep plugging
along. Answer: B and C. If you've been on the job six months and have yet to talk to your boss, ask for a meeting, Helms says. Prepare a self-evaluation, then ask how you're doing. What can you do to improve? What's working well? What steps can you take to make sure you're on the right career track? But don't wait half a year before you ask questions. If you're feeling the least bit puzzled, find out why. You'll only prove you're eager to learn, and you'll probably win points. "Asking questions is the smartest thing," Helms says. "And being able to say 'I don't know' just means you're open to learning. You wouldn't be the new hire if you knew it all." Next steps:
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