7 Tips to Advance in Your Entry-Level Career

So, you’ve graduated from school and landed your first job in your new field—now what? Many recent grads find themselves in entry-level positions, wanting to advance their careers but unsure of what steps to take. It’s not always easy to balance performing well in your current role with advancing to the next level.

We’ve compiled this list of the top 7 best tips to help you advance in your entry-level career. From networking to taking initiative within your company, use these tips to leverage your position and make big moves in your profession.

1. Ask For New Projects

If you want to advance your career, you can’t wait around for someone else to notice you. Taking initiative is critical, and one great way to do this is by asking for more responsibility within your current role. The benefits of taking on more tasks are plentiful: Not only do you demonstrate to your boss and coworkers that you are capable of handling more, but you also get experience with various new aspects of your job. This experience can be leveraged when you are looking to take the next step in your career.

2. Be a Team Player

When you are trying to move on to the next level in your profession, it can be easy to lose sight of the importance of being a strong contributor in your current role. Nothing will impress higher-ups like someone who goes above and beyond to act selflessly and do what is needed to help the company as a whole succeed.

At the end of the day, people who advance within their careers have a proven track record of helping the companies they’ve worked for become more successful. Sometimes just putting your head down and doing what is needed is the best way to get noticed.

3. Don’t Stop Networking

Just because you’ve landed a job in your field doesn’t mean that now is the time to stop growing your professional network. Networking is a critical tool for learning about new opportunities for advancement, getting support from peers in your field, and staying on top of industry technologies and trends. Use tools like LinkedIn and alumni networks to build your professional network.

4. Be Humble and Seek Mentors

You might know that you are capable of much more than your current role demands, but it is still important to be humble as a newcomer and to take advantage of learning opportunities. Being respectful, humble, and curious can go a long way for people who want to advance in their careers. Even if you have big ideas about how the company could be run differently or what your coworkers could do to be better, it is important to remember that you have less experience as an entry-level employee and that there is always something to learn.

You can always ask for advice when you’re unsure about how to do something. Doing so doesn’t make you look weak or inexperienced. Instead, it shows your coworkers that you are willing to learn and want to expand your capabilities.

One great way of learning on the job is to find a mentor within your company. The perfect mentor is someone who holds a role that you admire, who you feel you can learn from, and who you look up to. Make time to ask questions and observe mentors closely to pick up on attributes that lead to success.

5. Treat Your Entry-Level Position Like Your Dream Job

You might have big plans for advancement in your career, but if you just see your current role as merely a stepping stone, you may find that your outlook has the opposite of the intended effect. Imagine you had just landed your ultimate dream job; you would probably be doing everything you can to perform well and show your coworkers that you are the right person for the role. If you can embody this type of attitude in your entry-level role, you are sure to make a lasting impression on those around you.

Whether it’s dressing to impress, showing up early, staying late, or going the extra mile to help an overwhelmed coworker, treating your entry-level role like your dream job is a great way to impress higher-ups and get noticed within your company.

6. Keep an Eye on In-House Job Postings

A lot of companies would prefer to promote an internal candidate rather than hire from outside. Make sure you stay informed about roles for which your company is hiring. Don’t hesitate to apply if an opportunity arises that excites you. If you’ve followed the other tips on this page, you’ve probably already made a great impression within your company.

7. Let Your Boss Know That You Want to Advance

You might think that your boss takes it for granted that all employees would want to advance to higher positions, but this isn’t usually the case. If you have aspirations of moving up within your company, make sure that your higher-ups are aware. As long as you continue to take your current role seriously, there is nothing wrong with communicating your ambitions to your boss. If an opportunity for promotion arises, they’ll already know who is interested.