It’s easy to feel lost in the shuffle whilst working for a large company. With so many staff members, so many offices, and so many customers – feeling like a cog in the wheel is unavoidable at times.
Whether you’re feeling apprehensive before searching ‘’amazon jobs near me’’ on Google, or worried about that big interview coming up – these four steps are custom-built for you to stand out in a major organization.
Large companies are competitive, no doubt. Standing out in one is tough, but the rewards are there if you put the effort in. Not only will it help your current career, but it will also improve your prospects in the future.
From making genuine connections to joining in on meetings, there are a lot of methods available to help you stand out. These four steps are guaranteed to help you in your quest for a great career.
- Find a Mentor
This step is crucial for those who are brand new to the professional world. Mentors can help teach you about the company’s values, ethics, and traditions and provide some invaluable on-the-job insights.
Mentors can also help you avoid mistakes that you are likely to make down the road, and guide you on a path and trajectory similar to yours. However, it’s important to find mentors correctly- you, as the mentee, have to possess a genuine connection with your future mentor first. It’s no good just walking up to somebody and asking them to impart their years of knowledge onto you. Ask yourself what you can bring to the table. Show your mentor that you’re worth mentoring as opposed to someone else. Remember, succeeding at a company is all about making strong, genuine connections along with hard work. A lot of people focus on the latter, but they fail to see the rewards of the former – don’t be that person. Your future self will thank you.
- Join The Culture
Nobody likes a stick in the mud. Although hard work is a key facet in standing out in a major company, this can all be undone if you do not treat your co-workers well.
If your workplace has a bonding culture, make sure to join in with it at least once in a while. Not only will you make friends, but your co-workers will see you in an entirely different, informal light. Some people are indeed more introverted than others, so if social interactions aren’t your strong point, be honest and transparent to avoid sending the wrong impression. You don’t have to be the life of the party, making even a small effort will go a long way in showing your co-workers a more human side to you.
If your company has any extracurricular societies you can join, aim to find one that matches your interests and talents – again, this is a great way to bond with others and will help you make more genuine connections within the microcosm of your company.
- Provide Value
Those able to stand out at large companies do so because they provide immense value to both their co-workers and customers.
Whether it means sitting in on meetings, taking on extra work, or offering a different perspective, your ability to stand out in a large company depends entirely on what value you bring. Not only will undertaking these tasks improve your value, but you’ll also have a deeper understanding of the responsibilities of those around you – allowing you to make deeper, more genuine connections with your co-workers.
It’s also advisable to ask for a performance review whenever possible. Not only will this allow you to track your progress, but it also shows a level of initiative not seen in many others. Performance reviews allow you to draw on your strengths and develop areas of improvement. Remember to take constructive criticism on the chin and use praise to develop your confidence – as providing value to a company is all about mindset and attitude. You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room or have the best credentials – as long as you have a mindset that is humble, ambitious, and willing to go the extra mile.
Nobody wants to look back at their career and regret not doing more. One of the pitfalls of working for a large company is that they allow you to get complacent and to drift into the background. The security of a large company can be a breeding ground for mediocrity if you allow yourself to rest on your laurels. As I said before, your future-self will thank you for putting in the extra work, and your current career will see significant advancement if you follow these three steps.
