by Ms. Jing Lejano, Cosmopolitan Magazine  April 2011

Big bosses from different industries spill the beans on what makes an employee raise- and praise-worthy. Read up and rise up the ranks fast!

It’s your first job. You’ve been toiling nine to five from Monday to Friday for eight months but so far, your boss hasn’t given you as much as a nod of approval. What could you be doing wrong? You’ve made your share of coffee, you’ve finished every assignment on time, and you’ve even logged in a couple of hours of overtime but still… nothing! We asked some top guns about what they’re looking – or not looking – for in a young corporate cog like you.

Bosses’ Secret 1: Be Great…From The Get-Go

Your corporate journey begins with that all-important job interview. “First impression matters,” says Roann Co, retail business manager of Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation, a top food manufacturing company. “During interviews, I observe how an applicant carries herself overall, how she talks, and her common sense and thought processes when answering questions. Personal values, views in life, and her will to be part of the organization are important as well.”

Whether you’re a fresh grad looking for your first job or planning to hunt for your nth one, keep in mind that it’s imperative to ace the job interview. Do your research, know more about the position you’re applying for, dress well, and answer all the questions with sincerity and intelligence. Jeffrey Allen, author of Complete Q and A Job Interview Book, advises: “A job interview is a screen test, an act. Getting hired depends almost completely on the actor factor. If you know your lines, perfect your delivery, and dress for the part, you’ll get hired. If you don’t, you won’t. No retakes.”

Bosses’ Secret 2: Follow Instructions Carefully

Rossana Llenado, president of Ahead Tutorial and Review Center, the country’s number one tutorial and review center, is a stickler for rules and for her, an employee who can follow instructions correctly is very important. “It might seem so basic, but there are actually a lot of people who cannot carry out direct instructions. There are also those who just want to do things their way,” says Llenado.

You might have thought of a brand-new fantabulous way to process all those requisition forms on your inbox, but don’t go starting up a paper revolution without your boss’ approval. Don’t proceed with implementing a critical task if you haven’t received the go-signal from your higher-up.

And, to make sure you follow the instructions of your boss correctly, “get into the habit of taking along a notepad when you meet with him or her,” says Robert Shook, co-author of 169 Ways To Score With Your Boss. “After all, you never know when you’ll need to jot down something significant or pencil in reminders. Whether it’s an assignment, a promise, or simply something that ought to be documented for posterity, it’s worth taking notes.

Bosses’ Secret 3: Be An Excellent Teamplayer

Everybody loves a team player. Pilar Martinez, finance and administrative manager of Creamline Dairy Corporation, a Subic-based ice cream manufacturing company, defines a team player as one “who is able to thrive in an environment that values hard work and who has a deep sense of responsibility.”

And, it’s only logical because “bosses want an employee who will do what our existing staff does. She also has to be hardworking and committed to fulfill her respective duties. She must be able to blend in the culture that we already have; otherwise, she might have a tough time adjusting in the workplace.”

Being a team player also means knowing when to roll with the punches. If your boss loves rocking the boat, you must be able to do so as well – as in the case of Llenado: “I’m the kind of person who always looks for ways to change and improve the way things are done. I need people who can live with and survive constant change.”

Bosses’ Secret 4: Outperform Yourself Always

“I believe the best criterion for a promotion or an upgrade for a newbie is when she over-performs consistently,” says Jerry U. Rapes, CEO of Exist, a Cebu-based firm specializing in developing enterprise software, interactive Web applications, and technology software solutions.

Llenado likewise believes newbies have the potential for corporate greatness, so she has never been afraid to give them bigger responsibilities and challenges. “I believe this is the best way to help her shine and discover how she can contribute to the company. If she succeeds in the new responsibility and goes beyond what I expect of her, then she deserves a promotion or raise,” she explains.

Martinez agrees – she singles out the star employee who always takes that one extra step forward when it comes to performing her duties. “This doesn’t only limit her output to her assigned duties and responsibilities, but also her initiatives ‘outside the box.’ This way, she is able to show her potentials in taking more than what she currently does.”

Doing more than what you’re supposed to do gives your boss the idea that you have the potential to rise above your current level of responsibility. Doing your assigned task just won’t cut it if you want to be a top dog someday. So, beg for that extra assignment. Go on that provincial sortie for which nobody wants to volunteer. Turn in your report a day before the deadline. Shook adds: “If you want to stay at your current position, do 100 percent of what your job requires. But if you want to be promoted, do 120 percent of your job! Exemplary performance never goes unnoticed.

Bosses’ Secret 5: Show Zest

Nothing turns on the boss more, professionally that is, than an employee who is genuinely passionate about her work and obviously dedicated to her company.

So, how do you display your passion? For starters, Martinez says you can take measures to conserve company assets and minimize expenses while maximizing results. Co adds that you can demonstrate genuine dedication and care for the company’s well being by turning out consistent and proactive work output.

“Employees who make a mark are those who really believe that the company will grow and who are willing to take even personal risks to be part of this growth,” Llenado says.

Adds Glenn Shepard, author of How To Be The Employee Your Company Can’t Live Without: “Companies are looking for employees who take great pride in what they do and do it well. Being good at what you do is unrelated to the task you perform. You must be the best you can be at whatever you do in order to be a highly valued employee. You don’t have to be fiercely intense about your work, but you do have to be passionate in the way you go about it.”

What these bosses are saying is this: You can’t fake passion. So, if you’re working at a company that you don’t particularly have the hots for, maybe it’s time to start looking around.

Bosses’ Secret 6: Junk The Negative

Misery loves company, but take note that the company does not have any room for misery. If you’re always one to complain, then maybe you are not in the right position, the right workplace, or the right frame of mind.

Co is particularly irked by employees who “are very quick to complain when an issue arises more than offering a solution.” Rapes feels the same way and is annoyed by employees “who concentrate on the negatives rather than the opportunities.”

The bosses declare that there is no room at the top for backstabbers, rumormongers, and whiners. “A negative attitude interferes with everyone’s focus, and consumes time and energy,” says Elwood Chapman, author of Attitude: Your Most Priceless Possession.

But, as much as you don’t want to be labeled as nega, you don’t want to be remembered as someone who kisses ass, too. Use flattery sparingly. “Too much flattery can backfire. With this in mind, proceed cautiously when it comes to complimenting your boss. The biggest drawback in flattering your boss excessively is his eventual recognition that you can’t always mean it,” says Shook.

Bosses’ Secret 7: Take Responsibility

Okay, you may only be the newest and youngest staff member of one tiny department in one humongous company, but always keep in mind that you already have in your hands everything you need to succeed in the corporate world.

And, bosses believe your success starts with taking responsibility for everything you do. Don’t blame your miserable lot on others. If you’re not getting promoted, ask yourself why – and be honest about it.

Rapes lauds the corporate serf who takes responsibility for her own actions: “her project, her career, her technical growth, her team, and her peers.” Assigned to a difficult project? Display an “I can” attitude. When things go great, know how to give credit to others when it is due. When things go sour, admit your mistakes and learn from them. Tasked to work with somebody you don’t exactly like? Focus on the assignment, not the personality. “Be professional and mature,” says Co.

And always, always display a strong drive for continuous self-improvement. Co says, “Challenge yourself to always exceed your boss’s expectation of you, utilize your full potential and know the areas you need to develop on as individual.”

Llenado concludes: “I’m happy when employees make an effort to learn new things and improve themselves. I value the ones who really want to be part of the company’s success.”

“To stay at your current position, do 100 percent of what your job requires. To be promoted, do 120 percent!”