[MRM]

Remember "enlightened self interest". Make yourself valuable to your boss and he will take care of you because it is in his interest to do so. Bosses value workers who make their job easier. Companies value workers who add value. Try to do both.

The first thing I recommend is to figure out how to distinguish yourself by doing things that are valued in the company and doing them as well as you can.

Don't confuse effort with doing valued work. I have a friend who once went to work at a warehouse. He went on and of about what a great job it was and how lucky they were tohave him because the operation needed so much work. He spent the next two weeks working 100 hours or so organizing the warehouse. He bragged about how hard he was working and what great work he was doing for the company. The next week the company instituted a no overtime policy (seems as though the 100 hour workweeks got paid at time and a half) and ordered him to report directly to a supervisor for his tasks during the day and to NOT clean the place any more. Did I mention he had an MBA? If he had figured out a faster way to unload and track pallets but left a foot of trash on the floor he would have been better off.

Second, your job is to make your boss' job easier and to make him look good. You boss is evaluated on how well his group delivers. His raises, promotion, retention is based on how well his people work. If you make him look good he will be rewarded and you will be able to shine in his reflected light. I know, not all bosses do this, but remeber enlightened self interest. Even bad bosses will keep you happy enough if it is in his interest to do so.

Use your year end evaluation to show what you did and why it was important, but don't brag or exaggerate. Tooting your own horn makes you look insecure and annoying. Documenting your success and reminding your bosses of the value you add to the company is not.

But the best way to get recognized is to get along with your peers, complete your assignments on time, make suggestions to your superiors when you see a better way to do things, and keep quiet in the mean time.