Not all of us are born with golden pens in hand, ready to sign orders and cheques. Most have to start close to the bottom and then climb up, one step at a time. How far you reach depends on your performance as well as the policies of your employer. So if you are ambitious and plan to reach as high as possible, stop shirking the small jobs.

At The Bottom Of The(ir) Pile
There are usually two entry-level jobs in an organisation - one at the non-executive level and the other at executive level. Though these jobs are allotted on the basis of educational qualifications, it is not unknown for a management trainee in the executive cadre to be put through some important non-executive jobs too. For example, almost all management trainees at Hindustan Lever Limited are expected to get to know their customers closely - hence they get to spend at least 15 to 30 days in villages in various parts of the country to learn how real Indians wash, clean and eat. A guy from a premier business school was put in charge of the telex room of an MNC bank. He had to ensure that all telexes went out on time and that incoming ones reached the right desks. Not exactly the high-flying banking job he had dreamt of, but as a management trainee, he was expected to understand the importance of this job before he could graduate to bigger and better things.

Initiative Pays
There's nothing wrong with starting right at the bottom. There's a lot to be learnt by balancing accounts daily or checking the boss' e-mails. The important thing is to not get stuck in such a position. Keep checking if your boss believes you are ready to move up the ladder. If you feel that you are capable of doing a lot more than you are asked to do, volunteer for more - more responsibility, accountability and power.

If volunteering does not work, take up the issue in your performance review. But remember, you will be given more responsible jobs only if you are very good at what you are doing right now. So, if your current task is to brew that cuppa of coffee just right for the big cheese, then make sure you master it. Erratic performance and disinterest in the current job will not get the promotion you are seeking, even if you are capable of doing more.

The Up-Or-Out Strategy
Sometimes, the climb does not come easy because there are no new jobs to move into. You could look at creating new opportunities for the company, where you could have a role too, but if that does not seem possible, and you are sure that you have reached the end of the road here, look at moving out.

A word of advice for those in the non-executive cadre: Mobility is higher if you stick to one organisation rather than moving laterally first, hoping to grow. Always try and move to a better position in terms of not just money, but responsibility AND money.

At The New Job
When you are offered a better job within the company, take it only if you feel comfortable doing it. If it is a position that is in a mess owing to previous management failures, work out a plan of how you plan to tackle the issue and clarify your infrastructure and manpower needs upfront.
Leave room for negotiations on the resources required, but be professional about it. If within a short period, circumstances in the company or in the market change drastically, look at discussing the impact with your boss and review performance parameters. That will ensure that you are on the same page as the boss about the project.

Where Angels Tread Lightly
Remember not to bite off more than you can chew. Always examine clearly what the position close to the top requires and reassess if you have done similar things earlier or seen them being done often enough to be confident that you can fulfil the role that you want to undertake. Often, people believe that they are capable of a lot more, but in reality, have no clue about how to handle the job.

In the first few days, ensure that your taking over is smooth and all issues clarified. That will enable you to work out a plan based on reality rather than conjectures, the latter being a recipe for disaster.

Fast Track To The Top

• Volunteered time will not go unnoticed by supervisors.

• Associate yourself with the big gals in your office. Attend corporate games or join your boss' team. These occasions are perfect for demonstrating leadership and organisational skills.

• Always take credit for the work you have done. Let your employer know the amount of effort you have expended at specific tasks.

• Always be geared to compete with colleagues. No one will step aside to help you get the promotion they've been waiting years for.