Congratulations! You’re hired, you have a job! Now, it’s about keeping it or better said, staying employed.

Over the years, I’ve been asked a few times if there was any secret to holding down gainful work.There are no secrets but a lot of sweat is certainly needed in keeping that wonderful, well-compensated position. For success to come knocking at the door, there are many things you can do to tip the scales in your favor. Here are some that I personally relied on.

• Punctuality is an asset. That applies to coming to work, logging on to your work station, returning from coffee breaks, attending meetings, and particularly, handing in assignments.

In 1991, I was receptionist where I literally had to open the office doors to visitors and clients at 9:00 a.m.  Being late horrified me; I made sure I was at my post 15-20 minutes early.

Fast forward to September 1999: a former manager, who wasn’t my supervisor, was looking for an assistant. I wondered why she wanted to hire me and was told, “She was always there.” Yes, I got the new job and the unexpected promotion that came with it.

• Do all, within reason, to have a good relationship with your manager. Some new employees come to the job thinking they know better than their managers. If you have ideas on improving workflow, share them. Career success also means teamwork not just with your peers but also with your manager.
• Be service oriented and helpful. If you would like to be a task leader, even manager,in future then it will pay to know how to serve and help clients and colleagues.
• Invest in your career. Read up on the virtual assistance industry, keeping in mind where you’d like to be in 3-5 years. Share information you discover. Learn how to use new apps through online offerings. Find an English language tutor if your writing skills need polishing. You might find the company is willing to subsidize the cost if you make a case for these.
• Maintain a positive attitude. Experiencing several management re-organizations will be part of a person’s career; mine was no exception. In all those times, I stayed positive. It’s been often said, “When a door closes, another one opens.” This is great reminder that life goes on even when the new job does not.

Notice that all of the above depends on the employee? That’s because a job is only as good as the relationship you intend to have with it. So for a long and successful office employment career in either the virtual or real world, make sure to bring your heart to it then put your best foot forward!

Written by Yoli P. – The Help