Landing the job is just the first step to improving a job candidate’s career prospects.  If you’re serious about finding your niche with your new employer, you will want to chart a trajectory to promotion.  Below are a few tips on how new hires can accelerate their path to promotion:

1. Know the territory and understand the opportunities.  New hires should immediately begin to assess which opportunities are available to them and whether they are a good match for their career goals.
2. Know the requirements.  Next, new hires should find out what it takes to land a promotion. Don’t depend on the job description; find out from those who have done it already.  But be careful with questioning co-workers, you don’t want raise the alarms of those who might fear being replaced.
3. Take the initiative. New hires should immediately begin positioning themselves to take on responsibilities that will give them the skills and experience necessary for promotion. Begin slowly by taking on extra projects which may fall slightly outside your experience and skill level.
4. Track your accomplishments.  Don’t depend on others to acknowledge what you do, make sure you carefully track and announce your accomplishments. Take care to avoid bragging and also give credit to anyone who helped you with a project, especially those in senior positions.
5. Be a team player.  Being a team player has become such a cliché that many attorneys can’t help but roll their eyes at the statement. But working with others is especially important in an industry that is becoming more collaborative as some law firms outsource certain aspects of their practice.