Many of my friends have graduated and will be starting jobs and their careers soon (those who were lucky enough to find employment in this economy). Although I have not been working for all that long, I have learned a couple things that I want to share.

1. Manage expectations – Under-promise and over-deliver. If something takes 2 days to do, tell your manager it will take 3 days. This gives you a buffer time in case it actually takes longer to do and also makes you look like a star when you deliver the assignment earlier.

2. Learn by asking questions -Always ask questions no matter how stupid they sound. If you hear something in a conversation that you don’t understand, ask what it is. If you read something you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask someone. It is important to show that you are always ready and eager to learn and to improve your skills.

3. Anticipate questions – Think like your boss before you hand in your work. Anticipate any questions that he/she might have. Your goal is to give them your work, and not to hear back from them. If you anticipate their questions, you are in effect going above and beyond what is expected of you.

4. Communication is key – Make sure you know what is expected of you and to paraphrase each assignment that is given to you. Clarify with your manager so that you know the level of detail or quality that he/she is expecting.