Wondering how to differentiate yourself and hit the ground running in your job?

Whether you’re just starting out in the workforce or moving into a new role, stand out for the right reasons with these tips, recommended by Michelle Tillis Lederman on Career Attraction.

1) Build Relationships at Every Level
Relationships are key, and you may be surprised by which ones are most critical to your career. Don’t narrow your focus just to colleagues at your level. Pursue the relationships that feel authentic to you to expand your resources, knowledge base and support network.

2) Offer Your Help
Be proactive — if you don’t have anything to do, find something. Build your brand as someone who pitches in. The best way to understand what’s going on around the office is to ask how you can help.

3) Ask Questions
When you’re given an assignment, make sure you’re clear on what doing it successfully means. Understand who else you may be able to ask questions of as they come up so you don’t burden the boss. But keep asking, and soon you’ll be able to answer them for someone else.

4) Pay Attention to the Big and Small Picture
Make it a habit to do not just the job you’re asked to do, but to look for additional opportunities to add value. Understand why you’re assigned certain tasks, what the results will contribute to and how this all fits into your organization’s larger goals and aims.

5) Attitude Over Aptitude
Temper tantrums, arrogance or cockiness will not serve you in your career. Employers can teach technical skills; they can’t teach attitude. Approach every situation openly, with a willingness to learn, and don’t act as if anything — or anyone — is below you.