Five things you could do to Separate Yourself at Work
With one year and some change in the workforce under my belt, I have had the privilege to learn what it takes to be a standout employee. Capital One has put me in a unique position where I am able to get exposure to many different types of engineers and leaders. Each of these individuals have distinctive characteristics that made them a standout in the company.
Below are some takeaways I noticed in these employees that allowed them to excel the greatest in the workforce.
- Do not be afraid to share your opinions and ideas: The old motto of don’t be afraid to ask questions comes into play here. Make sure to stand your ground when it comes to new problems and be willing to offer solutions, even if you think you solution is not the greatest. Engaging in such conversations will make your teammates appreciate your dedication and desire to grow.
- Constantly surround yourself with smarter people and senior engineers: Whether it’s a simple lunch or a one-on-one meeting, constantly pick the brains of more senior developers. This will not only grow your development skills, but also your communication skills.
- Never get complacent in learning and constantly challenge yourself: Always make sure to go above and beyond when completing your tasks. Do not be afraid to conquer a challenging problem because it will be that much more rewarding when you complete it. Continue to pick up new tasks that may require you to learn something new as this will make you a well-rounded engineer in the future.
- Don’t be afraid to fail: This takeaway goes hand in hand with #3. As you continue to pick up tasks that are challenging, there will be times when you fail. Do not take this as step back in your development, but rather a step forward. The learning experience will come into play later in your career.
- Finally, take initiative and have ambition: Whether it is replying back to a simple slack message or email, be the first to share your thoughts on something. If no one has volunteered for a task, do not be afraid to step up and confront the challenge. Showing and having ambition to grow goes a long way in constantly pushing yourself to your end goal.

These takeaways are not the only thing you must do to be successful, but can definitely help you be a standout in your career. A piece of advice I got in the beginning of my career was that “the more time you put into yourself, the more time others will put into you.” This quote has stuck with me since and has helped me tremendously.
Remember that life is all about growing and continuously learning.
TLDR: Find mentors, learn new things, and get to where you want to be