by Sarah Vigue

Created on: April 24, 2010   Last Updated: April 28, 2010

One way to play the corporate game is to network. Know as many people on good terms as you comfortably can. Having a well connected social presence like this keeps you mainstream and safe. To go beyond being just another number though, you need to understand that everyone in the office is important and deserves respect. Employees who understand this are never brushed aside and those who are also natural or even developed leaders are perfect for executive management. Start by getting to know everyone from the ground up.

The First Rung

Although their positions seem to be the exact opposite of management, interns and administrative/executive assistant types are excellent links between you and your next promotion. These secretarial and reception jobs not only involve making contact with everyone in a business, they can also be the most miserable jobs and that is where important information lies. Would you want a certain promotion if you would have to work for an appalling boss? Knowing the office gripes, not necessarily office gossip, will reveal how certain people act. If the worst thing someone can say about a CEO is something trivial, then you’ve still got a green light to pursue a position under him/her.

These same people considered entry-level are becoming more and more respected as they are reliable and important to every business. They understand why a job has to be done a certain way and their focus is to support the boss. They not only know when a position is open but what the job description really entails. Being so knowledgeable enables their managers to take employee referrals as more than just suggestions. Keep in mind that if your friend the admin can help you get ahead, you could one day be working above that person. No one wants to work under a boss who “forgets” about them and is unappreciative. It’s even better to help someone you like, who is also qualified, to get that position.

Unskilled Laborer and the Owls

What is really interesting is that people forget how much time those in the Operations and Maintenance Departments spend in the office. They know who comes in before them and leaves after them. They are the same people who close up for the night and walk past you still plugging away in your cubicle and happen to glimpse spreadsheets on your monitor. When someone complains, “People these days spend don’t have a good work ethic. They spend all their time on Facebook,” you might just have a supportive

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