Advice for stalled graduate recruits

You are one of the lucky new graduates with a job. But you do not seem to be progressing as fast as you had hoped and the route ahead is far from obvious. So how do you find opportunities, get noticed and build your own career ladder?

Where do I start?

People tend to put all their efforts into getting a job and then expect the career to automatically follow, says Steve Rook, author of The Graduate Career Guidebook. "If you're feeling stuck, say to yourself, 'now I have a job, I'll start my career planning properly'."

Deliver what your current position demands, but keep one eye on where you want to go. "Think about your dream and break down the distance between you and your dream into smaller steps," he says.

You should avoid becoming too fixated on one thing, advises Corinne Mills, managing director of Personal Career Management. "Often people focus too much on promotion and spend all their time asking 'how do I become team leader?' But you should also find other ways to enrich your career."

What practical things can I do?

"Talk to everyone about what you want to do and what you are good at," Ms Mills suggests. "Being young means you can ask direct questions as long as you do it with a bit of charm."

She says you could also identify useful members of management and ask them to mentor you. "People like being helpful - and as a [new] graduate you won't be a threat to them."

Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, says you should look beyond just going on training courses: "Join professional bodies, attend industry events and go on social outings."

Mr Rook adds that you should take a strategic view of your position. "Have a systematic look at what is out there, both inside and outside the organisation. Most people have no idea how many options they have."

Are all companies created equal?Even if you feel stuck in a rut, there are likely to be far more opportunities in large companies. "It's a great chance to build a network," says Mr Rook. "Also, big companies will have paid a lot to recruit [new] graduates and they'll want to keep you."

Mr Hawes adds that you should also keep an eye on where your organisation is headed: "If the company is growing, new opportunities may arise which you will be well placed to take advantage of."

What if I still appear to be getting nowhere?If you cannot see a discernible career ladder, you should speak to your line manager. "It could be that the timescales have changed," says Mr Hawes. "See if you can get some commitment."

However, he adds that at some point you will need to consider your position: "It depends on the job and graduate scheme, but if you've been there between 18 months and two years and nothing seems to have changed, you need to start looking elsewhere. You don't want to get left behind."

The writer is author of 'The Careerist: Over 100 ways to get ahead at work'