David,

Your list is pretty comprehensive from my experience.  I would opine that your last bullet, getting to know client personnel better, is the most fertile area for exploration/leverage.  It gives you better insight into how your firm can better serve the client, and how you can help your superiors personally become more valuable to the client (the ticket to bullet number one, which opens up opportunities to volunteer for interesting new things).

The other thing you can always do is find the challenge in the stuff you don't like.  There's probably a better way to do it or a way to eliminate the drudgery if you spend time ON the process instead of IN the process.

Mike

David

Another area I'd highlight is graduate recruiting (the "milk round" as we Brits call it).  It's a fantastic way to figure out quickly whether you can talk truthfully and passionately about what you do - you have to be authentic and credible in front of "inquiring minds".  If you're having trouble being enthusiastic you're probably in the wrong place.  

From a career progression perspective it's a great opportunity to gain profile and build relationships by working alongside partners and managers in the firm.

Paul

I had never thought of it that way, Paul. What's being on the "milk round" like?

What about the opposite direction? How do those you are interviewing / recruiting find out if what you're offering is for them? Has anyone being recruited ever "interviewed" you in a clever way so that they found out as much about you and your firm as you did about them? 

Great post.  Here are my thoughts:

1 - be excellent, even in the tiny little 'boring' jobs that you're given that no one wants to do.  If you get these wrong, no one will want you to do the more interesting stuff.   Focus on this first and foremost, it will be your foundation for bigger and better things as you move up the ranks in experience.  If you are 'excellent' then everyone will want you on their engagements / projects / matters and this is the first critical step.

2 - work hard.  Oh, I know that one, you say.  No, what I mean is, you will inevitably have to work longer hours to take on the interesting work you are offered.  If you are 'excellent' (as above), then you will be very busy.  However, this alone does not fix the problem of the type of work you are getting.  So be prepared to work longer hours as you shift the focus of the work that comes into you.

3 - understand that as a junior, you are a professional service firm of your own.  You have a difficult job, because you have multiple clients, ie 'the client', senior people in your team, and your ultimate boss. 

Numbers 1 and 2 apply to firms as well as junior operators.  Understand that many of the principles for success of firms apply equally.

Regards

Duncan

David,

I echo what Mike said and would add that in general, developing your reputation outside of your organization will help you to build your reputation on the inside.  Taking the time to get published in journals that your clients (or prospective clients) read or finding opportunities to speak to the industries that you serve (though trade groups, etc.) can do a lot to enhance your internal reputation.

Steve

David

With respect to the recruiting "milk round" I'm thinking of the campus events and particularly the informal discussions following the formal presentations where recent recruits, managers and partners are quizzed by potential recruits about every aspect of the firm.  You learn to think fast in that kind of situation!

On the interviewing side I've always believed it's a two way process - and would be disappointed with a candidate that wasn't also trying to interview me and the firm.

Paul, thanks. I'm going to turn your response into a new thread in a day or two. Watch this space! (But I hope it won't stop othes pitching in on the original question!)