Top 10 Ways to Impress Your Boss

While for many of us, finding a job is the big obstacle, you also need to remember your place in the organization once you've gotten the job. Your part probably falls somewhere between a valued and integral full-time employee of a small staff and an hourly worker for a huge, multi-national corporation -- a tiny speck of dust on the cog that turns the economy's wheel. Whether or not you work alone or as a member of a big team, you have someone to answer to: your boss. Consider these 10 ways to impress your boss over and over again so that you don't get kicked off the wheel anytime soon.

Get to work on time. Nobody likes someone who's always tardy. Showing up on time every time shows that you are reliable, and you are likely to get more highly valued assignments. Just be careful not to show up too early. You don't want to earn the reputation of a clock hog.

Dress for success. Looking sharp is important in virtually every job. If you are able to dress the part, you may be able to pull off a job well done or even get a promotion. At the very least, you'll visually impress your boss.

Appearance is everything. This is important both in dress and in physical appearance. You can have the nicest threads around and still look like garbage. Make sure you're well groomed, smell nice and have gotten enough sleep to avoid looking like a zombie.

Company first. Another important point to remember is that the interests of the company should always come first. This applies both when you're on the job and when you're off the clock just hanging around. If you represent the company in any way, it's important to put your best foot forward.

The customer is always right. Without your customers, your business is nothing. You always have to remember where you stand in the customer relations game. Make sure the customer is happy, or make sure that you get them to someone who can make them happy.

Product knowledge. If you were looking to buy something from someone, you'd want to know what you're paying for. If you are an employee who doesn't have product knowledge, you're up the creek without a paddle.

If you don't know, ask. No one ever got points off for asking. If you don't know the answer, don't shuck and jive your way around the truth. Just ask!

Refer a friend. If you bring business in at your job, not only will your boss be impressed, but you'll be spreading the good word about your company to those immediately surrounding you.

Don't misuse company time. Try to stay busy as much as possible. If you're not busy, at least look busy! If it's appropriate, ask for extra tasks or responsibilities, since this is likely to impress your boss.

Go above and beyond. Tell your boss what you'd like to do instead of asking, "What can I do?" An employee with go-getter initiative will always win out in the business bidding war. Make sure that you don't deliberately step on anyone's toes, and your boss's impression of you will shine like the sun.

There are many ways to impress your boss, but perhaps the biggest way to make an impression is to learn your job fully and do it as well as you can. If you do that, then every boss you have, no matter how often you move around, will be able to remember you fondly.