Have you ever felt that your present company is just treating you like an insignificant cog in its giant corporate machinery? Have you lately been feeling like a nobody at your place of work? Do you get the impression that when you run into your boss in the hallway, he/she isn’t sure who you are? Are all the juicy projects slipping out of your fingers and being given to someone else?

If your answer is an empathetic “yes” to even one of these questions, the time may have come to bend your back a little extra and raise your work profile. Here are a few straightforward tips to help you get started:

Being On Time
One of most important (though often not the easiest) thing you can do is to always be punctual. While this is like stating the obvious, there is a big difference between being on time and making it to work on time. If you are truly on time, you are early. It would be great if you can arrive at least 15 minutes before your shift starts. Even if it goes unnoticed for a few days, reaching early will have a positive impact on your performance. Also by arriving early for work, you'll show your boss that you are taking initiative. This shows that you are reliable and you won't let the boss down by being late to an important meeting with a client.

Do more than others
Most employees while working on their projects do just about enough to keep themselves out of trouble. If you too have been following the same strategy, then you have no right to crib that your efforts are going unnoticed. In order to distinguish yourself from the rest, you need to be better and faster in everything that you do. WORK WITH A VENGANCE. If your boss gives you until Wednesday to turn in a specific weekly report, turn it in by Monday. If you get 5 hours to review a project, complete it within an hour. Your supervisors will definitely notice these trends and will reward you for it.

Avoid taking those frequent coffee and lunch breaks
You don’t want to be one of those guys who spend as much time on their desks as they do near the coffee machine. Even if you feel that you won’t be able to work without that caffeine shot, just ask a colleague to get you a cuppa. Same goes for your lunch breaks.

Focus on your development
One of the easiest way of getting promoted is by obtaining more training. Approach your superiors or the HR and tell them that you are interested in signing up for internal training or that you are pursuing a particular IT program and want to know what opportunities will it open up for you with the company. Don't go over board and push this issue, but just make sure that your boss sees that you are aggressive in trying to further develop yourself.

Smile and Talk
This is an interesting strategy that has been successfully applied by most top level executives. Its as simple as smiling and striking a conversation with your boss. The more you do this the more face time you'll have with them. You want to be on their mind as much as possible. This might actually result in more work, but if you able to show that you are able to expedite that work and prove that you can handle the added pressure; this could play out favorably for you.

Never blame
If your boss blames you for a mistake you didn’t make, don’t point fingers. Instead talk to the person who was responsible for the blunder and make him own up. If someone else gets blamed for your mistakes, volunteer yourself to get yelled at. Eventually your boss would find out that it was you, so by standing up and admitting that you messed up, you are showing character. Also, by not pointing you finger at your coworker, you are showing your boss that you understand that if someone in the team fails, you all fail.

Listen more than you talk
There is special breed of attention seeking employees who treat company meetings and presentations as an opportunity to clear their vocal chords. Asking (often inane) questions, making the most obvious statements, making idiotic suggestions are the forte of these duffers. They have to get themselves heard and don’t realize that they are only trying the patience of their colleagues DON’T BE LIKE THEM. No matter how badly you feel the need to say something, don’t open your mouth unless you have something intelligent to say. This will automatically happen if you’re attentive and listen carefully. Also when you offer suggestions keep them brief.

Be the last to leave
Even if you have nothing to do, don't be the first one to leave the office. Always stay 30 minutes to an hour after your scheduled time. By doing this, you are showing that you are willing to stay and do whatever it takes to finish your work.