जो कहा गया, सब किया। फिर भी आगे नहीं बढ़ पाई।

जो कहा गया, सब किया। फिर भी आगे नहीं बढ़ पाई।(I did everything they asked but I still didn’t grow.)

A fresher told me this after her first appraisal.

For months, she tried to be the easy one. Took work without full clarity.

Accepted timelines she wasn’t sure about. Avoided questions as she didn’t want to look inexperienced.

She sorted the mess quietly and did not talk much when things worked.

The feedback she received at her appraisal confused her:

“You work hard, but we don’t see ownership.”

Sounds familiar?

If yes, here’s what actually helps early in a career:

1. Write things down and confirm:

A simple “Just to confirm, this is what I’ll deliver by Friday…” saves confusion and builds trust.

2. Close the loop:

Don’t assume silence means satisfaction. A short update like “Done. Anything you want changed?” matters.

3. Ask for feedback early, not at appraisal time

4. A 5-minute check-in mid-task is worth more than a perfect final delivery.

5. Say no with context:

Not “I can’t,” but “If I take this, X will get delayed. What should I prioritise?”

6. Be consistent, not intense:

One dependable person beats five bursts of overwork.

These are not generic tips. These are patterns I have seen across many first jobs. 😇