Are you a new college grad about to enter the work force? Perhaps you decided not to attend college and decided to embark on an immediate start on your career path. What does it take to be successful? What factors play into your chances of starting your career off on the right foot?

One of the most important factors to remember is that before you can lead, you must learn to follow. Everyone likes to think that they will be a perfect fit and know "all" right from the start. So perfect, in fact, that they can start out as managers and leaders right from the gate. Have you ever heard of the term to “slow your roll”? It’s always tempting to want to start off as management. You need to take a moment, however, to learn how to take direction. Learn about the skills, knowledge and abilities needed to be successful in whatever organization you become a part of.

Understand the definition and importance of teamwork. I’ve asked many interviewees’s to tell me about a time when they participated on a team. What was the outcome? What was their role? It’s always interesting that while some can define a team, they are unable to provide an active example of when they have ever worked as part of a team. Some even struggle with the definition. Understanding the importance of working together to complete a shared goal is essential. Having an understanding of your current and future strengths will help you to fulfill a productive role within any team or organization.

Understand the importance of communication. Many employers are looking for employees who can communicate well. So important, in fact, that the ability to communicate verbally and in writing are listed on many job descriptions.

Drive and patience may appear to be an oxymoron in the career game, but they are equally important and work in tandem. There is nothing wrong with having the drive to excel and advance quickly. Patience, however, is essential so you can learn what is needed to make it happen. You need time to get to know the culture of the organization, even one that you feel is poorly run. Knowing the importance of working well as part of a team and acknowledging that you must first learn the ropes before you can take charge of the ropes will help you to become successful in almost any career.