Every now and then when the oil patch is flat, I'll take some temporary work to help fill the gaps.
One such job had me working at a warehouse, and one of the guys I worked with was impressively competent, a go-getter, and frankly, what we'd call a 'stud hand'...with one exception:
He was ten minutes late every day.
We were talking one day and he was grumbling about not getting a raise.
I said "If you want a raise, all you have to do is show up fifteen minutes earlier than you have been, every day. You have the rest down cold, but I heard the owner grumbling about you being late and that has blinded him to the rest of your capabilities."
I'm happy to say he took my advice, and had the raise within a month.
Be there when you are supposed to be, be ready to do what you are supposed to do, and you'll do better at most anything.
Brilliant advice. Sometimes good people are blind to their minor faults which may not be considered minor to employers / supervisors.
IMHO, for most postitions - particularly the entry level ones - if you show up when you're supposed to and keep a positive attitude you'll be OK. The other 10% is aptitude.
The first 90% will keep you employed. The other 10% will get you promoted.
It never ceases to amaze me that people consistently fail as employees. There are a handful who simply are overmatched - someone completely inflexible in a high stress job that requires flexibility, for instance.
But, for the most part, I'd love to smack some people. "Man, just come in on time. Don't look like a homeless bum. Smile occasionally. Work hard, don't make excuses." No matter how much you work with people though, and "coach" or "mentor" them..... They just don't get it.