Gen Z might groan at the idea of reaching for the boss’s Flat White. Who can blame them? They entered the workforce in an era when optics mattered, and they knew that being the one who was always drinking coffee, taking notes, or organizing lunch (also known as “office chores”) would make you look more junior and hurt your progress over time.
But Stephanie Kramer, chief human resources officer for L’Oréal U.S., says these small tasks are often the start of opportunities, and they played a surprisingly important role in her own career in a corner office at the world’s largest beauty company.
Quest fragrance, where she worked closely with perfumers early in her career
Before joining Fortune 500 company L’Oréal, Kramer’s first job out of college was at Quest Fragrance Company. It was also the first time the value of a simple coffee trip came to light.
“I really wanted to get around to meeting this really cool perfumer,” she recalls wealthadding that she came into the meeting early with the mindset of just wanting to support her team. But she quickly discovered that “the little things can bring positivity.”
She’s quick to point out that this allows you to get in and not be seen as the most junior person in the room.
“If you’re the one who’s documenting the actions of the meeting and next steps, and you’re listening and observing, that’s not necessarily a negative,” Kramer explains. “You’re in the room and you’re absorbing how these ideas are going to play out. You’re developing reasoning skills.”
“So when you question some of the smaller tasks, make sure you’re not questioning the value they bring to you and your learning. I think about that all the time.”
Take whatever steps you can now and strategize later
Kramer’s resume spans corner offices at Chanel, Kiehl’s and L’Oréal, but it’s her middle school roles and odd assignments early in her career that she remembers best.
“Those things stay with you,” she said. That first job might not be your dream role, and it certainly wasn’t hers. But over time, it can have a snowball effect on your career.
“I don’t know if these are the people I want to be in my life.” Yet, she insists, each experience adds up. “It does. It makes a big difference.”
Her message to young workers facing a cold job market: Accept the role, accept the assignment, grab a cup of coffee — because value only compounds over time.
“You have to start,” Kramer insisted. “I promise that one day, that is What are you going to talk about in the interview. “
“It might not be a job you have, or you’re not necessarily sure you should take it. Now, maybe it’s a paycheck, or it might be a platform for you to connect with other people so you can discover what you want to do.”
“When people ask me how I got into human resources, I tell them it started in middle school because in middle school I was a lifeguard, I was a Girl Scout, I was a cross-country runner, which means you have to walk through the woods alone, but you still get results as a team…Those jobs are part of my job today.”
Promotions will come later, but first, focus on
As the saying goes: if you take care of your pennies, the pounds will take care of themselves. The same goes for your career. Cramer isn’t the first executive to tell young employees that if they perform well on today’s small tasks, promotions will follow.
Cisco’s UK CEO spent 25 years rising through the ranks at Fortune 500 European telecoms giant BT before joining Cisco as managing director in 2022 and being promoted to head of the UK and Ireland branch just two years later.
she told before wealth Both new Generation Z employees and Millennial middle managers will need to be more “patient” in their pursuit of success. Promotions will come, but ambitious young employees should focus on building their skills rather than rushing to get any new trendy title to update their LinkedIn.
Pret A Manger CEO Pano Christou went from a $3-an-hour job at McDonald’s to becoming the owner of a British sandwich chain making millions a year. He said he earned promotion after promotion by doing his best in the positions he held — even those at entry-level positions.
“I’ve seen some people get so focused on their next role that they literally take their focus away from the job they’re currently doing,” Crystal told wealth. “My philosophy has always been that if you do a great job, people will notice you.”
Likewise, Shaid Shah, one of the most senior executives at Mars, the giant behind household names like Dolmio, says the best career tip is to stop obsessing about getting that promotion or dream position and instead embrace the many steps to get there.
“It’s about gaining the experience you need to achieve your ambitions, recognizing what makes you happy, what excites you, what motivates you to get up every day,” Shah explains. “Because career success is more than just hierarchy.”
This story originally appeared on Fortune.com