Ask questions and be willing to discuss your thought process with people. Don't be afraid to try and improve things even if they've been like that a long time.

Ask questions and be willing to discuss your thought process with people. Don't be afraid to try and improve things even if they've been like that a long time. Try and find something to work on you're genuinely interested in. My first job out of school (8 years ago) was a pretty effective springboard. Unfortunately the secret to success was basically to be excessively keen and interested in doing anything and everything. At the time it was fun - I worked too much and I made myself look foolish at times, but I was junior enough that it didn't matter. Now that I've been around for a couple years and I'm a little more jaded I don't think I could do it again. But if you're very keen I think just being enthusiastic and learning things will get you far.