If you're a younger employee, you've no doubt run up against the struggle of getting noticed for your work. One of the biggest battles in the workplace is getting recognition for the work you do without coming across as boastful or a braggart. Even older, seasoned workers have to fight to get their work recognized.The truth is, however, that you have lots of opportunities to champion yourself at work and point out your victories: in meetings, presentations and even company-wide e-mails. However, it's a fine line to walk; there's a definite art involved in the subtleties of touting your accomplishments. If you're always talking about how good you are at your job and how lucky the company is to have you, you'll come across as conceited, or even just as a jerk. But speak too little of your work, and you could miss out on assignments, raises, promotions, and your own private jet. Maybe not the last one, but if you want to take your career to the next level, you need to champion yourself at work.We’ve thought about it long and hard and we’ve come up with five ways for you to champion yourself at work.

Have a goal in mind
Before you start singing your own praises in your attempt to champion yourself at work, take a moment to decide on a goal. Is there somebody in particular you're trying to sway? What is your ultimate goal? Are you trying to have person X see you as responsible? Do you want to impress the company heavy hitters in general? Or do you just want that guy in the mail room to stop being so condescending?The point is simple: If you don't know where you want to be, you won't know when you're headed in the right direction or even if you've arrived. For a goal to be successful, you need to be sure it's aligned with your company's goal and especially your boss' goals. Of course, you have bigger plans for yourself than the company does, but if you're rowing in the opposite direction of the company, it'll be an uphill fight. So, solicit feedback from your boss about what's important to them.

Focus on specifics
The first rule of championing yourself at work is to have something worth crowing about. You need a particular achievement, because going around telling people you're great for no reason at all makes you sound full of yourself. You should always have something specific, and it should be measurable.Measurements are a sure way to show change, improvement in an area that was weak, etc. There's a saying in business: “If you can't measure it, you can't manage it.” We know, we know; things like your team's morale are important too, but the fact is your boss, your boss’ boss and everyone else has a preference for numbers. Why? Numbers are an easy handle. Your boss could spend a few hours a week sitting in on the sales team, watching how many deals are made, and the overall mood of the division. Or, he could read the sales figures for the month, and the number of employees who've quit this year versus last. As a busy man, which do you think he's more likely to do? Exactly.Remember this ironclad rule of influence (we'd write it down if we were you): If you want somebody to do something for you, make it as easy as possible for them to do it.Whenever possible, have a specific, measurable improvement or victory to show off. If you can find a way to convert something tangible into hard numbers, you usually should. Focus on big wins
The mark of a small mind is a preoccupation with small things. If you're bragging about the small victories, you send the message to those around you that those small details are all you have to cheer about. Keep the small details to yourself. When people look into your operation, they'll see you've got the details in order and it will be impressive when they discover your thoroughness on their own.
Instead, pay attention to the big wins. What are the two or three key areas that you are truly measured on? In what areas would an exceptional effort on your part result in a massive success? Focus on those areas. Again, get feedback from your boss, and keep an ear to the ground. What statistic comes up in every meeting? What's the area that everyone is worried about that you can take control over? Focus on those actions.

Present accomplishments as company victories, not your own
When you achieve the result you've aimed for, you truly have something to brag about. However, if you play that victory off the wrong way you'll come across as cocky. So instead of going around bragging about what a fine job you did, share with the others around you how proud they should be of the success the company had. Do what you can to share the praise: It makes you look like a bigger man and nobody will be confused about who actually made the win possible.Think about it; if a salesman in your office came up to you and said the company was on a roll and sales were up for the quarter, would you pat yourself on the back? Of course not, but you probably feel a little better about the team in sales. People know who's responsible for good results, which is exactly why spelling it out for them makes you look like a braggart. Just give them the information -- they'll figure out who made it happen on their own.

Be persistent
Have you ever had a question for your boss or something to get their feedback on and felt brushed off by them? You may have even felt unimportant or unappreciated to them. Well, barring the few truly bad bosses out there, most bosses care about their teams a great deal. Your boss doesn't mean to ignore you, he’s just busy. Get a promotion to management, and you’ll quickly realize how much work your boss was dealing with that you weren't even aware of. They have people above them to answer to, their own work and, last but not least, you and your coworkers on the level below. So don't feel bad if you get a lukewarm reception from your boss -- you may have caught them at a bad time. Keep bringing up the good things you're accomplishing. If you paid attention back in step one, you've already determined how meeting your personal goals ties in with the company's objectives, so you know that the results you have are important to your boss. So don't give up, and keep reminding your boss of your past accomplishments and the big projects you're currently facing.

take pride in your work
They say a man's ship would come in much quicker if he would swim out to meet it. You are your own biggest fan in the workplace. You're also the most in tune with what it is you do each day. That puts you in the position to best identify the things you do that bring a lot of value to the company. By championing your own efforts at work, you'll keep your accomplishments fresh in the eyes of those around and above you. In fact, by being focused on these “big win” results, you'll probably make yourself more driven and focused in the process. Study up on these rules, and you'll be well on your way to being your own PR agent in the workplace.