Your newest employee, Jacob, is fresh out of college and super eager to make a name at your company (he said so a half-dozen times in his interview). He’s a real go-getter, good at his job and always asking to take on more, more, more. And you’ve been happy to oblige with special projects and challenges when you’ve been able. But the thing is, there just isn’t any more to offer right now except the day-to-day grind of Jacob’s regular duties. And in an entry-level position, those duties may not be all that exciting for a young and eager mind.

How can you give Jacob a gentle reality check without sending his talent packing?

For starters, check in on Jacob during a sit-down. Ask him how he’s doing and how the job is meeting his expectations from when he signed on. Best-case scenario, he’ll be forthcoming about his feelings and you can address them head on. If he’s not, try dragging them out with something like, “I get the impression you’d like to take on more.” Then be honest that this job doesn’t always have more to take on, and that success will mean excelling at the day-to-day tasks. If you were up-front during the interview process about the nature of the work, then Jacob should be brought back to a realistic expectation of his duties. Now is also a good time to remind Jacob that this job is not meant to fulfill him through the annals of his career; it is a pass-through position for most people, a stepping stone to perform well, gain experience, and move on to the next level.

If Jacob is talented and on track to move up once he builds a solid foundation at this level, then tell him so! He may be one of those (super-common) employees who needs to experience challenge and growth to feel happy and successful at work. Also assure him that a lack of “more” in no way reflects his talent or long-term potential. It’s important to keep that end game in sight, because you don’t want to lose a talented employee to the banality of entry level. So with that in mind, is there something else you could offer him? Could you send him to a class or conference, devise coaching or mentoring opportunities, or recommend a role on the picnic or recycling committee? Even small, but different, tasks can provide something to shoot for beyond the daily routine.

It’s easy for young and eager talents like Jacob to feel trapped in a day-to-day cycle of tedium. But showing your support, and reminding him of the light at the end of the tunnel, will help push him through the predictable until he’s ready and able to take the next step!