7 Things Aspiring Managers Should Be Doing

• Act like a mature adult
• Do the work – Hands on
• Become adept in finance
• Sell and learn to open doors
• Be an effective presenter
• Learn negotiation skills
• Practice being a great communicator

Click here to read the entire article. 

There's no doubt we've seen the best and worst managers in our young careers. What other things should an aspiring manager start doing --and what should they absolutely NOT be doing?

How Much Should You Be Making as a Young Professional?

This trusted and widely used source, “Survey of Design Salaries 2009,” is compiled by Aquent for professionals in the marketing, advertising, design, copywriting, web design and print products fields.

Click here to use the Salary Calculator. You choose all the calculations by selecting each variable (location, size of company, agency vs. in-house, etc.) and it projects how much you should be making: 

Here is the summary of how much each position is currently making nationwide: 

Click here to see a compensation overview of design salaries.

How will you negotiate how much the value you bring to the company is worth?

When Your Credibility is Questioned Just Because of your Age

“I’m just out of college.”
“Everyone I work with is twice my age.”
“My clients and colleagues are going to think I’m just some kid.”
“What can I possible teach THEM?”

Sound familiar? Don’t let the age difference stop you from growing your confidence.

Hey, Tiger Woods won his first Masters at age 21. The guys at Google launched it when they were still students at Stanford.

Click here to read an article about building your credibility as a young professional.

Advice for Young Professionals (#6 in a Series)

"Always take the high road, even if it is longer and harder."

~ Lisa K. Fair McEvers, Commissioner of Labor, North Dakota Department of Labor
Prairie Business Magazine, September 2009

Advice for Young Professionals (#5 in a Series)

"Find a mentor or friend to discuss business concerns with instead of bringing issues, personalities and work politics home with you."

~Julie Kubisiak, Senior Vice President and Director of Student Loan Services, Bank of North Dakota
Prairie Business Magazine, September 2009 

Advice for Young Professionals (#4 in a Series)

 

"Find a way to tap into your strengths. Also, follow your instincts, morals and values. Don’t be afraid to politely question people so you can understand the situation better."

~ Roni Wegner, Senior Vice President and CIO, CAPITAL Card Services
Prairie Business Magazine, 2009

What's Your Customer Service Like?

Statistics show that on average, dissatisfied customers tell 21 people about their poor experience, while extremely satisfied customers only tell about 7 people. What can you do to improve your customer service?

What are your customers saying about you?

Update on Monday, September 14, 2009 by Renee

Giving great service doesn't stop with your customers. If you give the same customer service to the people you work with, you'll establish credibility and approachability.

Here are some ways to improve your customer service in the office:

Be approachable. Sometimes it’s easier to be angry, negative or mundane at work or at home, but the truth is people respond better to someone who is cheerful and approachable.

Communicate effectively. Try not to act annoyed or angry if you have to explain something over again. Take that as an opportunity to polish your communication skills. Our body language is 58 percent of the emotional meaning we create with the people we talk to. Some of the most powerful communication is non-verbal. Make a list before you leave a voice mail so you sound prepared. Organize your thoughts before you add to a discussion. Anticipate questions. Be concise in written communication like emails and notes.

Be appreciative. Take time to thank others for their contribution. Feeling appreciated creates loyalty. Write a note, send an email, and/or thank them so their manager knows too.

Be curious. Be curious about the company you work for. The more you know about the whole process allows you to contribute even more. Be eager to learn more about what you do and how to do it better.

Be straight-forward. Expectations of others may fall short. Instead of lowering the bar or being disappointed, choose a time to remind each other what the expectations are to keep the relationship strong.

Have goals. Write down your goals and share them with someone you trust. Statistics show that you’re more likely to achieve your goals this way. When your team sets a goal, be sure to contribute as much as you can with no excuses.

Respect communication styles. Honor others you work with by knowing and respecting their communication style. Do they prefer a one-on-one meeting, an email, a short note, a quick phone call, or a lengthy and fun conversation?

Be humble. Be knowledgeable and share your recommendations without arrogance or attitude.

Laugh. Diffuse an angry customer or co-worker with a little humor. It may be a welcome break in the tone of a conversation. Use humor to lighten a tough situation, but don’t use it to cover up the real matter at hand.

Be kind. Be kinder than necessary to everyone you meet. You never know what they’re going through. Try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt in a situation--you'd want them take that approach with you, right?

Be a problem solver. The best leaders are good at “Plan B.” They have a positive attitude even when problems arise.

Share. Share your talents with others. Share your time with the people that mean the most to you. Share your blessings with those less fortunate by volunteering.

Celebrate your successes. As you set goals, celebrate each success. Success can come in small doses, so take time to build upon each one.

by Renee Halgerson

Network, Network, Network. But How?

Sometimes it's not WHAT you know, but WHO you know. If you are a young professional in the Sioux Falls area, here are a few ways to get involved and start networking:

First, join an organization with people who have your same interests. It's easy to be passionate about something when you're with people who share that love. Fuel your fire.

Second, volunteer to sit on a board, help with a project, or lead a committee. The experience will lend itself to meeting motivated, driven people just like you.

Here a few groups in Sioux Falls to help you get started:

Young Professionals Network (Part of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce) 

Sioux Falls Synergy (They focus on civil, social and leadership activities for young professionals)

If you're a professional in the marketing/design/advertising industry, here a few more organizations to join:

AIGA South Dakota (Professional graphic artists committed to the excellence of design)

South Dakota Advertising Federation (SDAF) (Advertising and marketing professionals gather for speakers) 

 
What will you do to make sure you meet new people at every event you go to? How will challenge yourself to keep networking?