The first stage of one’s career is
a highly formative time for every young professional. It’s a chance to learn, grow, develop and
determine one’s individual path to success and happiness. Are you taking advantage of every opportunity
to put yourself ahead? Because if you’re
not, someone else is.
A focus on ongoing professional
training is critical for a young employee’s development. The need to strengthen your repertoire in any
way possible is exacerbated in our current climate. While the official unemployment rate for
people in their late teens and post-college years is around 16%, when you add
in those who've quit the search or are “underemployed”, The Wall Street Journal
estimates the true number to exceed 25%.
Underemployment has forced
graduates to take non-professional jobs until they are able to find one related
to the career for which they’ve been preparing.
A study by Millennial Branding found that over 63% of Gen Y workers have
a bachelor’s degree, but the most commonly reported jobs for Gen Y don’t
necessarily require a college degree. So
if you’re lucky enough to have landed yourself that first real professional job
and don’t consider yourself underemployed, you’re going to want to do
everything you can to make yourself an invaluable employee.
Enter Fuse Duluth. Our organization is committed to providing
educational and professional development opportunities to our community’s young
professional population. In pursuit of
this goal, we are excited to bring back our second annual young professional
summit, “YPro to CEO: Thriving as a Young Professional”.
Last year’s conference was a great success. Ted Schick of Schick Corporate Learning kicked-off
the conference with his keynote presentation titled “Positioning Yourself as a
Leader”. This year’s session topics will
be selected based on survey results from Fusers. In 2012, topics included learning to stand
out in a big company; entrepreneurs and effective hiring; tactics to advance
your career; and intergenerational dynamics.
The conference concludes with a delicious three-course etiquette
luncheon at Greysolon Plaza.
As a young professional, you don’t
need all the answers; however you must never stop asking questions. Actively seek the knowledge and experiences
that will contribute to your professional growth. As an employer, whole-heartedly support this
effort of self-improvement. The
likelihood of talented people leaving diminishes when they feel they are
continually developing and improving. On
September 25, join future corporate leaders and change-makers as Fuse prepares
a new generation to lead with vision and passion. Click here to RSVP.
