If you’re a new college grad working in the promo industry – welcome! Companies are increasingly looking for people like you to add to their team, with 56% of hiring managers saying they plan to hire recent college graduates this year. This is the highest level in three years and up from 51% last year.
As you learn the ropes of your organization and the promo industry in general, you can set yourself up for success by mastering a few important skills. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we highlight a post from the Glassdoor blog that explains the skills and information that can help junior-level staffers thrive.
1. Hone your soft skills. These include attributes, traits and other non-technical abilities like teamwork and communication. You can’t study for these in school but they’re crucial for your success. Soft skills impact how your colleagues, prospects and clients view you. These skills can also affect your career growth. For example, if you learn how to network well, you may open the door to more opportunities.
2. Embrace self-promotion. As a junior-level staff member, you may be cautious about advocating for yourself too much. Don’t be, according to the Glassdoor post. If you’re going to do great work, make sure people know about it. There’s nothing wrong with an occasional humble brag.
3. Learn the office politics. No matter the size, every company has politics. Young professionals should learn how to navigate these office politics in order to get recognition, raises and promotions. The Glassdoor post says that hard work alone isn’t enough to succeed. You have to be well-liked and demonstrate emotional intelligence.
4. Boost your tech skills. You may be a social media expert, but according to the Glassdoor post, you also need basic knowledge of Excel. Most jobs in the promo industry and beyond require basic technical and analytical skills.
5. Commit to continual learning. Think of your college degree as a foundation on which to build. There will always be something new to learn or improve, whether you want to become adept at Excel or hone your soft skills like negotiation or time management.
Even if you’re not necessarily a new promo professional, it’s worth refining the skills above. Everyone can benefit from strengthening their soft skills, advocating for themselves more often and fine-tuning their emotional intelligence.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: The career advice experts on the Glassdoor blog.