5 Networking Tips for Young Professionals

Posted On March 9, 2022 By Nicole Klemp In Blog Articles /  

Going from college life to a full-time career can feel like a drastic change for many young professionals. In college, you may have gotten used to meeting lots of different people in your classes, participating in various clubs and organizations, and having regular campus events to attend.

But when you’re just starting out in your career, you may not know very many people in your field (if any), and if you’ve relocated to a new area, you may not know many people at all. 

Networking is a great way to meet new people and build your personal brand. The more you expand your network and build connections, the more doors will open for you in your career.

Read on for 5 tips for putting yourself out there as a networking young business professional. 

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4 Social Media Dos and Don’ts For Young Professionals

Posted On March 2, 2022 By Nicole Klemp In Blog Articles /  

If you’re like most Gen Zs, you probably spend at least a few hours a day on social media. (18 to 24-year-olds spend an average of 45+ minutes a day on TikTok alone.)

While you may have been brought up a digital native and sharing on social media is second nature, there are some new things to consider when putting yourself out there as a business professional. The line between what’s appropriate to share socially with family and friends and what is okay for the workplace can sometimes be blurred in today’s world.

To help clear things up a bit, we put together some general rules of thumb you can apply to your social media activity (to be used alongside your best judgment of course).

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What to Include in Your Professional Email Signature

Posted On February 23, 2022 By Nicole Klemp In Blog Articles /  

You may not spend much time thinking about how to end your email correspondence, other than maybe adding a closing (“Thanks!”) with your name. But given how much we rely on email to communicate both personally and professionally, a naked email signature can be a missed opportunity.

Read on to learn why the bottom of your emails can be valuable space to promote and elevate your personal brand, and what information you might want to include in your signature.

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Filing Your First Tax Return? Here’s What to Know

Posted On February 15, 2022 By Nicole Klemp In Blog Articles /  

As Benjamin Franklin said, nothing in this world is certain except death and taxes. While the former is hopefully many, many years away for you yet, you can be sure that when it comes to taxes, Uncle Sam will come knocking each and every year to make sure you’ve paid your fair share.

Tax time can be confusing though, even for people who have been paying taxes for decades. Tax laws change nearly every year, and the methods for filing evolve with new technologies and rules. If you’re just starting out in your career or are a student filing taxes on your own for the first time, it can be especially intimidating.  

If you live in the U.S., your federal income tax return will be due sometime in mid-April, and your state income tax will be due around the same time (depending on your state). Read on for some high-level information and resources to help you prepare for tax season.

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The Importance of Building Your Personal Brand

Posted On February 2, 2022 By Nicole Klemp In Blog Articles /  

Think about some of the world’s most recognizable brands, like for example, Starbucks. Most of us can spot that round, green Starbucks logo from a mile away. Now think about some of Starbucks’ brand attributes — the things they’re known for — like friendly service, comfortable atmosphere, free wi-fi, and a wide variety of coffees and teas. 

Most people choose Starbucks because of one or more of those brand attributes. If you just wanted to grab a hot cup of black coffee on your way to work in the morning, then any gas station or fast-food chain will do the trick (and probably save you a couple of bucks). But if you want to get some work done on your laptop and enjoy a soy chai latte, you know Starbucks is a better option. You know this because they’ve built and marketed a memorable brand with the attributes you’re looking for.

Building and promoting your personal brand is essentially the same thing, just on a much smaller scale. (And you don’t need the Starbucks marketing budget to do it!)

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