from noob to know it all: helping young professionals grow

@jackievetrano #noobknowledge

From Noob to Know it All: Helping Young Professionals Grow

Jackie Vetrano @jackievetrano

Customer Success Manager, Merit Pages #noobknowledge

#hewebNY


Disclaimers and Assumptions

• There are many different types of young professionals, some you may find in your office, and some you may never meet

• Every young professional has a different goal in life, and purpose for being in their current position

• This presentation is largely based on my life and experiences


Hi, I’m Jackie.• Customer Success Manager at Merit Pages

• Web/Social Media Coordinator at Genesee Community College

• Blogger

• Editor with Link

• Runner

• Co-Host of Higher Ed Social Podcast

• Cat lover


SUNY Geneseo, class of 2013

• Hall Council President

• Teaching Assistant

• Dining Hall Worker

• College Union Marketing Intern

• National Residence Hall Honorary

Before all that...

• Alpha Phi Omega

• Phi Eta Lambda

• Resident Assistant

• Web/Social Media Intern

• Communication, Graphic Design, & Computer Science


What Else was i doing?

• Eating pre-made food and living on campus

• Always around my friends

• “Away” from my family

• Living in the college “bubble”


My Priorities, Senior Year:

• Get a job

• Get a job

• Get a job

• Get a job

• Get a job

• Get a job

• Get a job

• Get a job

• Get a job

• Get a job


Why Do you Care?

• Communication stems from understanding

• Trust is built by communication and disclosure

• We work best with the people that we trust


So, How Did I Get Here?


Setting the Mood

• Senior year is the year of uncertainty and selfies, holding on to those final moments.

• What’s everyone else doing?


The Path to Greatness

• “Work experience” in the form of an internship

• Real world experience, but we’re the intern.

• Some casual, some work from home, some in the middle


Supporting your interns

• “Is this what I want to do?”

• Consider their tasks

• Check in


My First Job


My First Week

• Uncomfortable

• Learning organizational chart

• Still not sure of my responsibilities


What Is My Job?

“After just about two months working the job, my responsibilities are still drastically different than my job description and the expectations I had when I walked in the door on day one.”


Boundaries

• “My” job and “their” job

• Direct communication is key

• We don’t know what we don’t know


• The energy of a college student

• Asks “but why?”

• Challenges “the way it’s always been done”

• Loudly offer our opinion

• Ultimately, forgetting to listen

Take it down a notch


• Find a Focus

• Assign tasks

• Lessons in “difficult people to work with”

• New and excited does not mean difficult.

Take it down a notch


Culture shock• Learning the culture and history is key

• The awkward questions

• Where can I store my lunch?

• Where’s the closest bathroom?

• What’s the deal with the gym on campus?

• Who will sit with me at lunch?

• Where can I park my car?

• How do I listen to a voicemail?


Getting comfortable

• Continuing the support, a few months later

• We’re going to learn. The first year is all about learning.

• Continue to look out for our energy, but use it effectively

• Be honest and direct

• Challenge the system with us


Communicating 101


Orientation

• Exchange very little amounts of information

• Very cautious with interactions


Exploratory

• Somewhat more friendly

• Relaxed communication style


• High amount of open communication between individuals

• Typically consist of close friends or even romantic partners

Affective Exchange


• Continued expressions of open and personal types of interaction

• Building of trust and positive work relationship

Stable Stage


Takeaways

• Effective communication comes from understanding

• Mentally, and past experiences

• These ideas can be applied to everyone in our department, and across campus, not only young professionals

• All communication happens in four steps

from noob to know it all: helping young professionals grow

Business

noobknowledge boundaries

noobknowledge disclaimers

noobknowledge culture

noobknowledge suny geneseo

job direct communication

college bubble

college student

communication stems