What is Your Value Proposition?

Investopedia.com defines a value proposition as “[a] business or marketing statement that summarizes why a consumer should buy a product or use a service. This statement should convince a potential consumer that one particular product or service will add more value or solve a problem better than similar offerings.”  The concept of a personal value proposition goes far beyond marketing products and services and should be more than a statement.  In this article, I will suggest ways to create or improve your value proposition for potential and current employers and clients.

While there may be signs of the job market recovering, the fact of the matter is that it is not easy to find jobs/clients these days.  Sure you have a college degree, but everyone does. What have you done to set yourself apart?  Why should an employer or client choose you over the hundreds of thousands of people in your field? This is where a solid value proposition comes into play. A value proposition is so much more than a simple statement.  It should be reflected in your resume, cover letter and the way you portray yourself.  Here are a few suggestions to how one can go about developing a value proposition. 

Draft your Dream Resume 
Sit down and draft your dream resume.  This should include every position you want, when you want to have it, what accolades you want and when you want them.  This may seem silly, but what it will do is give you a clear path (and hopefully some inspiration) of what you need to do and at what pace you should be climbing the corporate ladder.  Your dream resume will not determine the exact path you take, but it will provide you with the road map that you need and allow you to say “I know my value, because I know where I’m going.” This will show that you are driven to succeed and inspired by a challenge. 

Compare your Dream Resume to your Real Resume 
This may be the painful part, but it is necessary.  Knowing what you’re missing can be just as important as knowing what you have.  While you may not yet have all of the attributes you want, you have skills and talents that are marketable.  Identify your value and be able to explain how your talent will get you to the next level and ultimately achieve your goals.  It may also not be a bad thing that your experience isn’t currently in line with your current career as it will encourage you to turn the differences into traits that make you a special and unique candidate. 

Identify your targets 
Once you have drafted your dream resume and compared it to your current resume, your targets should be easier to identify.  Look for industries or markets that will also allow you to reach the positions and obtain the accolades that you so desire by creating a list of your targets. 

Study your Targets 
What does the company or client value and how do you share this value?  What specific need does the company or client have and how will you fulfill this role? What problems are they trying to solve and how will your skill-set allow you to solve this problem better than your competitors? What key responsibilities will the organization as a whole count on from this role?

These are merely the stepping stones to developing a sound value proposition.  The list is by no means exhaustive and a value proposition can always be improved, as your value increases with every new experience.  Decide the best way you should incorporate these ideas in your ever-increasing value and begin establishing your successful career. Good luck!

Written by: DeAndre Morrow

DeAndre Morrow prides himself on being a highly self-motivated individual. If he says he is going to achieve or do something, then he will achieve or do it. In May of 2013 DeAndre received his Juris Doctor from the Charleston School of Law and passed the Maryland bar examination in July 2013. He is currently an Associate with the law firm of Leftwich & Ludaway LLC in Washington, D.C. where he is a member of the firm’s general business transactions and litigation practice groups.

Tweet for Success: Boosting Your Personal Brand with Social Media

Some of my biggest pet peeves are: businesses without a website and young professionals without an online presence. Seriously, it’s 2014! People don’t just talk on the phone or email one another; they meet and connect through social networks. For young professionals, this can be both a blessing and a curse especially when you want to establish yourself as a leader or credible resource in a particular industry. You have to be aware that every public online action you take helps build your personal brand. That leads me to the “blessing” of social networks; they are a great, free tool for building your personal brand.

The first step to building your brand online is figuring out what your brand is. Your personal brand is the image people think of when they hear your name. No it’s not your job title; it’s the unique strengths that you posses. Once you figure that out, you want to then think about which social media platforms will enhance your brand, because everything is not for everybody.

Here are a few tips on how you can use the big three social media networks (Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) to enhance your personal brand. 

FACEBOOK (Users: 845 million+) 

• Publish useful content in a conversational tone
• Don’t flood people’s timeline with hour-by-hour updates, that’s what Twitter is for!
• If you want to separate your personal and professional followers, consider creating a Page for yourself.
• Join or create a Facebook Group where you can others in your industry can come together to discuss topics, ideas, etc.
• Provide content that your followers can’t get anywhere else. For example, maybe do a contest or special offer on a product. 

LINKEDIN (150 million +) 

• Post links to your website, blog posts or other sites that showcase your work.
• Participate in discussions and leave your thoughts on the content other people post.
• Endorse and recommend other people, as well as ask others for endorsements or recommendations.

TWITTER (Users: 140 million+)

(I must say this has become my personal favorite brand building tool. I’ve connected with so many amazing and talented people. Twitter makes it very quick and easy to connect with people who you wouldn’t necessarily be able to connect with face to face.)

• Just like LinkedIn, post links to your website, blog posts or other sites that showcase your work.
• If you’re a very busy person (like me!) you might want to consider using an app (I use Tweetdeck) to schedule some of your general tweets, like links to industry articles or your work. But don’t just rely on scheduling tweets you need to also tweet in real-time as well!
• Don’t get Retweet happy, remember to tweet your thoughts and opinions too.
• Use hash tags, but don’t overdue it! Everything does not need a hash tag. #ImJust Saying
• Sometimes it can be hard to fit everything into 140 characters so you can use abbreviations, just make sure people can still read and understand what you’re trying to say.
• Participate in Twitter chats to connect with like-minded professionals and gain credibility in your industry. See list of Twitter chats here (http://tweetreports.com/twitter-chat-schedule/)
• Create lists of people you look up to in your industry, other like-minded young professionals, etc.
• Twitter is all about engaging with others! If someone tweets you, reply back. And if someone follows you, follow them back (if you’re interested in following their tweets).
• Tweet during an event that relates to your industry. (EX: awards show, conference, networking social, etc.) And remember to use hash tags!

Some final takeaways that are very important to keep in mind for ALL social media sites: be CONSISTENT! Don’t update your profile just when you’re looking for a job, you need to check your social networks daily and stay fresh and current. Also, don’t use these sites to just boost yourself. Someone told me about the 80-20 rule, engage with others more than you promote yourself.

I hope this post has inspired you to get tweeting or posting and build your personal brands. If you have any follow-up questions feel free to tweet me @LynnGilchrist.

Written by: Lynette Gilchrist

Allergic to mediocrity and comfort zones, Lynette Gilchrist is a strong believer that God has a plan for every single one of us and it doesn’t include settling and being unhappy about our current situations. Instead, she believes we should fulfill our purpose and passion in life, which led Lynette to creating Young Dream Diggers, a movement to connect like-minded young people and inspire them to turn their dreams into a reality. Currently residing in Greensboro, North Carolina, Lynette is also a television news producer andmotivational speaker. She is also the President of the National Student Business League Alumni Chapter, an organization that focuses on entrepreneurship and professionalism. Lynette’s ultimate calling in life is service, and she will continue to honor her calling by empowering and uplifting communities to rise above their circumstances and soar into greatness.

I Would Love to Keep in Touch. Do You Have a Card?

Last month, I had the pleasure of speaking to an ambitious group of students at George Mason University on the benefits of networking for job seekers. As the session concluded, I was asked several questions including one I never considered when I was in college: Should students have business cards? If so, what should they say?

In corporate America, business cards are key components for sharing basic information about who you are, where you work and how you can be reached. In college, however, business cards should be a brief summary of your resume and anticipated career goals after graduation. Does this mean you should know exactly what type of job you want to do for the next ten years? Of course not. In fact, you may end up doing a job in an industry different from your college degree. According to new data from Jaison Abel and Richard Dietz of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, only 27 percent of college grads have a job related to their major. (You can find Abel and Dietz's longer paper here.)

There are countless ways to design your business cards and decide what information you'd like to share. Below are a few tips to get you started and assist you with the job seeking process.

• Your full name. Many professionals have nicknames or shortened versions of their names that they prefer to be called but for your business card, include your full first and last name. This will make it easier for recruiters to recognize your name when you submit your resume and cover letter.
• Where you attend college. Add the name of your school and the city where it is located so the individuals you are networking with can help you find opportunities in that area and can even tap into their own local networks.
• Your major. Include information about your degree, as well as your minor. Are you receiving your B.A. in Communications or your B.S. in Biology? Remember to add the anticipated month and year of graduation so recruiters know when you'll be available to begin your first job in corporate America.
• Your contact information. Share where you can be reached via phone and by email. If you only have a cell phone number, include it! Consider creating a personal email account with Google or Yahoo to make it easier to maintain communication with professionals after graduation.
• Social media information. This one is tricky and more details will be saved for another post but, if you have a professional Twitter account, website or blog, share that information as well. Use social media to continue networking with professionals and to show recruiters you have an active online presence. 
• Work history. Include a summary of your work experience such as the last two or three internships you've had, with whom and the time period. Since space is limited, don't add descriptions of your day-to-day tasks at each job, save that information for your resume.

To help you create your business card, consider using online printing companies that offer free templates or allow you to design your own such as Vistaprint or Moo. If you have questions or would like help in creating your personal business card, feel free to contact me at Jenna.Boyer89@gmail.com. Good luck!

A public relations professional and entrepreneur, Jenna Boyer is an account executive at Hager Sharp where she works with clients to motivate behavior changes of consumers through public health and safety initiatives. Her day-to-day tasks include implementing creative marketing and social media strategies, developing campaign materials, and leading partnership outreach. Jenna's experience in the PR industry has spawned her passion to help young professionals advance personally and professionally, hence the birth of The Rising Professional, LLC. The Rising Professional is committed to advancing the careers of young professionals. The company assists with network development, resume building, and interview prep through networking events, professional development workshops, and one-on-one mentorship.

Why Not Work at a Non-Profit?

So, you just graduated from undergrad and are ready to join the workforce. You’ve applied to the top companies in the city, or the country, sending out resume after resume with no luck. Maybe it’s time to try a new strategy, and I don’t mean different networking events or updating your resume, I mean career trajectory.  It’s not as daunting as you might think.

I know, I was in that same spot 2 years ago. After getting my B.A in Media Studies and a Master’s in Public Relations and Corporate Communications I thought I had done everything to put myself in the best situation to kick start my career at the top agencies in DC. But after countless interviews, networking events, internships and interviews with no avail, it was time to reflect and try something different.

I came across a nationwide nonprofit here in DC that offered a position that although was not exactly what I had been looking for, gave me the opportunity to leverage my skills and background but challenge me to grow in a different environment. It has been the best career decision for me thus far. So why work at a nonprofit? 

“If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” 

The opportunity to work at a nonprofit allows you to dedicate your work to a cause that you are passionate about. Whether it’s health, hunger or education, you have the unique opportunity to impact the lives of others in a positive way each and every day. If you have passion for that cause, then you can be fulfilled in your work and there is no greater satisfaction. 

Small Organizations- more opportunities to take on a variety of tasks 

Unlike most companies with hundreds or thousands of employees, nonprofits tend to be smaller. Although there can be some challenges to having a small staff, there are also many benefits to working within a smaller organization. Primarily, you have the chance to work on a variety of projects that may be outside of your scope of expertise but will challenge you to learn new skills that you may not develop otherwise if you stay in your comfort zone. In my current position, I’ve had the good fortune of working on projects with everyone from interns to our CEO. That to me is professional development at its finest! 

Engaging with Corporate Partners, Foundations and Influencers 

Many nonprofits have partnerships with a variety of corporate partners, sports teams, foundations, etc. This gives you a unique opportunity to make connections and learn from a variety of partners that you otherwise may not have made connections with. The skills that you learn by engaging with these partners can easily be translated and applicable to the corporate world if you choose to change your trajectory.  

Opportunities to give back to your community 

The work that you do helps to better communities, families and individuals across the country and the world. In recent years, companies and consumers have put greater emphasis on “giving back” and “volunteering”. Check out a study by Cone Communications called, Social Impact Study to learn more and see what you can do to better your own community. 

So, while all of your friends are going for the traditional route, take time to look at your favorite nonprofit. You just might be surprised at the opportunities that await you and don’t be afraid to be flexible to new experiences and different ways of reaching your goals.

Written by: Laetitia Morrisson

Laetitia joined KaBOOM! in the summer of 2012 as the Corporate Partnerships team’s Coordinator and was recently promoted to Manager on the same team. She is a native of Côte D’Ivoire, was raised in the DC area and is fluent in French. She received her Bachelor’s in Media Studies from the Catholic University of America and her Masters of Professional Studies in Corporate Communications and Public Relations from Georgetown University. Laetitia has interned with PR agencies such as TogoRun and nonprofits such as the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care. 



Interested in writing a blog post? Email us at TheRisingPro2014@gmail.com!

No More Discount Brands and Businesses Part 2

In my last blog post, No More Discount Brands and Businesses, I explained to you my declaration/"rant" regarding the absolute necessity to have quality visual brands and businesses and how many small businesses are not presenting themselves as they should (regardless of the great services or products they may offer). After my post went live, I gave it some thought. I just shared this insight with you, but I felt the "how" was needed as a result of that very valuable post. I wanted to make sure you understood how to implement the information and insight that I shared. So today, I’m going to give some tips on how to no longer operate as a discount but instead have a QUALITY brand & business. Among the many business areas that I help to shift and enhance for my clients through my advertising techniques, today I'm only going to touch on, and shift, 5 areas in your brand and business: your logos, websites, social media, business cards, and your business/brand experience. Now there are PLENTY of other areas that can be shifted within your business based on the insight that I've shared in my previous post (trust me, I know), but today I'm going to concentrate on these 5 on which I have seen the most amount of "discount" performance. 

Your Logos 
I’m sure you’re aware of how important your logo is for your personal brand and/or business. I've mentioned before that I want you to start selling yourself, your brand or your business as the very company, brand or business you admire or strive to be. The same goes for your logo. Look at the logo you have now compared to the establishment you admire. How does it compare? Where does it need improvement? Is there an element of your logo that you can build upon? Think about it. I've seen many businesses throw together their logos for the sake of just starting, a cheaper design package or "lack of resources” and wonder why it gets lost among the many other similar businesses out there. The risk in operating in this manner results in, yes you've guessed it, a discount brand & business. Your logo is one of the first introductions that your customers and potential clients get from you so make it great, make it professional, and make it express the very core of your brand. By looking at your logo, your customers should be able to get a good idea of what your business is about and what they’re about to encounter by furthering their experience with you and your brand. Make it great!

Your Website 
Now, I'm going to go a tad bit lengthy on this one. When your business hours have closed down for the day and you're asleep, your website is the ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE your customer has when you are not present to tell them how amazing your business is and why they should work with/buy from you. People are able to access your website at ANY time they please, no matter how late or how early it is. Whether you are just setting up your website or looking to revamp it, make sure you give your site the time it deserves to portray your band or business in the right light.

Next. DE-CLUTTER you website. If you have a lot of content on your page with no organization, you almost send your viewers on a cluttered content frenzy. This also gives your website visitors a chance to miss the very important information you want them to know, at that given point and time in your business. Organize your site so that it is user-friendly and your visitor can find the information they are looking for as well as the current information you want them to know.

DESIGN. DESIGN. DESIGN. This tip is very near and dear to me because the quality of your website matters! It's 2014 and there are still plenty of websites out there with a set up and quality of that of 1998! Non-profit organizations, as much as I adore them, are subject to this more than a for-profit business. The part that baffles me the most is that there are plenty of free and not-so-expensive options out there for them to utilize. Non-profit organizations stand for such amazing causes but their presence online does not always represent that. For both businesses and non-profit establishments, utilize online resources to present your brand in a great way. If you do not want to take the time to explore these options, outsource a web designer or seek online, step-by-step tutorials to convey your NEW quality brand and business on your website.

Social Media 
I always tell my clients that social media is a DIRECT REFLECTION of what's happening in your business. So, after reading about what to do with your website, I hope you’re starting to consider the same for your Social Media. Because you should. The same quality experience that you have now created on your website needs to flow right on over to your social media business page (especially from a visual standpoint). Why? Because if someone lands on your website as the 1st point of contact for your business, and love what they see, there is a very high chance that they are heading over to your social media profiles next (and for some, they do this by instinct). So if you have revamped, optimized or re-branded your website and have not done the same for your social media, you have just discounted your brand & business YET AGAIN! Learn not to continue this mistake and follow through! The same quality graphics, titles and colors that you have used on your website, need to be used throughout EVERY online presence that represents your brand.

Business Cards 
Now, if you thought your brand flow stopped at your website and social media business page, you guessed wrong. Upgrade the quality of your business cards. No longer will you just put your name, number and email on a card that you've drafted up at the last minute on Vistaprint (or even worse, printed yourself in Microsoft Word). Those days are OVER. Make an impact! Make your presence known! You show me someone with a well-designed business card and I'll show you someone who's going somewhere. You show me a business with a well branded business card and I'll show you a premium brand that means business. I personally swear by the quality of Moo.com. Moo uses a very quality paper on their BASIC business card products compared to the popular Vistaprint. So of course the higher you pay for Moo's products, the more the quality of the product increases. Not only does the quality of the paper matter at Moo, but they also have great designs that you can choose from at no extra cost. They allow you to upload your own designs or create your business cards right within their website. Even with the designs that they have freely provided, your brand and business can already benefit from their quality business card service (and I can attest to the fact that my brand already has, with compliments to prove it). I always say to start at the best and build from there. Moo.com is a perfect example of doing just that. That's my favorite business card service (as of now) and if you know of any quality business card services online, I'd love to hear your recommendations in the comments below! 

Your Experience 
This has to be one of the most valuable pieces of information that I can possibly give you on this topic. The difference between a premium and discount brand and business is the EXPERIENCE. It's the experience that you create for your customers, prospects, clients, attendees, business associates and other people you meet that makes all the difference. There is a reason why consumers pay high prices for perceived "simple" services and products. It's the experience that the person goes through or receives by purchasing into what that business is offering or what their brand stands for. It is also the experience that keeps customers and clients coming back time and time again. So what experience are you giving to your customers? Do you have them waiting for hours or do you have them greeted at the door? Are they treated like royalty and with care or are they being treated like someone who is only there to help you pay your bills (let's keep it real people)? Look at the current state of your business and think about it. Want to be absolutely sure where you stand? SURVEY your clients, customers and associates! Let the very people experiencing your brand tell YOU what their true experience REALLY is. Once you've done that, you'll have a clear picture as to where you stand and what your next steps can be. Create that valuable experience around your brand and business and you'll start to see your brand and business elevate from discount to PREMIUM.

You have so much value to offer so don’t stop at discount when your business and brand should be premium. The next time you encounter a new customer, client, business associate etc., present them with your best. Present them with the gold you know you possess within your business. I know what you're capable of and that's greatness.

If you’d like to keep in touch with me, you can join me by signing up for my Creative Advertising tips, tools and updates at the very top of this page and you can of course follow me on Social Media (fb/tw/ig/g+ etc.) @MsDominiqueHart. You can also look at what I’m creatively up to with all of my clients and personal work using hashtag #DominiqueCreates across all platforms. If you know anyone, or even your own followers, who can benefit from this, share the information you've just learned and get it out to the masses! Now, let’s give our brands and businesses the attention and representation they deserve. This is Dominique Hart signing out and I look forward to better and greater in your advertising and branding. START NOW!

Written by: Dominique Hart

Hailing from Queens, NY, Dominique Hart is a dynamic Advertising Creative and Entrepreneur who is passionately creative, and is no stranger to a challenge. Dominique also has extensive knowledge in marketing and of course social media. She championed her B.A. degree in Advertising (Art Direction) and certificate in Entrepreneurship from Temple University in the Spring of 2012. With Dominique's ability to merge concept, content and design, it has allowed her to collaborate with a wide range of clients and sectors that range from well known advertising agencies to the major non-profit organizations. She is currently accepting projects and contracted proposals from advertising agencies, medium-sized companies and direct clients. Among the many, she is also building her new company "Dynamic Endeavors" (@DynamicEndeavor). To sign up for her Creative Advertising tips, tools and updates, visit www.DominiqueHart.com and of course stay in touch wither her on Social Media @MsDominiqueHart. You can also look at what she's creatively up to with all of her clients using hashtag #DominiqueCreates or #DynamicEndeavors.

Interested in contributing? Email us at TheRisingPro2014@gmail.com.