I wanted my first post
on this blog to be something amazing and insightful. There are so many topics, insights, and perspectives
I hope to explore on this blog that I found myself having a hard time deciding
on a topic for my first post. The other day, while sitting on a conference call
for the National SHRM Young Professional committee I participate on, I found
myself discussing what it is to be a Young Professional (YP). This isn't the first time this month or maybe
even week I have had a similar discussion with different groups of people.
Lately, everyone around
me has been trying to define what it is to be a "Young Professional".
Is it based on age, career progression, education, or is it just about how you
"feel". Frankly, I think it is a combination of all of the above.
I typically lean towards the traditional idea of YP being within the
first 5 to 10 years of your career. This is typically a time when you are
1. Working so much you don't know who your neighbors are 2. You can and do
still pull all nighters easily, regardless of the reason for them (Which tells
me that my YP days are numbered!) 3. Once you finally feel like you have a
handle on this thing you call a "career", some new project, new boss,
new something is thrown at you and you have no idea what to do and/or 4. You may still be asking yourself,
"What do I want to be when I grow up?" – Although number 4 may never
go away!
Does the definition of
what a Young Professional is matter? I'm not sure it does and I have a
feeling the people of my generation could care a less. Call yourself what
you want. Join whatever organization or club that you want under any
title that you see fit, just get the job done. I chose to define this concept
as my first post, because I think it is important for all of to see what my
idea of what makes up a YP.
