Getting ready to make the jump from the classroom to the business world? Here are some tips to help you make a smooth transition.

Dress for Success
When you begin a new job, be sure to dress appropriately. For men, this means a jacket and tie. Women should wear a suit or a conservative dress. Don’t assume there is a casual Friday. Let your supervisor tell you if you are overdressing. Even if the workplace is casual, keep a set of nice professional clothes nearby in case you have to meet with important clients or supervisors.

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You have the degree. You have the entry-level experience. But how do you chart a successful business career? Here are some helpful tips.

Define Your Mission Statement
It all starts with you. What fields of business are you interested in? What are your life and career goals? Write a personal statement that outlines where you want to be in six months, one year, five years and ten years. Choose a career path that supports these goals.

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On any given day, Joel de la Garza is a busy man. He spends his time juggling his various business identities including website designer, recording technician, interactive/digital manager and entrepreneur, and musician. He is a model of a modern business professional in the digital world. And it all started with a website.

Building a Web Presence
De La Garza was playing with and managing his band Chloe’s Honey in Austin, Texas, when he decided that the band needed a web presence. Frustrated by the lack of decent website designers in the area, he decided to build his website. He started by learning how to build HTML pages and ended building an original Flash-based site — www.chloeshoney.com — which utilized early user-generated content devices such as forums and blogging, as well as streaming audio and video. He also became interested in digital audio recording. Knowing he wanted to further his exploration into the digital media industry, he enrolled in an MBA in Digital Media Management program at St. Edward’s University in Austin in 2005.

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It’s time to prepare for your new career. To be successful, you need to be confident, prepared and savvy. Here are a few ways you can show that you’re a cut above the competition.

Don’t Be Afraid of Challenges
When it comes to a new job or a new position, you’re not going to have all the answers. That’s okay. No expects you to be perfect, but they do expect you to try. Embracing challenges and new situations is a great way to demonstrate your skills to those around you.

Be Willing to Learn
No one starts at the top. Be prepared to show what you’re capable of and expect to pay your dues at the beginning. If you complete every task and job with enthusiasm, people will take notice of your efforts.

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Marketing is a must in today’s fast-paced world. Whether you’re running a corporation, a one-person office, a retail store, even a non-profit organization, a constant focus on marketing is crucial to your operation.

Good marketing makes your enterprise grow. That’s why major corporations have entire departments devoted to marketing.

Yet your marketing strategies have to be continually honed and updated. Marketing does not have to go beyond your town, your county, or your state. But it can go national or even worldwide. Marketing can be limited or limitless in this age of the World Wide Web.

And even if you can’t afford a marketing department or to have one person in your organization handle marketing full time, you can still get your company’s name–plus your products and services–out there.

Here are some marketing techniques you can try. You don’t have to do them all. You might want to do just a few to start. But remember: Marketing is essential to your success. In marketing, no news is bad news. You want the buzz. [Read more →]