Surprising South Carolina City One Of The 10 Best To Start A Career Nationwide
Graduation season is upon us. For some, it’s truly a celebration of all you have accomplished. Perhaps a sense of relief to be finally done with school and start a career. For others (as it certainly was for me) it’s a bittersweet end to a chapter and something you may remain in denial about.
And that’s ok. Look college is fun. College is A LOT of fun. But post-grad can be as well. It’s a time of uncertainty, change, and not a lot of money but there is still beauty in finding a new way, and achieving new goals.
But the experience is very much defined by where that post-grad life occurs. When you think of the best places to begin your adult working life what do you think of? Probably a large city?
But if I told you one Carolina city ranked in the top 10 of a study on the best places to start a career, I doubt your guess would be the one it is. Go ahead think of your guess.
The Best Place To Start A Career In South Carolina
Was it Charleston? I didn’t think so. Listen I love Charleston for the Southern hospitality, the history, the cuisine, the shopping, etc. But I don’t think of it as a mecca of young professionals. I would have guessed Charlotte, the Research Triangle, or Columbia when it comes to the Carolinas.
This study was conducted by our friends at WalletHub. With the goal of helping “recent college graduates find the best cradles for their budding careers”, WalletHub compared 180 US cities.
They sought to determine the market strength and overall livability of these locations. Each city was scored on 26 key metrics. These included the availability of entry-level jobs, average monthly starting salary, and housing affordability.
And right there at number 7 was Charleston, SC. First on the list was Atlanta, which does make sense in a lot of ways. Other Carolina cities include Columbia at 13, Raleigh at 23, Durham at 26, and Charlotte at 41.
Much farther down the list are Greensboro at 109, Winston-Salem at 121, and Fayetteville at 126. The worst city nationwide to start your career though? One of the most popular to just that- New York City.
You can read the full WalletHub study here.
North Carolina Employers Here Is What Your Employees Actually Want
Listen To Your Employees
This is such a big one. Everyone wants to feel heard, and when employers are making decisions with no regards to the people who have to execute those decisions? Well, it’s not going to be as successful as it could potentially be. You don’t have to take every suggestion. But letting people know they have a right to an opinion, and that they are heard- it can do wonders for morale. The last thing employees want is to feel like a worker bee whom no one in ownership or management respects. Who better to help figure out how to make things run smoother and more productive than those doing the actual work? And you can’t solve a problem that you don’t know exists.
Regular Reviews
Check-in with your employees. Performance reviews done correctly can have an immense benefit to both employers and employees. It can increase morale by giving you an easy platform to praise what an employee is contributing. And also identify areas that need improvement and how to best implement strategies to help the employee with that. Plus when employees see that they are valued it can go a long way in increasing productivity and long-term success. Frequent reviews can also allow employers to identify any issues within a team and take action to correct those issues.
Encourage Development
Most employees don’t want to feel stagnant in a role. If there is no room for growth and development tasks become mundane and in turn, good employees can and will look elsewhere. Training can benefit the employer as well. Think of it as an investment. You have to spend money to make money. It’s also another way to show your employees that you value them and care about them and their careers.
Ensure Work-Life Balance
This is such a big one. I know for me personally I will go go go, but I will also burn out fast. I need that time to recharge. And especially after covid workers are demanding a work-life balance. Like it or not in order to maintain a valuable workforce, employers are going to have to comply. Whether it’s a flexible work schedule, days off, or encouraging physical fitness or mental health. A good work-life balance ensures productive and motivated employees. What employer does not want their employees to be less stressed?
Change Your Office Space
I’ve worked hard to make my office an oasis. Mood lighting, a stand-up desk, a walking pad treadmill, and decor that is “me”. Many people will still be more in favor of working from home (not a topic I want to get into at this point) or at least a hybrid work situation. A welcoming environment can make employees feel at home positively impacting and company culture.
Fair And Living Wages
And in this economy the one thing your employees want? It’s money. It’s not pizza or a pullover with your logo on it. It’s to be paid a living wage. It’s yearly raises that outpace inflation. It’s the best way to show your employees their value. The people who pull the most weight in any given company are almost always the lowest compensated. Mangers have an important job no question. But when you neglect to fairly compensate the others? You cannot and will not be successful long term. So invest in your people. You want them to work hard for you? Pay your employees their worth.
To See You Working Hard As Well
If you aren’t willing to work hard, why would your employees? Be visible and don’t let any job be beneath you. Spend time working directly with your employees, or perhaps offer to help with something. Being willing to help speaks volumes. And noticing when that help may be needed. It makes your employees feel seen. If all you are doing is delegating, there is a good chance that will be noticed. And it’s hard to respect a manager who has no problem throwing work at people but refuses to do the work themselves.
