The Accidental Professional

A lot has been written about how important it is to be professional in business, dealing with customers and communications. Usually, this advice is for those who are already in business or thinking of starting a business. Good advice, but I believe developing a professional style to fit the occasion is something that anyone at any stage of life can benefit from. In the last few years, with the emphasis on the alphabet generations (X, Y, M), casual has become almost a mantra. A casual wardrobe may be the new suit and tie for the younger generation, but presenting yourself in a professional way can magically transform the person in the jeans and hoodie.

Savannah is blessed with hundreds of talented, creative students who attend the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). I was looking for a creative graphic designer to rebrand myself and my website, and got the name of a SCAD instructor from a friend of mine. He thought the project was interesting, but didn’t have the time, so he gave me the names of three students that he would recommend. I emailed all three; one was in the midst of a senior project and declined, one didn’t respond at all, and the third responded and we set a time to meet at a coffee shop downtown to discuss the project.

I have worked with professionals before, but never a student. I didn’t know what to expect when I met Ben (not his real name). He arrived on his bike, in jeans and plaid shirt, a little stubble on his face. He had a great handshake, and after a few pleasantries, we sat down over coffee. He pulled out a piece of paper, and I could see that he had prepared for our meeting. He had prepared a list of questions for me, and had great follow-on questions clarifying information, getting to know me, my business, and what I wanted from the project. As we talked, he appeared very comfortable, in command of the meeting, making suggestions but not dictating a solution or a concept. I could tell that he was interested in my ideas and not what he thought was best.

After we went through the questions on his list, he gave me some homework and a list of websites to help me through my own discovery process to help him further understand what I was looking for. We discussed a list of deliverables for the project, timeline and fees. I left the meeting feeling that my project was in the hands of a talented, organized, creative individual that understood what I was looking for and that would put my needs before his own.

Woody Allen said, “Ninety percent of success is just showing up.” Out of the three student referrals, Ben showed up, and now has the opportunity to work on a design project he can add to his portfolio and make some money. I am looking forward to our next meeting and continuing the process.

Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a workplace consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for BusinessWorkForce.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing Alto II with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and creating original gift items available on http://www.etsy.spoolhardy.com/. You can read more of her blogs at businessworkforceblog.com and view additional job postings on Nexxt.