This post was originally published on this site.
As the Labor Day holiday season winds down, some in the Class of 2024 are still seeking jobs. If you’re just starting out in the job market, chances are you’re searching for a position that pays well. It’s always important to keep abreast of the highest-paying, fastest-growing jobs that AI won’t replace or the highest-paying jobs for introverts or even high-income careers with spare money left over to invest. A new assessment by Pipedrive helps entry-level job seekers uncover where the best marketing opportunities are based on wages, career progression and maximum pay potential in cities across the United States.
Although California leads the way, it’s worth noting that given the high cost of living, a few surprises also make the list. Here is Pipedrive’s top locations for entry-level marketing wages for the class of 2024 (with their respective average marketing wages):
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($52,720)
- Trenton, NJ ($47,560)
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,560)
- Napa, CA ($47,020)
- Bangor, ME ($46,880)
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,300)
- State College, PA ($45,990)
- Merced, CA ($45,440)
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($44,940)
According to Laurence Capone, CFO of Pipedrive, the leading global CRM for small businesses, “A common theme is that many of these cities rank amongst the U.S. regions with thriving industries whether that be tech (San Jose, SF and Seattle), financial services, government hubs (Trenton and Bridgeport) or education (Merced CA, State College PA, Bangor ME) and with that comes an ongoing demand for robust marketing talent.”
Capone told me by email that many of these locations are either major urban centers themselves or are closely connected to them which could mean both higher entry-level wages but also a higher cost of living. “For instance, Trenton, NJ and Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT are near New York City, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA are near each other in California’s Bay Area,” she points out. “These regions are Meccas for growth and innovation– creating a continuous demand for talent to support that expansion— leaving so much room for young professionals not only in their career progression but in their pay progression as well.”
In addition to finding locations with the best salary and opportunity for growth, the new Class of 2024 hires are getting acclimated and organized into their new positions and looking for tips to maximize their productivity. I spoke with Yaroslav Kologryvov, co-founder and CBDO of PLATMA, who offers five essential productivity hacks for anyone entering the job market to help them excel without sacrificing work-life balance.
- Block your time and stick to your schedule. “There are only so many hours in the day, so use them wisely. Many successful entrepreneurs swear by the Eisenhower Matrix, where tasks are divided based on whether they’re important, unimportant, urgent, or not urgent. You need to block time off on your calendar, set your Slack status to unavailable, and shut yourself away to focus on the tasks that matter most—and when last-minute meetings and unexpected requests inevitably arise, say no.”
- Make your meetings asynchronous. “The average business leader spends 20 hours weekly in meetings, with two-thirds admitting it drains productivity. Thankfully, it’s no longer necessary to meet face-to-face or even in real-time. There’s a growing trend towards asynchronous meetings that rely on digital tools, such as messaging apps and collaboration platforms, to communicate and collaborate when convenient. Without constantly pausing to pick up another call, you will remain in your flow state and tackle your to-do list in no time.”
- Make full use of automation. “Much of an entrepreneur’s time isn’t spent inventing and innovating, but performing routine tasks vital to keeping the business running smoothly. While artificial intelligence isn’t yet ready to run the workforce, it’s entirely possible to automate basic tasks such as inventory management, data processing and customer service. Plus, with the rise of no-code platforms, it’s often just a case of typing out what you want, plugging in the application, and letting automation do its job—leaving you to focus on yours.”
- Reduce your hours and book a vacation. “While many famous CEOs swear you need to work every waking hour to reach the top, it isn’t sustainable. Burnout catches up to everyone, especially early-stage entrepreneurs who take on the role of an entire team. While working less may seem counterproductive, more hours typically means less output. It’s estimated that those who work 40 hours are a third more productive than those who work 60 hours, so value your downtime and book a vacation while you’re at it.”
- Eliminate distractions—both physical and digital. “It goes without saying: you need to set up your environment for success. A quiet, clutter-free workspace, free from distractions, will help you enter your flow state and stay there. However, the modern workplace also has its fair share of digital distractions. When you need to get on, put your phone away, silence your inbox, and consider installing distraction-blocking software to limit access to the apps and websites that take your attention away from work.”