Building Professional Relationships Pt 2- Respect

This month, we are continuing to focus on skills needed to build professional relationships. Professional networks are an important component of career readiness and success, and forming relationships is the mainstay of professional networks. In last month’s newsletter, we focused on Trust. This month, we focus on Respect.

Jennifer Herrity, in an article for Indeed describes respect in two ways: as “the feeling of regarding someone well for their qualities or traits” and as “the action of treating people with appreciation and dignity”. Like trust, respect is a two-way street – it can be given, and it can be received.

Building a professional relationship with someone requires mutual respect so that there is a continuing interest to work together. In Stephen’s career as an investment officer for a large, global insurance company, relationships with investment bankers and clients took years to build.

Respect was at the heart of these connections and was earned through technical competence and fair dealing. Even when there were disagreements, openly listening to the other side’s point of view and being honest about his own helped Stephen foster relationships which led to amicable solutions and continuing to work together.

Respect is the foundation of strong, lasting professional relationships. It involves valuing others, listening openly, and approaching every interaction with honesty and appreciation. By practicing respect consistently, we create opportunities for continued collaboration and growth.

What’s on our mind?

While unemployment in the U.S. has ticked up this year (4.1% in September compared to 3.8% during the prior year), youth unemployment has climbed even more significantly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, teenagers aged 16 – 19 experienced 12.4% unemployment in July — the peak month for youth employment — compared to 11.3% the prior year. This translates to about 800,000 teenagers who were unable to find full- or part-time employment this summer despite being willing to work.

In a time when there’s much concern about the decline of economic mobility in the U.S., we can’t ignore how youth unemployment contributes to this challenge. For teenagers, employment isn’t just about earning money—it’s about building skills, expanding their professional networks, and creating opportunities for the future. Jobs give students the chance to save for post-secondary education, gain practical experience, and develop connections that can help them throughout their careers.

For employers, now is the perfect time to start thinking ahead to next summer. To make hiring high school students a win-win for both sides, it’s important to create well-thought-out opportunities. That means defining clear roles, providing training, managing with empathy, and being intentional about helping students build their networks. These things take planning, but they can make a huge difference in a young person’s life and in the quality of their work experience.

Let’s begin laying the foundation for a successful summer for our young people. By offering opportunities that are thoughtful and supportive, we can help ensure the next generation is ready to thrive.

As The Fall Begins …

With the school year in full swing, there’s so much going on—schoolwork, after-school clubs, volunteering, and part-time jobs.

This is an exciting time for high schoolers as they meet new people, try different activities, and start to explore what their future might look like. One powerful tool to help navigate this journey is journaling.

Journaling can be a simple yet impactful way for students to track their thoughts about their future careers. Think of it as creating a personal roadmap: Who are the people you meet? What do they do? What did you learn from them? Even if you’re unsure now about your career interests, writing it all down helps you look back and notice patterns, new ideas, or even opportunities you may want to explore.

Adult allies, you play a key role in encouraging students to think about their futures. It’s not just about introducing them to professionals but also about helping them stay organized with all the contacts they meet. Something as small as offering a business card or connecting on LinkedIn can make a big difference! You can never predict when the seeds you plant today will bloom into opportunities tomorrow.

High schoolers, when you meet someone interesting, jot down their name, what you talked about, and anything that inspired you. Did they have an interesting job? Did they share advice that stuck with you? Maybe your school counselor had some great tips, or you found a part-time job supervisor who showed you what a career in their field might be like. Even if it seems like something you aren’t interested in now, your perspective can change over time.

Journaling helps you keep your career thoughts in one place. A year from now, it will be amazing to look back and see how much you’ve learned, how your interests have shifted, and all the people who’ve supported your journey.

Remember, your future is a story, and journaling is one of the best ways to start writing it.

LET’S STAY CONNECTED

We would appreciate your thoughts on our initiative and welcome opportunities to collaborate. You can reach us at info@youthworkconnect.org and we look forward to staying connected.