Cam Vuong

Proactively learn and avoid complacency. Understand the value of learning beyond "for yourself" and also learn "for others". This will build a foundation for your knowledge & prestige through service to yourself and others. Pinpoint the skills and knowledges that are personally important or interesting to you. Do not learn for the sake of personal decoration because it is unsustainable & disgraceful. As you learn, create. Not just practice. Your value & prestige will exponentially increase with your own original inventions & creations because intellectuality is about being able to learn and bring that understanding to create more values and share it with others.

Three T's: Tact - Transparency - Tailoring Tact - Courtesy goes far because it showcases your empathy & consideration, while highlighting your self-respect & education. Learn conversational skills to appropriately & precisely articulate your thoughts, while avoiding misunderstanding. Communication is highly valued at most organizations. Transparency - Dishonesty & bad faith are not sustainable and will result in negative consequences for both parties. Mutual respect through transparency will build a strong foundation that will also ensure mutual success. Tailoring - Be curious & open-minded to learn about the opposite person/party by momentarily turn off your own spotlight. Listen to them attentively and respond in their favor & interest

There are two types of goals: 1. Measurable goals, 2. Team/company goals (culture). Both are important. Think both short-term and long-term to align and ensure the longevity of your employment. Measurable goals - For you, that can be salary, title, knowledge & growth potentials. For the employer, usually any goals that can be quantified and included in their cashflow. Manage & align your own and the employer's expectations and you are good to go. Team/Company Goals - Cohesion & Culture are important for a company's operation. Make sure their fundamental values align with yours because otherwise, even your high salary will not make you happy. Be open-minded & flexible but don't compromise your fundamental & justified values.

Timing matters, yeah, but when? Again, knowledge. This time, it is the knowledge of the people. Think outwardly and consider beyond yourself, is it a good and reasonable time for your salary to be increased? Consider from your employer's perspective as well. Fairness is arbitrary, so focus on establishing rapport and mutual respect. I recommend against utilizing psychological or social tactics in bad faith, be it the employer or the employee. The value of personal prestige, once lost, will be very hard to retrieve.

Determine your current level, are you a novice, amateur, expert, or industry leader. Make sure you do this through sufficient knowledge of the Marketing & Advertising Industry. For the first 3 levels, professional knowledge and the corresponding experience of the trade will determine and justify the segment of jobs you should target. Get certified on fundamental skills and accrue hands-on experience over time, while tracking your growth and client success for future opportunities. To be an industry leader, you need to embrace the profession with artistic fervor. Perfection is in the details and only then will you obtain insights to create products that are truly your own.

Know Your Worth Keyword "Know", do not negotiate salary until you understand this because knowledge is not the same as thoughts or assumptions. You only know your worth when you have knowledge and can justify it, not with just badges or certificates but with achievements. From your knowledge and constant self-evaluations, think ahead and generate your own knowledge and learnings to differentiate your expertise from the rest. This will come from passion and/or devotion to your profession. Put in the work and take it seriously, then present it and ask for the salary you want confidently but considerately. Then you will get whatever you ask for.