The youngest of the millennial generation are turning 23 this year, based on Pew Research Center’s position that millennials were born between 1981 and 1996. They are part of the workforce and helping to shape our economic future. With that in mind, we are working with Ancora Chairman and CEO Fred DiSanto to offer today’s C-Suite leaders perspective from this group. First up is DiSanto’s son, Anthony “TJ” DiSanto, an Ancora family wealth adviser and relationship manager.
If you had asked me 10 years ago where I would be in my career today, I would have had no idea what to tell you.
As a history major, I admittedly made the mistake of not putting too much consideration into what my career path might be. The career possibilities for a new grad in Cleveland at the time were not as robust as in bigger cities.
I was frustrated and ready for change, so I made the move to New York City, figuring that new experiences would only help me to grow, both personally and professionally. As with anything new, the move came with its own set of challenges, but moving to the big city shoved me right out of my comfort zone, much to my benefit.
A year later, a close family friend was in town on business and mentioned that his company’s office in the city was hiring on its sales desk. With no background in financial services, I leaned on my sales experience during the interview process and found myself hired.
Working at such a large company was hugely beneficial. I finally had the structure and direction I needed to thrive, and I soaked up all that I could. That experience gave me the foundation to succeed in any type of business development role.
Before I knew it, six years had passed, and I was ready to move back home. I landed with Ancora, and while it was definitely an adjustment to move from New York City back to Cleveland, I know I’ve found the place where I can continue to grow and succeed.
It’s certainly true among my peers that the subject you studied in school does not necessarily correlate with the career path you follow. With so many options in today’s market, it can be difficult to identify a path that best fits your skill set. One resource that helped me understand my best assets and utilize them in my career path was “StrengthsFinder 2.0,” a book written by Tom Rath that I would highly recommend.
Companies that are truthful and descriptive in their job postings, and in the future growth potential of the positions they are hiring for, may in turn attract and retain more young people.
When companies look to hire millennials, I hope they will have a better understanding of the experiences and education we have had so far in life, and the areas where we still can grow. Companies with programs to help develop that growth could see greater rewards.
Anthony “TJ” DiSanto is a family wealth adviser and relationship manager at Ancora.
