Finding a job fresh out of college can be difficult. I knew I wanted to start working as soon as I graduated, so I started applying in March. I was lucky enough to receive an offer to work in my field, doing exactly what I wanted – at TRAINOR!

I accepted the position of Digital Marketing Coordinator and was able to complete onboarding while I was finishing my senior year of college. This helped me have a better idea of what my job would be like full-time and what was expected of me before officially starting. Looking back, I can say this was the best decision for me and made my transition much smoother.   

A Different Perspective

As a Gen Z’er, I come from a generation that has never known a world without technology. I use tools, resources, and digital applications on a daily basis. This allows me to provide a certain level of insight for our continually growing client base, and I’m able to offer our clients in-depth knowledge that they've probably never been exposed to.

As the youngest team member at TRAINOR, I found jumping into the implementation and management of a client’s marketing strategy to be an exciting challenge that I had been prepped for… all from being a “product of my generation”. 

Helpful Tools and Resources

Zoom. An application that’s become part of our everyday lives now, post-pandemic. During my last full year of college, Zoom was used constantly. Whether it was going to virtual class, group projects, or meeting with a professor – Zoom allowed for it all. My experience using the application during my collegiate career came in handy as I entered the workforce, now being accustomed to mainly virtual meetings! 

Canva was used on a daily basis in my internships prior to working at TRAINOR. Canva is a web-based design platform which can be used to create projects from social media posts to copy, flyers, and brochures.

Having used both Zoom and Canva before starting my career full-time certainly eased the transition from college student to employee. In my role at TRAINOR, we often use Zoom for team and client meetings, and I’m using Canva regularly to create graphics for our social media posts and blogs. 

Career Prep

Getting yourself prepared to begin your career can be intimidating, and at times, challenging. However, establishing yourself in your field doesn’t have to be as hard as you think.  

What Helped Me?

Connections matter. From professors in college to professionals within your field, there is no such thing as “too many” connections. This will not only help to improve your skills but open new doors as well. My first piece of advice? Create a LinkedIn account early on. Recruiters and employers who are hiring will often review your LinkedIn profile as an initial screening. Enhance your page throughout your collegiate career – it’s important to keep it updated, especially with information that sets you apart. 

My college professors helped hone my writing skills by encouraging me to write more essays and research papers. I learned how to be a consistent writer and I gained the ability to implement tone, effortlessly.

The ability to write strong copy is an invaluable skill, especially in marketing. My experience writing during my collegiate career helped prepare me to “hit the ground writing” in my current position. I’m writing blogs, organic social media copy, and whatever is thrown my way! I’m writing with purpose and always with the goal in mind of continually engaging the prospective audience. 

Things I Wish I Knew

If there was one thing I wish I’d known earlier in my college experience… it would be that grades are not the end all be all. Having a 4.0 or a college degree does not entitle you to a job – experience and skills matter! Employers want to know the value you can bring to their company and what you will contribute.

My advice? Take advantage of every opportunity. For me, it was gaining experience outside of the classroom like finishing my HubSpot certification, completing three internships, and enrolling in a creative writing class. Completing online courses, internships, improving skills, and researching are all things I took upon myself to achieve, but I knew I had to if I wanted to set myself apart. Being able to study and get good grades will earn you a diploma but applying skills to real experience will land you a job.  

Loving My Career

Being able to enjoy your career and loving what you do is something that will not only enhance your work performance but it’ll make you happier overall in your day-to-day routine. 

Working at TRAINOR has shown me it is possible to constantly learn, work hard, and think big – all while meeting milestones and enjoying myself.  

TRAINOR is more than just a brand management agency – we're collaborative and truly an extension of our clients’ teams. Working with a team so passionate about what we do has encouraged me to grow and learn everything I can about the digital marketing world.

After all, marketing is constantly evolving. The only constant is change.  

Interested in working with me and the rest of the TRAINOR team? Apply today!