TGIF, friends! I’m especially excited for this Friday because after work I’m headed home back to Madison to celebrate my dad’s birthday with my family. It’s always so nice to come back to Madison and see my favorite people,

Last week, I shared my windy career path to becoming a social media manager, and I had such an amazing outpouring of kind comments and even more career questions that people were having. A few people even commented that they shared my post with their little sister or cousin who was in a similar place as I was after graduating from college. So today, I thought I’d follow up with some of the career advice I give people who are looking to land a job in advertising, and what I’d tell my 22 year old self if I was in the same place I was back then. It’s not easy not being sure how to start your career or get your foot in the door at a brand or agency, so I’m sharing all the secrets (and not so secret advice) that helped me kick start my career.

1. It’s OK to start small: 

When I graduated from college, I was in panic mode because I quickly realized that what I had gone to school for wasn’t what I wanted to do. After 4.5 years in school to become an English teacher, I panicked when I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do, and I’d spent all my summers working retail rather than getting internships in advertising, whoops!

So while I applied to work at major agencies and companies, I also didn’t scoff at smaller companies that could help me build my skills too. And when I landed a job at a social media start up, it turned out to be the best place for me to get experience in all aspects of the field in order to figure out what part of social media I liked best. Plus, you don’t have to stay forever at your first job – you just need to find a place that will help you grow personally and professionally that will challenge you and help you learn. Never underestimate how important it is to find a job that will challenge and inspire you – often times start ups or smaller agencies can be even more inspiring than larger, more corporate environments.

2. Call everyone you know. And LinkedIn message those you want to: 

Everyone knows the feeling of being a recent graduate and trying to figure out your next step – so right off the bat anyone you reach out to is going to relate. Make a list of everyone you know who works in then field you’re looking for a job in, and ask your friends and family if they know anyone that might be able to help you in your job search too!

I’ve had friends who have emailed  me a list of jobs they’re looking for (and companies they’re interested in), and usually someone between myself or another friend, someone has a connection to send a personal introduction. If that fails, don’t be afraid to do some LinkedIn digging to see what connections you might have (or that your friends might have) to the companies and positions you’re interested in. Invest in LinkedIn Premium for a few months so you can message people who have jobs available that you’re interested in, or message people who have a career path you admire. Chances are, if you’re personal and kind, people are more than happy to follow up and talk to you.

3. Use your associations: 

Your alumni association is there for a reason – make sure to use it! Whether it’s your college alumni association, or sorority/club organizations, reach out and let people know that you’re looking for a job in a certain field. They usually have a whole rolodex of people they can introduce you too, and the fact that you have a club or university in common will make it even more likely for them to respond and help you out.

4. Always follow up. Even if you think you’re being annoying (you’re not!)

Speaking of responding – make sure to always follow up when you send someone an email about an open position or career advice. I’m pretty terrible with emails (it’s not something I’m proud of), so when people reach out to me and I don’t get back to them right away, I always appreciate when they (politely) follow back up. It’s easy to think that people aren’t interested in responding, but most of the time everyone’s busy and wrapped up in their own world. If you don’t hear back in a few days, make sure to follow up  – most of the time you’ll hear back right away.   5. Go to networking events! 

Networking events are a great way to meet other people in a career you’re interested in, so never doubt the value of attending a few career events and introducing yourself to people who work at a certain company you’re interested in. Sure, it can be awkward at times, but some of my best friends have found there jobs through blindly introducing themselves to someone at a networking event.

Think about the organizations you’re a part of (whether religious, an alumni association, a group of people with a similar hobby or values) and look up the networking events that are happening in your area. Even if you have to pay a little bit to attend an event, it could very well be worth it. And if it’s an event that’s a little more expensive than you’re willing to pay – email the organizer and explain your situation! If you’re honest, they’ll usually cut you a deal if you ask nicely 🙂

6. Start a side hustle, or a hobby that builds your skills. 

So much of getting my foot in the door in social media can be attributed to starting and maintaining my blog. When I was early on in my career, I didn’t have the experience for a lot of jobs I applied to, but I did show that I was passionate about social media by having my blog as a side hobby. I used my blog as a portfolio so people could see the content I created, and also as a way to continually practice my skills like graphic design, copywriting and photography. I still have my blog on my resume because it shows that I have a side project connected to my career – and it’s always a good talking point in an interview to showcase my work and how I’ve maintained my site for over 6 years now!

7. Write a Thank You letter, the real kind. 

Thank you emails are great, but hand-written Thank You cards after an interview are even better. Ask someone at the front desk the best way to send a thank you card (or if you forget, call the receptionist after your interview!). They’ll usually give you good advice, but if worst comes to worst, and email is totally acceptable too. Regardless, make sure to say and write Thank You after an interview. And if you ended up not getting the job, make sure to ask for feedback to see what they were looking for and how you could improve to make your next interview go even better. Sure, it’s scary to ask what you need to improve on, but it will only help you be stronger in the next one. I’m sure I’m missing some good pointers, so let me know in the comments what your best career advice is so I can add it too! And if you have any questions, I’m just an email away  – and if I don’t get back to you right away, make sure to follow up 😉 xx