Career Advice for Marketing Graduates: A #CMWorld Twitter Chat with with Taylor Barbieri

Fresh out college, I was invincible. I attended a good liberal arts school. (You may have heard of them; they were the Cinderella of the 2018 Final Four.) I interned in two top-10 television markets. I was engaged. Degree in hand, nothing could drag me down.

Until it did.

College commencements are around the corner. That means new graduates making the transition from student to employee. So, what should we as seasoned marketers tell those fresh out of school?

Career advice can come from anywhere: Family, friends, colleagues, bosses, and the CMWorld community. Ask Taylor Barbieri. As a young professional, she has already made a name for herself as Creative Content Marketer at Podia. Taylor credits her success to hard work and the guidance of others.

Remember that moment when I felt discouraged? I was told a piece of advice that will always stay with me. A coworker pulled me aside and told me to always say “yes.” Say “yes” when asked to take on new responsibilities. Say “yes” to learning a new skill.  Say “yes” to something scary.

I hope you’ll say “yes” to reading the rest of this blog post. In it you will find highlights of our #CMWorld Twitter chat with Taylor. Then let us know in the comments what you would tell new marketing grads.

How can recent grads apply what they’ve learned in school to market their professional development?

A1. The best place to start is social media. That is where you can meet a lot of business owners and get awesome advice regarding marketing and your marketing development. It’s also a place where you could become well known. #CMworld

— Anthony Giannone (@lg217) April 30, 2019

A1: Recent graduates need to focus on highlighting their transferrable skills. A lot of students end up in industries unrelated to their field and being able to show how your skills are applicable in different industries is vital. #CMWorld pic.twitter.com/1asqjWGBXu

— Lauren @ G2.com (@G2Lauren) April 30, 2019

A1: This is tough. “Applying what you learned” doesn’t always lead to professional development. And professionals are less & less likely to count school as experience, but rather as exposure. Taking a project from school, improving, & then selling it? Now we’re talking. #CMWorld

— Rachel Wendte (@rkwendte) April 30, 2019

A1. It’s weird to think of yourself as a product or service, but you should. Find out what sets you apart from the competition and develop a compelling message around it. Give other people a reason to want to hire you over someone else. #CMWorld https://t.co/MYOrJSIixh

— David Simanoff (@dsimanoff) April 30, 2019

It can be difficult to find a job you love. To set yourself up for success, what should you look for in a content marketing position?

A2: Make sure the hiring manager appreciates good content (& what it takes to create it). You need an authentic champion. #cmworld

— Shelly Lucas (@pisarose) April 30, 2019

A2: Marketing is such a broad field! Carefully read the job description and what they’re looking for. Accurately articulate your aspirations and skills. If it’s not a good fit, don’t be offended. Interviews are for you and them to know the other is the best fit. #CMWorld

— Julia Rose (@Missjflar) April 30, 2019

A2. Find out what content themes you are excited about. Some people are marketers no matter what, they enjoy the challenge, while others need to be a little more specific in the kinds of content they’re creating. Team/corporate culture are a BIG ONE too. #CMWorld

— DREW FRIEDRICH (@CoachFriedrich) April 30, 2019

A2. Work in an environment that encourages mentorship and growth. Have coffee dates throughout work week with colleagues and ask tons of questions. #CMWorld

— Ivette,Virtual Assistant Solutions (@VirtualAsstSol) April 30, 2019

What advice do you wish you received when you first started in content marketing?

A7. Advice I wish I received for #contentmarketing:

– sharpen up those writing skills
– learn key words for CTA’s
– focus on content that shows your authentic self while showcasing your expertise #CMWorld

— Chelsea Krost (@ChelseaKrost) April 30, 2019

A7 Someone should tell newbies that Content Marketing is about relationship building and driving action through the quality and relevance of content, not the quantity of it. #cmworld

— Martin Lieberman (@martinlieberman) April 30, 2019

Make notes (mental and written) of things you hear and observe, and then look up the meaning. You’d be surprised how many people will toss out certain buzzwords without really understanding them. A7 #CMWorld

— Roselle Cronan (@MahoutMkt) April 30, 2019

A7 THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PERFECT! #CMWorld pic.twitter.com/WLAxYoDHAS

— Dan Willis #SMWL19 (@MLLNNLmotivator) April 30, 2019

The learning doesn’t stop the moment you earn a degree. If you’re serious about taking your work to the next level, attend Content Marketing World. Early Bird pricing expires May 31, 2019, so register today.