Her Story
About Sarah
I'm a marketing consultant at Midwest Communications, where I've been working full-time for just a few months after graduating from college. I majored in Corporate Communications, marketing, and Digital Design, and my involvement in DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) really helped prepare me for the sales aspects of my role. Once I finish my training, my key responsibilities will be meeting with clients to make sure they're getting what they want from our services and ensuring that what we're doing is successful for them. What inspired me to get into this field was all the connections I would make with people - I love getting to go out and meet people, learn about them, why they started their business, and what brought them to the area. The biggest challenge in my industry right now is people thinking that radio doesn't do anything for them, but it's still really big in marketing, which is also the biggest opportunity. My main goal this year is to build my clientele and start building my reputation in the marketing world.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sarah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would probably say my DECA career, because that's where I got to meet so many people and learned so many valuable skills that I still use now. And I still get to be a part of it in volunteer work, which is fun. Through DECA, I developed the networking and sales skills that are essential to my current role as a marketing consultant.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received would be to just apply for anything, even if you don't think you'll get it. A lot of people think that they're not qualified enough for jobs, and in reality they are. I was applying for a lot of jobs I felt underqualified for, and was getting interviews for them, which was really cool. Don't let self-doubt hold you back from opportunities.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to not be afraid to take risks, and to not be afraid to put yourself out there, because with this field, it is a lot of networking and getting to know people. So, don't be afraid to just be yourself, put yourself out there, and really get to know people and take full advantage of any networking that you can do. Building connections is essential in this industry.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenge is probably people thinking that radio doesn't do anything for them, but it's still really big in marketing. So I would say that is also your biggest opportunity - using radio. Despite misconceptions, radio remains a powerful marketing tool, and educating clients about its continued effectiveness is both the main challenge and the greatest opportunity in my field right now.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My personal values include being honest with people, which is super important especially in my career path. Being compassionate towards people is also crucial, because some people will come to you and this is their last resort to try to get people into their store. I also value being open-minded, and having teamwork and collaboration skills as well. These values guide both my professional work and personal interactions.
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