Caitlyn Kumi is an associate product-marketing manager at Google and former EY consultant.She landed multiple job offers after earning a degree at UNC Chapel Hill by utilizing social media.Her career advice includes using LinkedIn to network and closing your skill gaps.I started my career as an intern at Ernst & Young during the summer of 2020.After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021 as an advertising, public-relations, and communications-studies major, I worked at EY from September 2021 to March 2022.
Today, I’m an associate product-marketing manager at Google and the founder of Miss EmpowHer , a brand that helps women of all shades and shapes feel confident and empowered.
Despite landing jobs at two major companies right out of school, my journey hasn’t been easy.
During my first few years of university, I struggled with self-doubt and comparison.
I often questioned if I deserved a certain speaking opportunity or scholarship.
However, I quickly learned that this mindset was holding me back.I started saying yes to the opportunities that scared me and learned to trust myself and believe in my abilities.
In addition to having a strong résumé, I was able to secure offers at EY and Google by taking these four steps.
1.
I made myself a thought leader on social media While still a student, I used LinkedIn to connect with mentors and sponsors that could help me navigate my career journey, like alumni from UNC, C-suite executives, and employees at my target companies.I also built my personal brand there and on TikTok and YouTube .
Figure out what you want to be known for and position yourself online as an expert in your field or desired industry.For example, when I realized I wanted to transition from consulting to marketing, I started developing original content on TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
I started posting advice and tips for young women on my TikTok account to better understand short-form videos and Gen-Z marketing.On LinkedIn, I would share my perspective on industry trends.
On YouTube, I launched a series called Spotlight Her , a series of interviews with extraordinary women making a positive impact on society and culture, and Business Baddie Secrets , a series where I discussed tips for networking, overcoming fear of judgment, and building self-confidence.
2.I regularly connected with people outside my network I firmly believe your network is your net worth.My network has helped me get referrals for all my job opportunities.It’s also helped me secure media features on ” Good Morning America ” and in publications like BuzzFeed .
When networking, it’s essential to be authentic and not transactional.
I encourage people to think of networking as simply building meaningful connections and figuring out how to provide value to others.When networking on LinkedIn specifically, I focus on finding and connecting with alumni of my university or people in my industry that I admire.
3.I got certifications to help close my skills gaps I always recommend getting certifications to make you a more competitive job applicant.Before applying to the APMM program at Google , I took a free Google certification called Fundamentals of Digital Marketing and a LinkedIn Learning certification course called Product Marketing Foundations through LinkedIn Premium.
My women-empowerment brand was one of my biggest selling points during my interviews.
But the certifications were an extra bonus and helped me feel more confident.I personally think they helped me perform really well in interviews.
4.I consumed all kinds of content In my opinion, you are what you consume.I’ve increased my marketing knowledge and career advancement expertise by consuming the right content, such as LinkedIn’s blog and posts from thought leaders like Gary Vaynerchuk and Shelley Zalis .
The advice and tips I share on TikTok are also based on my personal experiences and conversations with people, or I analyze or comment on the books, podcasts, or industry trends I consume and follow.
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