I am Linda
A Marketer
@ Global Ad Agency
Linda / Master’s Student / The A-to-Z Program – 13 Interviews and 3 Job Offers. See how it works.
In My Words
One Change, Big Results
In the past 5 years, I moved from China to the US and studied Marketing at the University of Texas. Then my career path started to slip during my third year in school. Everyone was getting internships and I didn’t even get an interview. Up until that point, I was always a good student and I was really frustrated. Then I thought it might get better for full-time positions. Wrong. It only worsened, because I didn’t have any relevant internship experiences before. I even had to extend my studies in order to stay in the US, and that’s when I wanted a change. Then my friend recommended Shoo-In, who she worked with to get her job offer at a top bank. I never really tried professional mentorship before. I thought about it, but I never made the commitment. I am a hard-working person, and I didn’t want to see all my efforts go to waste in not finding a job. So I finally felt like it was time to make a change.
About Me
International Journey
Jason, Chloe & Me
Whenever I do anything, I do so 100%. Whether learning English or playing piano, I completely apply myself. When I started, I wasn’t sure what would happen. Thankfully, Jason + Chloe [my mentors] handcrafted a plan just for me to follow.
Discovery
I held a routine for my college life - wake up, study, food, sleep. My mentors made me realize this routine wasn't working.
Discipline
I got a regiment for what to do every day. M - Industry, T - Technical, W - Networking, the rest of the week for interviews.
Mentorship
Jason made it really easy to stay on track because I already know what I need, I simply need to put in the hours every single day.
Transformation
The plan, combined with Shoo-In's networking events, helped me realize things were changing - I was getting stronger everyday.
I knew I needed to start get back to what I always wanted to do - Marketing!
Work Experience
Just the Basics / Week #1
For the first week, we just got the basics down. Jason updated my resume & cover letters to industry standards – I was totally shocked when I saw the before-and-after comparison. This is when I began to realize why my classmates were getting interviews. All my focus were on the wrong sections and those did not make any difference to the recruiter.
Self Expression / Week #2 & 3
During this time, Chloe helped me to understand what it is that I really wanted. Not only in my career, but for my adult life. I never had a discussion like this before, and it was refreshing to hear from such a candid perspective. We finally set the course for marketing and she helped me express myself through the various cover letters.
Getting Stronger / Week #4-6
Then we started to learn about networking: what to say, how to say it, and most importantly, why. Career services always told us to “network”, but never told us how or why. So when we encounter a new situation that I didn’t prepare for, I didn’t know what to do. My mentors helped me to see from a recruiter’s perspective and that is tremendously helpful.
Hitting the Ground / Week #7-10
After getting all my basics down (resume, cover letters, and the basics of networking), it was time for me to give networking a shot. I was nervous. We talked a lot about how to network, but this was my first time. With the help of Joanna (Shoo-In’s networking assistant), I connected with 4 marketers from big agencies within the first week. I was ecstatic.
Personal Renewal / Week #11-15
I continued to see results. For a period of 2 weeks, I got a new connection every single day. I gained a lot of confidence along the way, began to feel more comfortable with networking and interviewing, and now I feel really great about myself. I finally feel like I am back on the right track after years of struggle.
Success / Week #16
Oh, I almost forgot to mention – yes, I got my job (as well as 2 more offers). I am currently a marketer with one of the largest agencies in the world, and was just promoted after 12 months. Couldn’t have done it without taking that first step. I am grateful to Chloe, Jason, and the Shoo-In team. Thank you.
My Reflection
«It’s funny – just one phone call to Shoo-In changed my career forever. If I didn’t make that call, I would not be here today.»