College Experiences That Helped an Account Director at SHIFT Communications Succeed
Kelsie's successful career path began with proactive networking, "getting to know professors, other students," and aggressively pursuing opportunities through cold-calling PR agencies for informational interviews—a strategy that landed their first role at Ketchum. This approach, combined with a focus on self-marketing, highlights the importance of proactive job searching and showcasing one's skills beyond traditional application methods.
Networking, Job Search, Communication, Self-Marketing, Aggressiveness
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kelsie Axelrod
Account Director
SHIFT Communications
Bentley University
none
Environmental & Related Sciences, Marketing
Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Communication and Marketing
Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Network with professors and other students to learn about connections and opportunities.
2. Proactively reach out to potential employers through informational interviews and cold calls.
3. Present yourself effectively by showcasing your skills and experience in a way that stands out to employers, considering the use of social media for marketing yourself.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
Networking is definitely key. It can take many forms, not just stuffy events. Getting to know your professors and fellow students, and understanding their connections, can be very helpful.
I also did cold calls to PR agencies. I moved from Seattle to San Francisco without a job, determined to work in PR here. I called agencies and asked for informational interviews, explaining why I wanted to work with them. That's how I landed my job at Ketchum.
You have to be aggressive and hungry. Simply submitting online applications is tough, especially for entry-level positions. When I graduated, social media wasn't as prominent.
Now, people are creating all sorts of resumes, like TikTok or Instagram resumes. If you're interested in marketing, consider how you present yourself. You need to market yourself effectively to show you're a good fit for the job.