Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Digital Media Managers
Lisa, a Digital Media Manager, advises undergraduates seeking entry-level marketing positions to explore diverse internships or entry-level roles, even if the job description is unexpected—she herself benefited from an "internal rotational program" that exposed her to various marketing departments. This helped Lisa discover her passion for digital marketing, highlighting the value of experimentation and risk-taking, such as pursuing startup internships, early in one's career to discover what one does and does not want.
Career Exploration, Entry-Level Jobs, Marketing, Internships, Digital Marketing
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Lisa Li
Digital Media Manager
Investment Management Company
Northeastern University, 2019
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Marketing
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Communication and Marketing
LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Consider internships in various marketing areas to discover your interests.
2. Don't be afraid to take risks and explore different roles, even if the job description isn't a perfect match.
3. Early career exploration helps you identify what you like and dislike, making future career changes easier.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
I highly recommend branching out if you're going into marketing. Try different things for your internships or your first entry-level job post-grad. I think that's really okay to do.
I wish I had done more of that. I was really lucky where I applied to a marketing specialist position, but the job description did not fit the job I actually did at all. Turns out it ended up being a bit of an internal rotational program.
I got to work with every marketing department within the larger marketing umbrella. That helped me tremendously in finding my path and what I naturally gravitated towards, which eventually was digital marketing.
But the students before me, some went into marketing research, someone into product management. Just knowing what you don't want is a great asset, especially when you're that early into your job.
Then you can really narrow down. You're not going to be four years down the line where it'll be much more difficult to switch functions within marketing. Just take a chance.
I don't necessarily regret it, but I do wish I took more risks. For example, working for a startup for an internship versus just the biggest name I could find. I think that would have helped me a lot. These experiences are things you can really draw on for your future jobs.