College Experiences That Helped a Web Marketing Lead at Blend Succeed
Marisa, a Web Marketing Lead at Blend, advises entry-level professionals to not be discouraged by a slow learning curve, especially in complex industries like FinTech, emphasizing that "it's not surprising that you would enter a job and know everything right off the bat". The key to success, Marisa shares, is proactive learning through company resources and, importantly, building relationships with colleagues to gain practical knowledge, a process that took approximately three to six months in her case.
FinTech, Onboarding, Professional Development, Communication Skills, Mentorship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Marisa Brazelton
Web Marketing Lead
Blend
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
NYU Stern School of Business - MBA, Specializations in Tech Product Management, Leadership and Change Management, and Strategy
Business Management & Admin
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing), Technology
Communication and Marketing
Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. It takes time to learn the specifics of an industry like finance, which involves many laws and regulations. Don't be discouraged if you don't know everything immediately; it's a process.
2. Take advantage of company training resources, such as videos and onboarding materials. Supplement this with meetings and conversations with colleagues to clarify concepts and learn from their experience.
3. Building relationships with coworkers is key to a successful ramp-up. Don't hesitate to ask for help and clarification; it shows initiative and accelerates the learning process. A three- to six-month adjustment period is typical for new roles in this industry.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
Something that I remember when I first started in my industry, FinTech, more financial services, is what my manager told me right off the bat: not to get upset at myself for not getting up to speed right away. Finance is not an easy industry to understand.
I definitely struggled with my finance class in college, and that was hard for me coming into a job without being familiar with how the industry works. There are many laws and regulations I wasn't aware of, and it takes time to learn.
It's not surprising that you wouldn't know everything in a new job right away. One way to mitigate that, and something that I found helpful, was my company's training tools. You could spend hours watching videos during your first weeks of onboarding.
Alternatively, you could set up meetings with people on different teams and ask them to explain things in simple terms. You could also say, "I watched this training video, but I don't quite understand this part. Would you be able to explain it to me, as you've been doing in your role for the past few years?"
That's how I was able to get ramped up in the industry: by talking to people. If I was working on a project I wasn't familiar with, I would meet with the person who could best educate me. Making educated guesses based on what I learned from them really helped.
It took me three to six months to reach a point where I wasn't asking as many questions. I could take something and run with it. It was an adjustment to be okay with that slower ramp-up period.
This approach has a bigger payoff because you're investing time to educate yourself and build relationships with people who can help you. So, in the long run, no matter how long it takes, it's important not to feel guilty. You'll get there, and you'll have the support of your manager and coworkers.