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Michalene, Marketing Manager at Precision Construction Services: Advize Career Interview
A journey from English major to Marketing Manager at a thriving construction company, a path forged through impactful journalism internships at the LA Times and San Jose Mercury News.
This career progression showcases a dedication to persuasive writing, honed through mentorship and experience, and a natural curiosity that fuels success in a fast-paced environment.
The work is incredibly diverse, ranging from proposal writing and website management to representing the company at industry events and creating compelling recruitment materials.
A key lesson learned involves embracing failure as a learning opportunity, a philosophy developed early in a demanding editorial role and refined throughout a career marked by initiative and a willingness to learn the nuances of a complex industry.
The interview reveals the importance of internships, proactive networking, and a genuine passion for one's work in achieving career goals, especially for first-generation college students and women navigating non-traditional career paths.
This individual's experience highlights the exciting and unexpected possibilities within the construction industry, moving beyond typical misconceptions to reveal opportunities for intellectual engagement and significant contributions.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michalene Busico
Marketing Manager
Precision Construction Services
Pomona College, Claremont, CA and University of California, Irvine
N/A
English, Writing & Education, English
Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Communication and Marketing
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of a Marketing Manager at Precision Construction Services
Starting as an English major, a transfer to UC Irvine led to an unexpected passion for journalism after "wander[ing] into the newspaper office," resulting in internships at the LA Times and San Jose Mercury News; this culminated in a full-time role and a career progression through reporting, editing, and criticism before transitioning into marketing.
Main Responsibilities Of A Marketing Manager At Precision Construction Services
As Marketing Manager at a small but rapidly growing company, Michalene's role is "really broad," encompassing marketing, communications, PR, and business development; responsibilities include proposal writing, website management, award submissions (which "has turned out to be very valuable"), industry event representation, and creating recruitment materials to highlight career growth opportunities.
A Day In The Life Of A Marketing Manager At Precision Construction Services
A Marketing Manager's day-to-day responsibilities at Precision Construction Services vary greatly, ranging from "completely focused" proposal creation and revision using existing marketing materials to gathering on-site materials for future use, such as a recent visit to a Southern California Edison project. This involves diverse tasks, including creating LinkedIn posts and website content from interviews with project managers, building relationships at industry events like those with the Society for Military Engineers, and developing partnerships—all while adapting to changing priorities.
Top Skills for a Marketing Manager at Precision Construction Services
A genuine "sense of curiosity" and persuasive writing skills are paramount for a marketing manager, skills honed through mentorship and a journalism background; the goal, as Michalene explains, is to create a desire in others to "work with those guys," transforming initial interest into concrete business development opportunities.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Marketing Manager At Precision Construction Services
Michale enjoys Precision Construction Services' "forward-focused" approach and the expansive possibilities of working for a growing company, fulfilling a creative drive honed from previous work as a journalist specializing in new products and projects. The diverse range of projects, from "rocket launch and landing pads" to "a 125,000 square foot wine facility," provides constant stimulation and a new perspective on the crucial role of construction in society.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Marketing Manager At Precision Construction Services
Michalene's biggest challenge transitioning from journalism to marketing in the construction industry was initially grasping "an incredibly complex and specialized process," requiring significant time investment learning the industry's nuances. Beyond this initial learning curve, time management and prioritizing tasks, "figuring out what your priorities are," became a continuous challenge requiring effective communication with superiors and colleagues.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Construction Industry as a Marketing Manager
Initially, Michalene, a Marketing Manager at Precision Construction Services, held a common misconception of the construction industry, but discovering the company's diverse projects—from "a historic cathedral" to "a rocket landing pad"—shifted their perspective. This led to a deep appreciation for construction's foundational role in enabling "everything," making it "the foundation for everything that we do," and finding the work conceptually exciting.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Construction Industry, According To A Marketing Manager At Precision Construction Services
Marketing professionals who thrive possess a "genuine love" for their subject matter, combining this passion with a deep understanding of their audience's needs and a commitment to building long-term relationships. Success hinges on "supplying what they need," offering informed expertise and fostering a collaborative spirit extending beyond immediate projects to create lasting partnerships.
What A Marketing Manager At Precision Construction Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Construction Industry
Michale, a Marketing Manager at Precision Construction Services, wishes career counselors had highlighted construction as "an intellectual pursuit" offering diverse and fulfilling roles beyond manual labor, a fact Michalene discovered only after entering the field. The industry's lack of proactive outreach, leading to misconceptions like assuming all roles involve "holding a hammer," needs to be addressed to attract more talent.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Marketing Managers At Precision Construction Services
Michalene, a Marketing Manager, strongly advises undergraduates interested in entry-level positions to pursue internships, stating that "there is no better way to learn how to do the job." In her experience across various fields, internships offer valuable hands-on experience, allowing individuals to "really get into the thick of it" and potentially leading to a full-time role.
Significant Career Lesson From A Marketing Manager At Precision Construction Services
Michalene's significant career lesson centers on embracing failure as a learning opportunity: "everybody wants to…have the best possible outcome," but setbacks are inevitable, and "even when it's not great, just remember you're learning something." This understanding, shaped by a harsh early editorial experience, informed Michalene's later leadership style as an editor, prioritizing collaborative feedback over public humiliation to foster trust and improve work quality.
College Experiences Helping a Marketing Manager at Precision Construction Succeed
Even though Michalene's undergraduate English major wasn't directly related to their eventual marketing career, proactive pursuit of internships, including a pivotal opportunity at the *LA Times* secured by simply "calling first," demonstrates the importance of initiative and self-belief in career advancement. This experience, a testament to "just going for it," launched a successful career path.
How Identity Influenced A Marketing Manager's Career At Precision Construction Services
As a first-generation college student and woman, Michalene's career journey has been marked by navigating unfamiliar environments where they were often the only one with their background, requiring extra effort but ultimately proving that "it is possible." This experience fueled a belief in their own potential and the importance of actively seeking opportunities to demonstrate abilities and learn, rejecting limitations imposed by others' perceptions and emphasizing that "your path may not be direct."
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