What a Marketing Specialist at a Big Tech Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Tech Industry

I wish I had learned that just because your title has something to do with marketing, like me being a marketing specialist, doesn't necessarily mean your role and what you do every single day will be marketing. My title is marketing specialist, but what I do daily doesn't use a ton of skills you might think a marketer needs.

Another thing I wish I had learned, and this applies more broadly to working in tech in general, is that not all tech companies are created equal. We all hear stereotypes about working in tech: a high-paced environment with lots of things going on. But companies are so different.

If you hear things that concern you or you want to learn more about, focus on understanding the company culture during the interview process. I wish someone had told me how important company culture is to your day-to-day experience on the job. Typically, if the general culture of a company aligns with your morals, values, and how you see the world, your coworkers are more likely to be aligned with you as well.

This makes a collaborative environment so much easier when you're on the same page regarding the role of work in your life, your worldview, your communication style, and how you operate. It's much easier when you've prioritized choosing a company whose culture aligns with what you want out of work and what's important to you.

So, in summary, know that just because a title says "marketing specialist," you might not be doing a ton of marketing. You might just be working in a marketing organization, which is what I do. Second, not all companies are created equal. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions about work-life balance and company culture during your interview process. It should be a two-way street: they are interviewing you, and you should be interviewing them and learning about the company.