Here at Red Door, we have an unquenchable thirst for learning and are constantly evolving because of it. We look to those around us for guidance and provide our own support in return. We seek out opportunities for growth and use our missteps to come back bigger and better. That’s why, with the fall semester upon us, we’d like to share some insights that we wish we’d had while we were attending school or just starting our careers.
{^widget|(quote)Devote+the+time+to+pick+the+brain+of+those+you+admire.|(name)BlogPullQuote|(text)%3c!--+pull+quote+widget+--%3e%0d%0a%3csection+class%3d%22row%22%3e%0d%0a++%3cdiv+class%3d%22small-11+small-centered+medium-10+columns%22%3e%0d%0a++++%3cblockquote+class%3d%22blog-quote%22+cite%3d%22www.reddoor.biz%22%3e%0d%0a++++++%3cp%3e%22%7b%2525Quote%2525%7d%22%3c%2fp%3e%0d%0a++++++%3cfooter%3e%0d%0a++++++++%7b%2525Author%2525%7d%0d%0a++++++%3c%2ffooter%3e%0d%0a++++%3c%2fblockquote%3e%0d%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e%0d%0a%3c%2fsection%3e%0d%0a%3c!--+end+pull+quote+widget+--%3e|(author)Whitney+Gandara%2c+Marketing+%26+PR+Manager|(widget_displayname)Blog+Pull+Quote|(width)|(height)^}In this digitally-powered and socially-focused era, it has never been easier to reach out to those that inspire us and ask them, “How?” Many here at Red Door suggested bits of advice with some version of “meet your heroes.” Not only should you already be following these people on social media, but you should be throwing yourself into the communities and conversations surrounding them. And most importantly, TALK TO THEM. The worst they can say is nothing at all. At best, you’ve gained insight into your career of choice, learned more about how to succeed in that role, or even better, made a personal connection and expanded the webbings of your network. Don’t know where to start? Feel free to tweet us @RedDoor and we can put you in touch with one of our RDI experts!
{^widget|(quote)Remember+that+reaching+out+for+help+is+a+sign+of+strength%2c+not+weakness.|(name)BlogPullQuote|(text)%3c!--+pull+quote+widget+--%3e%0d%0a%3csection+class%3d%22row%22%3e%0d%0a++%3cdiv+class%3d%22small-11+small-centered+medium-10+columns%22%3e%0d%0a++++%3cblockquote+class%3d%22blog-quote%22+cite%3d%22www.reddoor.biz%22%3e%0d%0a++++++%3cp%3e%22%7b%2525Quote%2525%7d%22%3c%2fp%3e%0d%0a++++++%3cfooter%3e%0d%0a++++++++%7b%2525Author%2525%7d%0d%0a++++++%3c%2ffooter%3e%0d%0a++++%3c%2fblockquote%3e%0d%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e%0d%0a%3c%2fsection%3e%0d%0a%3c!--+end+pull+quote+widget+--%3e|(author)Brianna+Horvat%2c+Paid+Media+Specialist|(widget_displayname)Blog+Pull+Quote|(width)|(height)^}Always ask why and ask for help when you need it. We’ve learned that when you ask what feels like a “stupid” question, you’re likely asking a question others were too afraid to. Take advantage of the experiences of those around you by asking for their help. It shows dedication to learning, concern for your work, admiration for your team, and a passion for progress and success.
{^widget|(quote)Don%27t+be+afraid+to+speak+up%2c+ask+questions%2c+and+share+your+thoughts.|(name)BlogPullQuote|(text)%3c!--+pull+quote+widget+--%3e%0d%0a%3csection+class%3d%22row%22%3e%0d%0a++%3cdiv+class%3d%22small-11+small-centered+medium-10+columns%22%3e%0d%0a++++%3cblockquote+class%3d%22blog-quote%22+cite%3d%22www.reddoor.biz%22%3e%0d%0a++++++%3cp%3e%22%7b%2525Quote%2525%7d%22%3c%2fp%3e%0d%0a++++++%3cfooter%3e%0d%0a++++++++%7b%2525Author%2525%7d%0d%0a++++++%3c%2ffooter%3e%0d%0a++++%3c%2fblockquote%3e%0d%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e%0d%0a%3c%2fsection%3e%0d%0a%3c!--+end+pull+quote+widget+--%3e|(author)Blake+Del+Hoyo%2c+Social+Media+Specialist|(widget_displayname)Blog+Pull+Quote|(width)|(height)^}It may seem like school lasts forever, but it’ll be over before you realize. In the grand scheme of things, there’s so little time and you can’t waste it feeling afraid or shy just because you have less experience compared to others. It’s normal to be nervous; it shows that you care about your success. You should never be too scared to act or take chances. Use your “inexperience” to offer a new lens or perspective on things others may think are “just the way they’ve always been.” Keep asking why. Have presence. It’s less about being the center of attention and more about being attentive and communicative. Active listening and effective communication are two invaluable skills that will serve you well as you advance in your career.
{^widget|(quote)Research+degrees+to+see+the+likelihood+of+landing+a+job+in+that+field.|(name)BlogPullQuote|(text)%3c!--+pull+quote+widget+--%3e%0d%0a%3csection+class%3d%22row%22%3e%0d%0a++%3cdiv+class%3d%22small-11+small-centered+medium-10+columns%22%3e%0d%0a++++%3cblockquote+class%3d%22blog-quote%22+cite%3d%22www.reddoor.biz%22%3e%0d%0a++++++%3cp%3e%22%7b%2525Quote%2525%7d%22%3c%2fp%3e%0d%0a++++++%3cfooter%3e%0d%0a++++++++%7b%2525Author%2525%7d%0d%0a++++++%3c%2ffooter%3e%0d%0a++++%3c%2fblockquote%3e%0d%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e%0d%0a%3c%2fsection%3e%0d%0a%3c!--+end+pull+quote+widget+--%3e|(author)Jena+Miller%2c+Accounting+Specialist|(widget_displayname)Blog+Pull+Quote|(width)|(height)^}We’re dreamers here, so it pains us to say it, but not everyone gets their dream job right away. Be smart about the choices you make. Put effort into researching the industries you’re interested in and keep an eye out for trends in markets. We recommend utilizing resources like LinkedIn and Glassdoor to keep an eye on current job openings and to identify opportunities you may be interested in, even jobs that you hadn’t previously considered. Broaden your horizons. You’d be surprised how few of us actually knew we wanted to work in marketing when we were in school!
{^widget|(quote)Without+internships%2c+there+is+very+little+to+differentiate+you+from+the+other+thousands+of+candidates+applying+for+the+same+position.|(name)BlogPullQuote|(text)%3c!--+pull+quote+widget+--%3e%0d%0a%3csection+class%3d%22row%22%3e%0d%0a++%3cdiv+class%3d%22small-11+small-centered+medium-10+columns%22%3e%0d%0a++++%3cblockquote+class%3d%22blog-quote%22+cite%3d%22www.reddoor.biz%22%3e%0d%0a++++++%3cp%3e%22%7b%2525Quote%2525%7d%22%3c%2fp%3e%0d%0a++++++%3cfooter%3e%0d%0a++++++++%7b%2525Author%2525%7d%0d%0a++++++%3c%2ffooter%3e%0d%0a++++%3c%2fblockquote%3e%0d%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e%0d%0a%3c%2fsection%3e%0d%0a%3c!--+end+pull+quote+widget+--%3e|(author)Allie+Franklin%2c+Senior+Business+Manager|(widget_displayname)Blog+Pull+Quote|(width)|(height)^}As soon as you leave school, you’ll want to hit the ground running with as much under your belt as possible. An internship is one of the best opportunities to experience a different field or industry, and you’re only doing yourself a disservice if you don’t give it a go. Throw caution to the wind and try something new. Apply for that dream internship!
If you have an interest in marketing or working at a digital agency and feel like you’re ready to ask questions, get experience in a fast-paced data-driven agency environment, and ask even more questions, you should check out the many openings we have here at Red Door this fall semester. We’re currently looking for interns in marketing, client services, analytics, and social media. Think you’re ready? Heed our advice and apply here.