Follow Your Own Path to Career Success

Do you remember how your career started and the path you took to get to where you are now?

That was the general theme in last week’s career panel discussion at Liferay , where I, along with 3 other panelists, got a chance to answer those questions and a few more as we chatted with hopeful interns who were looking to glean a few insights from us and validate their current path.

In the spirit of #sharing with the #interns who attended this event, other #CollegeStudents contemplating their futures, and colleagues who want to learn more about me or a career in #marketing, I've included summarized versions of my answers below.

How did you get to where you are today?

I made two big changes that led to my career in marketing. First, I switched majors in my third year from Business to English because one of my general ed literature classes inspired me to do so. As an English major, we read, analyzed, and discussed big ideas from great thinkers and writers, and I loved that. My English courses also taught me how to formulate an argument, put it down on paper, and present it in a logical and persuasive way - a skill that has served me well throughout my career.?

The next big move I made was transitioning out of writing software documentation and moving into writing content for marketing. I was in a small company at the time and they asked me for help with some of their marketing pieces. The marketing leader liked what I did and I enjoyed the experience too, so eventually I transitioned to marketing full time and never looked back.

What is your favorite thing about your role??

Good marketing begins with understanding your customers’ pain points and what they’re trying to achieve. Once you truly understand that, the rest of marketing is pretty straightforward. Well, at least to me it is because it reminds me so much of what I did as an English major. We analyze the needs of our customers, formulate an argument that’s based on how well our products can solve those needs, and then work on turning that argument into a story that’s compelling for our audience and makes them want to know more about our solutions.?

But don’t let my “straightforward” comment fool you. Creating that story takes work and collaboration across several teams, especially when you’re presenting the story in different ways (articles, blogs, videos, social posts, ebooks, white papers, etc.) and to buyers who are in different stages of the purchasing cycle.?

For example, a business buyer who’s just discovered they have a problem to resolve thanks to your 45-second explainer video, is going to be much different than a buyer who already knows they have a problem and is looking through your white paper for ways to fix it.??

The challenges in marketing are figuring out who you should be communicating with, how to best reach them, and what content is going to work the best for your audience.?

To do this, I get to collaborate with teammates from different departments in sales, engineering, marketing, product, design, and global services, to name a few. Working together to solve these challenges and produce something meaningful is what I enjoy most as a marketer.

Why do you enjoy working at Liferay?

The other day, I was describing someone from Liferay to a colleague and I said the person was really kind, helpful, and then concluded the summary with the blanket statement, "you know, a typical Liferayer.” We both laughed.

But it’s so true. I once worked with a CEO who said that one of the things he tries to do in a meeting is give everyone a chance to contribute to the conversation. One of the ways he does this is by not trying to be the “smartest person in the room.” He does this by letting others, especially more junior people, speak first and share their thoughts. This encourages everyone to contribute ideas and participate in the conversation. Something that doesn’t always happen when senior people provide input first.??

Kindness and not trying to be the smartest person in the room are definitely traits I’ve observed here at Liferay. Not just amongst my own team, but by the various teams we work with worldwide. This is not only refreshing, but also creates a safe environment where people feel free to speak their mind without being judged.

The international aspect of Liferay is also incredible. I believe we’re in 19 different countries. That’s a lot of different cultures, languages, and customs to consider. But despite that, no matter who you’re working with at Liferay, the kindness and helpfulness always shine through, reminding you that we have built a culture that makes it easy to connect with our colleagues no matter where they are in the world. Working in a company that fosters this kind of environment is truly special.

What advice would you give to students trying to figure out what career to pursue?

“So, what do you want to do?”

How often were you asked that question when you were trying to figure out what you were going to do in college??

For young adults who haven’t figured that out yet, that question can produce anxiety. My advice is to not focus on the exact career, but instead use college to follow or find what it is you like doing.

I started as a business major because I had an uncle who got to travel the world as a businessman. I thought that was kind of cool. Business was also a safe major I could explain easily to my immigrant parents who believed that the only real career options in life were being a lawyer, doctor, engineer, or a businessman like my uncle.?

Ultimately, however, those were not pursuits that interested me so I switched majors and changed my career trajectory for good. As a result, I discovered a newfound focus I hadn’t had before. This focus motivated me to learn more, engage more with my professors, and become a better communicator. And that led to my professors (and eventually my employers) noticing my enthusiasm and rewarding me with opportunities.?

One of those opportunities was as a press relations intern for my university where I learned to write press releases and articles for a new audience. After a successful semester there, the professor who headed up our internship program, approached me again with a paid intern opportunity at a software company who needed a technical writer. This led to another paid internship during my last semester of college and then a full time position when I graduated.

As you can see, internships can truly set you up for success so the fact you are all pursuing them is already a promising sign for you. It is also a great way to see if the path you're considering is the right one for you.

If it's not, do not worry. Use school to experiment and find out what interests you. Once you find what that is you'll be more motivated to succeed because you will care more about what you do. And when you care about what you do, you will work harder, ask better questions, and engage intelligently with the world around you. Do this consistently and the people in your circle will notice your light and provide you with the opportunities to not only be successful in your career, but also in life!