Defining the Starting Point
I graduated from Spring Hill College in 2025 with a degree in marketing and management, and like many students, I was unsure of what my plans would look like after completing my program. I have always wanted a job that differs from day to day, and in marketing, that is exactly the case. No two days are quite the same, keeping me on my toes and allowing me to learn about a variety of industries and skills. This mindset applies to other fields, too. No matter your career path, leaning into roles that challenge you and require flexibility can set you apart early on.
Experience as Brand Development
While at school, I kept myself involved in extracurricular activities, serving as president of my sorority and taking on leadership roles in the business club. These experiences cultivated my communication style, strengthened my decision-making skills, and shaped how I approach challenges. They also helped me realize that I wanted a career where I could make a positive impact. Most importantly, they taught me that what you do outside of the classroom is as valuable as what you learn inside it, so make the most of those opportunities. Employers are not just looking for a degree — they are looking for people who learn quickly, communicate well, and take initiative.
Expanding the Portfolio
For hands-on experience, I interned for a local non-profit who focused on preserving the town’s history and architecture. I also collaborated with an independent marketer whose clients’ included restaurants and small businesses. Each of these positions offered a unique perspective and helped confirm that I was on the right career path. Even if you’ve already graduated, short-term internships or projects are a great way to not only build up your résumé but also build up the confidence and clarity you don’t always get from the classroom.
The Limits of Digital-Only Strategy
By the time I entered my senior year, I felt like I had done everything I could to set myself up for success. About six months before graduating, I began reaching out to potential employers on LinkedIn, trying to set up a call or interview and forge connections early on. I applied to a few dozen entry-level roles and assumed that those efforts would quickly lead to opportunities, but the reality was very different. Like so many others, I found myself ghosted at every turn. After no replies from the first set of businesses I applied to, I started to wonder what I was doing wrong – even though I had followed all the right steps and taken every piece of advice I had been given. My biggest takeaway: relying only on online applications, especially through platforms like LinkedIn, lands you in the same screening pool as hundreds of other candidates. It may seem like the most intuitive and accessible path, but it’s also one where it’s the most difficult to stand out.
Pivoting the Strategy
So, what ultimately worked for me? I made the shift from mostly online applications to in-person cold-calling. When I returned to my hometown of St. Louis over spring break, I began meeting with companies face-to-face, and this experience was completely different. Conversations felt more natural; I could share my personality, and I was being evaluated by a real person, rather than just my résumé being screened by AI.
Creating Brand Alignment
I focused on companies that aligned with my values and interests, even if they were not actively hiring. I reached out over a call or email, introduced myself, and expressed my genuine interest in what they were doing. That approach made a significant difference. My advice here is this: don’t limit yourself to open job postings only. Do some research. Look for a company that feels like a good fit for you, and then take the initiative to connect with someone there. Like attracts like, as they say, and companies often recognize potential and will make room for the right person – even if it’s not right away. My last three job interviews were all in-person, and they were all with the places I was most interested in. For the first time in the process, things started to click.
Authenticity as a Differentiator
As graduation approached, I found myself with a great problem to have: I received three job offers, and now needed to decide which was the right opportunity. I ultimately decided to join Kolbeco because it felt like the best fit in terms of people, culture, and long-term career growth. Here, the biggest lesson I learned is that marketing yourself is not about trying to turn yourself into the person you think the company wants. It’s about being your true self and finding people and businesses who are aligned with you. No matter what your career path looks like, maintaining your authenticity is so much more sustainable and effective than trying to be what you think others expect.
Activating Your Network
The job search process can be frustrating and grueling, and there is no easy way around that. But the real growth happens when you lean into that discomfort instead of avoiding it. One important piece of advice I would give anyone starting their job search is to use your connections – and I mean ALL of them. Parents, relatives, professors, friends, even your neighbor’s dog walker’s great aunt. Because some people can open doors that online applications or cold calls cannot. At the same time, don’t be afraid to create your own opportunities by reaching out to a company directly. And it’s never too early to start! Even if you’re a year or more away from graduation, starting now will give you time to learn from rejection, adjust your approach, and refine how you present myself.
Measuring the Outcome
And lastly, don’t take silence personally. Being ghosted is often just part of the process, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment. The transition from college to the workforce has its ups and downs, and rarely looks the way you expect it to! But if you persevere, continue to show up, and stay true to yourself, the right opportunity will find you. And when it does, it will all have been worth it.
