Career Girl Chat

Career Girl Chat Career Girl Chat || The Finance Girl With a Fashion BlogCareer design, Corporate Life February 23, 2018 2 CommentsGuys, it’s the return of Career Girl Chat!! It’s been a hot minute since I last interviewed and wrote an episode. The very last career girl we chatted was Jennie Yoon from Casetify and Kinn, and before that, it was Amanda Weiss from Poshmark. And speaking of Poshmark, I actually met today’s Career Girl, Paulina Mo at a local San Diego Poshmark in May of 2015.   Paulina, aka Lil bits of Chic, was one of the local OG fashion bloggers that Poshmark invited to the event, and I was a newbie Poshmarker that wanted to meet other Poshmarkers. We didn’t exactly connect at the event, but I started following Paulina on her Instagram account.Related: Career Girl Chat || From HR Intern to Director of Biz Dev at Casetify â€" How did she do it?! Career Girl Chat || Work hard, stay humble, and be kind. Opportunities will followFast forward to 2018, with me cranking up my blogging efforts and Paulina being on her maternity leave (Paulina and her husband recently welcomed this little bundle of joy into their world), we had the chance to catch up and I decided to learn more about her professional career in finance, and invited her to share her career experience with Cubicle Chic readers.Rapid fire questions â€" what was your 1) college major, 2) your first job, and 3) how many resumes you sent out before you got your first current job? Paulina:   My college major was Management Science (Economics), my first job was a cashier at a water park, I only sent one resume to my old boss as a courtesy because she had already recruited me, and for my current job I sent one resume in to be considered for an open position and received a call back shortly thereafter.When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not?Paulina: When I first graduated, I knew that to be financially secure I would be doing some form of a job like the one I am in today- in the financial services industry, working with finance.Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they? Paulina: I am satisfied where I am in my career, I also feel like starting a family has had me rethink my priorities and requirements in a job. Now I like flexibility (work-life balance), a good workplace culture and great benefits. What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now? Paulina: Mentorship was vital to my success. I had great bosses and mentors who believed in me, but there was one who really invested in me. She recruited me as her assistant when I was a college student and had seen my work ethic when I worked in a bank branch. She mentored me, pushed me to get my securities licenses, went so far to sponsor me in them and opened my eyes to the career track I’m on. I’m currently not mentor ing right now but it is definitely something I would like to pay forward in the future.If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today? These could be lessons you learned from failures, being part of a special project, or pursuing (or not pursuing) a passion you really have.Paulina: I learned very important lessons from failures as they taught me not to repeat the same mistake, one of them being my relationship with credit cards or living outside of my means. Once I paid off every cent of my debt and student loans (which took me 3.5 years) I felt so unburdened and I vowed never to let that happen again. I live within my means, I have a good relationship with money and feel financially secure.Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this? Paulina: In 5 years, my son would be 5 years old, I would hopefully (God willing) have another child and be happy in my full-time career and blogging career. I’m sure blogging will have evolved by then but hope that I can continue utilizing it as a creative outlet.   Professionally, I would like to still be challenged and (for lack of better words) kicking butt!If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience? Paulina: I look into their track record, or some sort of indication of their work ethic, either by checking on their references or if they were referred by a colleague. I think work ethic and attitude is essential especially in positions that don’t require years of experience because there is a lot of continuous learning so a go-getter attitude is better than an experienced whiny worker!Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without? Career design, Corporate Life February 23, 2018 2 CommentsGuys, it’s the return of Career Girl Chat!! It’s been a hot minute since I last interviewed and wrote an episode. The very last career girl we chatted was Jennie Yoon from Casetify and Kinn, and before that, it was Amanda Weiss from Poshmark. And speaking of Poshmark, I actually met today’s Career Girl, Paulina Mo at a local San Diego Poshmark in May of 2015.   Paulina, aka Lil bits of Chic, was one of the local OG fashion bloggers that Poshmark invited to the event, and I was a newbie Poshmarker that wanted to meet other Poshmarkers. We didn’t exactly connect at the event, but I started following Paulina on her Instagram account.Related: Career Girl Chat || From HR Intern to Director of Biz Dev at Casetify â€" How did she do it?! Career Girl Chat || Work hard, stay humble, and be kind. Opportunities will followFast forward to 2018, with me cranking up my blogging efforts and Paulina being on her maternity leave (Pauli na and her husband recently welcomed this little bundle of joy into their world), we had the chance to catch up and I decided to learn more about her professional career in finance, and invited her to share her career experience with Cubicle Chic readers.Rapid fire questions â€" what was your 1) college major, 2) your first job, and 3) how many resumes you sent out before you got your first current job? Paulina:   My college major was Management Science (Economics), my first job was a cashier at a water park, I only sent one resume to my old boss as a courtesy because she had already recruited me, and for my current job I sent one resume in to be considered for an open position and received a call back shortly thereafter.When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not?Paulina: When I first graduated, I knew that to be financially secure I would be doing some form of a job like the one I am in today- in the financial servic es industry, working with finance.Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they? Paulina: I am satisfied where I am in my career, I also feel like starting a family has had me rethink my priorities and requirements in a job. Now I like flexibility (work-life balance), a good workplace culture and great benefits. What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now? Paulina: Mentorship was vital to my success. I had great bosses and mentors who believed in me, but there was one who really invested in me. She recruited me as her assistant when I was a college student and had seen my work ethic when I worked in a bank branch. She mentored me, pushed me to get my securities licenses, went so far to sponsor me in them and opened my eyes to the career track I’m on. I’m currently not mentoring right now but it is definitely something I would lik e to pay forward in the future.If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today? These could be lessons you learned from failures, being part of a special project, or pursuing (or not pursuing) a passion you really have.Paulina: I learned very important lessons from failures as they taught me not to repeat the same mistake, one of them being my relationship with credit cards or living outside of my means. Once I paid off every cent of my debt and student loans (which took me 3.5 years) I felt so unburdened and I vowed never to let that happen again. I live within my means, I have a good relationship with money and feel financially secure.Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this? Paulina: In 5 years, my son would be 5 years old, I would hopefully (God willing) have another child and be happy in my full-time career and blogging career. I’m sure blogging will have evolved by then but hope that I can continue utilizing it as a creative outlet.   Professionally, I would like to still be challenged and (for lack of better words) kicking butt!If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience? Paulina: I look into their track record, or some sort of indication of their work ethic, either by checking on their references or if they were referred by a colleague. I think work ethic and attitude is essential especially in positions that don’t require years of experience because there is a lot of continuous learning so a go-getter attitude is better than an experienced whiny worker!Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?Paulina: My go-to office outfit tends to be a fit and flare dress (that is not short of course) with a fitted blazer. I alternate between high heels and black flats. After working in Corporate America for so long I have discovered that this combination is a comfortable yet stylish option! Career Girl Chat Career Girl Chat || From HR Intern to Director of Biz Dev at Casetify â€" How did she do it?!Career, Career design, Development February 2, 2017 0 CommentsFirst of all, thank you SO much for all of your responses to my last interview with Amanda from Poshmark. I love how some of you asked her more questions and we had more insightful conversation even after the article published. It’s such an incredible honor that I get to chat with these ambitious career women who are doing incredibly challenging but amazing things in their field. I hope to bring you more in the future!This week’s #GirlBoss on Career Girl ChatThe second Career Girl Chat features Jennie Yoon, who heads up US Europe Business Development and Marketing at Casetify, a hip lifestyle brand with a focus on tech. Jennie and I actually went to high school together, and reconnected over a blogger conference last year in the Fall. Jennie’s current role at Casetify revolves around maximizing growth and revenue through new distribution channels and strategic partnerships. Jennie’s totally OG in influencer marketing, and has been doing this for years before influencers were publicly acknowledged as a marketing channel. Casetify’s past collaboration includes celebrity endorsements (Hilary Duff, Snoop Dogg), TV placement (Good Morning America, Today Show) and brand collaboration (American Apparel, Pepsi) to name a few. As one of Casetify’s main strategy drivers, Jennie’s role at Casetify has evolved from digital marketing and story-selling in the beginning, to brand building and strategic marketing to her current role. She describes this job at Casetify and herself as a match made in heaven and it’s clear that every fiber of her is dedicated to the success of Casetify. So, let’s get into the question and find out how this #GirlBoss went from interning at a Law Firm’s HR department to holding this much coveted position at Casetify!Rapid fire questions â€" what was your college major, your f irst job, and how many resumes you sent out before you got your first current job? I majored in Psychology and Human Behavior, had a minor in business. After working for a few years I went back to school and got an MBA from Pepperdine University which was the pivot point that ultimately led me into marketing.My first job was at a law firm, I had an internship in Human Resources. I took the job because I saw the the stability of this career path. With my Asian upbringing, stability and access to climbing the corporate latter was important. HR made sense because it’s relevant to every company across different industries. My boss at the time saw my potential interacting with people and reading people, so I focused on recruiting and built the department from scratch for the next 4 years. I found myself enjoying building something in an unknown environment, and mainly, enjoyed the people I got to work with.Before I landed this job, I probably sent out 10-15 resumes before I got the po sition in the Law Firm in HRâ€"but the time was probably different. My most recent position with Casetify came out of opportunities I got through traveling, networking, and it was such a match made in heaven so everything just came together within a short time (more on that later).1)         When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not? Not at all. I always knew career was important, and I wanted to be part of something where I can make a difference. My mantra is that if you choose something, go all inâ€"if it doesn’t work out, at least you won’t look back because you know you gave it all. People have told me to ‘find my passion’ but honestly, I don’t know what I was doing when I graduated. I just knew whatever I chose, I wanted to get my hands dirty and somewhere along the road, passion is something you figure out as you see more things and experience more things (goodness, I sound old).TIP: Look for role-mode ls, and surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.If you’re in college, do take multiple internships to help find out what you like and don’t like. Study abroad if your school lets you. My realization came a bit later in my life, but I got a chance to study abroad during my MBA program to Hong Kong. Through a few networking events, I found my way to connect with Wes Ng, the Co-Founder and CEO of Casetify. I instantly connected over our common interest: Instagram.   I positioned my talent in content building and my interest in Instagram as help, and offered to just help him out. And the rest was history!2)         Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they? I abso-fucking-lutely love what I do. This is a dream job that anyone could’ve wanted. But this position didn’t just land on my lap â€" I’ve earned it by working hard and pressing on through difficult times. Here is what I think are important for me to be happy in my career:1)           A good mentor. I always talk to people that are more experienced than me. This could be your boss, your boss’s boss, your colleague, or someone outside of your office. If it’s someone outside of your organization, ask for an introduction through your contacts.2)           A good team. In any company (startup or corporate), the work we do is very much a team effort. Everyone has a role to play and they’re the best as a team, in a way, it’s like a football team. You win as a team, never as an individual person.3)           Growth. Personal growth. As long as you’re learning and you have a boss that’s interested in your growth, it’s a good environment.3)         What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now?I have both work mentors and life mentors. Work mentors have always been my direct boss (maybe I got lucky with my bosses haha), and I ha ve some in the industry that I’ve asked my friends to connect me with. In terms of people I mentor, I welcome with open arms to anyone who wants to chat.4)         If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today? These could be lessons you learned from failures, being part of a special project, or pursuing (or not pursuing) a passion you really have. Travel. Traveling exposes you to see things you’re not necessarily comfortable with. It’s very true in business that you won’t find growth in comfort zones. Traveling forces you to meet people that are not like you and don’t operate like you.As an extension of the same point, do things that are foreign to you, like going to networking events. Talk to people you don’t know. You just don’t know what opportunities will come from a contact you made, a trip you took, or a conversation you had because you stepped out of your comfort zone.5)         Now t he dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this? I’ve never loved this question because so much can change in just a year. I’ve never thought in million years I’d be where I am today. Professionally, I’m confident that Casetify will be a huge brand, and I hope to continue to grow with it. Running my own company doesn’t sound too shabby either. I also do hope that I can be a great role model and a mentor to people and pay forward the fortune I’ve been blessed with here at Casetify.6)         If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience? Their attitude. It’s one of those things that a good leader can sense right away. I prefer to hire people with willingness to learn, and someone who is genuinely excited about the brand, rather than a know-it-all. Many times, the technical skills are trainable, but the attitude isn’t. Secondly, I’d see if you’ve done your homework. In order for you to stand out, make sure you’re prepared, including doing some stalking work around the company and the people you’ll be meeting with. And lastly, don’t forget the thank you note after the interview. It’s a good way to be on top of the recruiter’s inbox, and to be reminded of who you are.7)         Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without? Career, Career design, Development February 2, 2017 0 CommentsFirst of all, thank you SO much for all of your responses to my last interview with Amanda from Poshmark. I love how some of you asked her more questions and we had more insightful conversation even after the article published. It’s such an incredible honor that I get to chat with these ambitious career women who are doing incredibly challenging but amazing things in their field. I hope to bring you more in the future!This week’s #GirlBoss on Career Girl ChatThe second Career Girl Chat features Jennie Yoon, who heads up US Europe Business Development and Marketing at Casetify, a hip lifestyle brand with a focus on tech. Jennie and I actually went to high school together, and reconnected over a blogger conference last year in the Fall. Jennie’s current role at Casetify revolves around maximizing growth and revenue through new distribution channels and strategic partnerships. Jennie’s totally OG in influencer market ing, and has been doing this for years before influencers were publicly acknowledged as a marketing channel. Casetify’s past collaboration includes celebrity endorsements (Hilary Duff, Snoop Dogg), TV placement (Good Morning America, Today Show) and brand collaboration (American Apparel, Pepsi) to name a few. As one of Casetify’s main strategy drivers, Jennie’s role at Casetify has evolved from digital marketing and story-selling in the beginning, to brand building and strategic marketing to her current role. She describes this job at Casetify and herself as a match made in heaven and it’s clear that every fiber of her is dedicated to the success of Casetify. So, let’s get into the question and find out how this #GirlBoss went from interning at a Law Firm’s HR department to holding this much coveted position at Casetify!Rapid fire questions â€" what was your college major, your first job, and how many resumes you sent out before you got your first current job? I majored in Psychology and Human Behavior, had a minor in business. After working for a few years I went back to school and got an MBA from Pepperdine University which was the pivot point that ultimately led me into marketing.My first job was at a law firm, I had an internship in Human Resources. I took the job because I saw the the stability of this career path. With my Asian upbringing, stability and access to climbing the corporate latter was important. HR made sense because it’s relevant to every company across different industries. My boss at the time saw my potential interacting with people and reading people, so I focused on recruiting and built the department from scratch for the next 4 years. I found myself enjoying building something in an unknown environment, and mainly, enjoyed the people I got to work with.Before I landed this job, I probably sent out 10-15 resumes before I got the position in the Law Firm in HRâ€"but the time was probably different. My most recent position w ith Casetify came out of opportunities I got through traveling, networking, and it was such a match made in heaven so everything just came together within a short time (more on that later).1)         When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not? Not at all. I always knew career was important, and I wanted to be part of something where I can make a difference. My mantra is that if you choose something, go all inâ€"if it doesn’t work out, at least you won’t look back because you know you gave it all. People have told me to ‘find my passion’ but honestly, I don’t know what I was doing when I graduated. I just knew whatever I chose, I wanted to get my hands dirty and somewhere along the road, passion is something you figure out as you see more things and experience more things (goodness, I sound old).TIP: Look for role-models, and surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.If you’re in college, do tak e multiple internships to help find out what you like and don’t like. Study abroad if your school lets you. My realization came a bit later in my life, but I got a chance to study abroad during my MBA program to Hong Kong. Through a few networking events, I found my way to connect with Wes Ng, the Co-Founder and CEO of Casetify. I instantly connected over our common interest: Instagram.   I positioned my talent in content building and my interest in Instagram as help, and offered to just help him out. And the rest was history!2)         Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they? I abso-fucking-lutely love what I do. This is a dream job that anyone could’ve wanted. But this position didn’t just land on my lap â€" I’ve earned it by working hard and pressing on through difficult times. Here is what I think are important for me to be happy in my career:1)           A good mentor. I always talk to people that are more experienced than me. This could be your boss, your boss’s boss, your colleague, or someone outside of your office. If it’s someone outside of your organization, ask for an introduction through your contacts.2)           A good team. In any company (startup or corporate), the work we do is very much a team effort. Everyone has a role to play and they’re the best as a team, in a way, it’s like a football team. You win as a team, never as an individual person.3)           Growth. Personal growth. As long as you’re learning and you have a boss that’s interested in your growth, it’s a good environment.3)         What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now?I have both work mentors and life mentors. Work mentors have always been my direct boss (maybe I got lucky with my bosses haha), and I have some in the industry that I’ve asked my friends to connect me with. In terms of people I mentor, I welcome with open arms to anyone who wants to chat.4)         If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today? These could be lessons you learned from failures, being part of a special project, or pursuing (or not pursuing) a passion you really have. Travel. Traveling exposes you to see things you’re not necessarily comfortable with. It’s very true in business that you won’t find growth in comfort zones. Traveling forces you to meet people that are not like you and don’t operate like you.As an extension of the same point, do things that are foreign to you, like going to networking events. Talk to people you don’t know. You just don’t know what opportunities will come from a contact you made, a trip you took, or a conversation you had because you stepped out of your comfort zone.5)         Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this? I’ve never loved this question because so much can change in just a year. I’ve never thought in million years I’d be where I am today. Professionally, I’m confident that Casetify will be a huge brand, and I hope to continue to grow with it. Running my own company doesn’t sound too shabby either. I also do hope that I can be a great role model and a mentor to people and pay forward the fortune I’ve been blessed with here at Casetify.6)         If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience? Their attitude. It’s one of those things that a good leader can sense right away. I prefer to hire people with willingness to learn, and someone who is genuinely excited about the brand, rather than a know-it-all. Many times, the technical skills are trainable, but the attitude isn’t. Secondly, I’d see if you’ve done your homework. In order for you to stand out, make sure you’re prepared, including doing some stalking work around the company and the people you’ll be meeting with. And lastly, don’t forget the thank you note after the interview. It’s a good way to be on top of the recruiter’s inbox, and to be reminded of who you are.7)         Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?My wardrobe is a lot of black, white and tan. Tech founders like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg wear outfits that almost look like uniforms. I’ve read that they stick to a standardized outfit so they don’t have to spend time thinking about what to wear. My go-to office outfit is all black ensemble â€" black jeans with black top. One piece of clothing that I can’t live without would be my black jeans.One thing I’ve learned is that you can never be overdressed for a work meeting and you don’t get a second shot at first impressions. Just because we’re in the start-up world doesn’t mean we can be sloppy. So develop a routine and minimize the time spent in putting things together.All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse Career Girl Chat Career Girl Chat || Work hard, stay humble, and be kind. Opportunities will follow. Career, Career design, Development January 13, 2017 0 CommentsHi you! Thank you for tuning in from your busy schedule. I promise you this is a good one!!I’m launching an exciting new series called Career Girl Chat on Cubicle Chic (# CGCCC, possibly??), where I interview #GirlBoss who are passionate about their career and love what they do. Together, we’ll probe them with challenging questions and get them to spill the secret ingredient to their career success!First #GirlBoss On Career Girl ChatThis week, I’m taking you guys with me to peer into the career profile of the one and only Amanda Weiss (@theamandaweiss), Marketing Manager at Poshmark. If you’ve interacted with Poshmark in any way, shape or form on digital media (like their hilarious Facebook page), you’ve probably seen Amanda’s work. She heads up Poshmark’s social media and brand marketing team which includes influencer marketing, events and community management. She’s even Emcee’d at the annual PoshFest c onference four years in a row, if you can believe it. Yes, it’s no secret that she’s devoted to a very demanding job that blurs the line between work and personal time. Yet, if you’ve met her at Poshmark events, read her quirky and cheeky Tweets, or seen those high energy/fast pace Facebook Trend Report Live videos, it’s clear that she enjoys what she does and is absolutely passionate about it. So how does she do it??? Let’s dive in and find out how she got to where she is today, and if everything’s always been peaches and cream, as one may think.First off, a round of Rapid-Fire Questions â€"What was your 1)         Major in college?2)         First job?3)         Lastly, how many resumes did you send out before you got your first and last job offer? Amanda: I went to FIDM and got an associate degree in Fashion Merchandising/Marketing then went on to get a bachelor degree in business with a focus in marketing. My first job out of school was being a server at a restaurant to pay the bills, but I spent every minute of my down time job searching for a fashion relation position. In my free time I was also working for free at places like LA Fashion Week and steaming clothes and coordinating details at these events. Before I got my first job offer, I sent out at least 10-15 resumes every week. When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not?Amanda: I’ve always wanted to work in “fashion” since I was in high school. But didn’t understand what the industry was like and what it took to work in fashion. For a while I thought I would end up in fashion merchandising and styling because of my experience and degree. But with blogging, social media and all the changes that we’ve seen, the industry is a very different place today. So I had no idea this is where I’d end up. I have just grown and developed and rolled with the punches and using everything to my advantage.Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they?Amanda: I am so passionate about what I do and it’s led me to where I am today. I love Poshmark as a company and also everything that comes with it, the people I work with but also the people I’ve met because of Poshmark. At the same time I think work/life balance is very important, even though I am a workaholic. But for me, what makes me good at what I do is the fact that I love what I do, so a lot of times it doesn’t feel like work. Along the same line, being able to have fun when you work is very important. Fun always makes work easier to do!What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now?Amanda: Generally speaking I am an open book and I let my guard down very easily. As a result, I feel like people really respond to that, so I actually get a lot of people reach out to me about how I got my job, to critique their resume, or chat about their job search process. I am very community oriented, so I love connecting with and helping people.In terms of people that mentor me, at Poshmark I am surrounded by very talented people that are always elevating me. They saw potential in me early on and really value what I do personally and professionally. I’ve been given the chance to shine here so I am very appreciative of that.If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today?Amanda: A turning point in my career was when I was laid off from my last job before Poshmark. I had already accumulated decent amount of experience, and decided to take a chance at another start-up. When they laid of me off, it definitely made me feel lost, especially when they did it right before the holiday that year and I had an apartment and bills to pay. Someone else would probably have been so devastated and just give up. For me, I picked myself back up right away and let this experience fuel me to find the next opportunity that I really deserved. And I did! Because I was familiar with Poshmark, I saw they were looking for a fashion intern â€" and although I was way overqualified for the position, I sent in my resume because I just had a feeling Poshmark was for me and that they were going somewhere and I had to be part of it.Another belief I’ve cultivated over the years is that you’re never too good for a job, and it’s important to pay your dues when you start out. In your career, things don’t get handed to you on a silver platter no matter how many followers you have on Instagram. No matter how much small the task you’re assigned to, if you’re dedicated and give it your all, it will show the kind of person you are and the potential you have.This quote may be a cliché but it is nothing but true: “Work hard, stay humble, and be kind.”Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this?Amanda: I 1000% want to grow the team I’m managing now and at the same time expand the different areas in marketing for Poshmark such as more videos, influencer programs, events, creative content, and all the new digital channels that are out there.Aside from work though, I would like to get to a point where I have a better work/life balance. I want to get to a place where I can also reward myself for all the hard work I’ve put in.Every 6 months I do a review and look back on what my team and I had done, but with all the changes like Insta-stories sometimes it’s hard to predict the future. The point is that a lot of times growth comes from unexpected places and we should embrace the unknown and dive right in!If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience?Amanda: It’s almost funny, but I can spot a good candidate before meetin g them. It’s very important for the candidate to be mindful of the hiring manager’s time and show that they’ve really done the homework to understand their potential employer. Take the cover letter, for example. If 9 out of 10 sentences are about the candidate and nothing about the company, that’s a red flag to me.Think of your cover letter as an opportunity. Even though it’s not always required, it’s an opportunity to show your personality, connect with the person reading it, and that it could let you stand out. Just like on social media where authenticity is key, your cover letter is just the same â€" are you showing who you really are and your true interest in the position/company you’re interviewing for.During the interview process, it’s also very important to have at least 3 solid questions to ask the interviewer because it shows that you really took the time to study the company and understand what the job requires.Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?Amanda: Lucky for me I’ve always worked in the start-up environment so I’ve been able to wear whatever I want. Most of the time it involves something bold, colorful, and makes a statement. Sneakers are the piece that I can’t live without. I re-buy multiple pairs of the same pair of sneakers if I know I would wear a lot. Adidas Superstars and Converse are my go-tos.