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How can a high school senior who is going to major in marketing and sales, while working over 25 hours a week, use that situation to actually build a competitive advantage rather than fall behind?

How can a high school senior who is going to major in marketing and sales, while working over 25 hours a week, use that situation to actually build a competitive advantage rather than fall behind?
Most advice I see focuses on internships and traditional experience, but I’m curious what professionals in the field think - what non-obvious skills, habits, or opportunities actually help students stand out early in marketing and sales careers?
What have you seen in real hiring or career paths that separates students who just “do activities” from those who build real momentum and stand out long-term?
I’m trying to be intentional with limited time and would really value insight from people who’ve seen what actually works in the field.

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Nicole’s Answer

Explore Salesforce Trailhead, a free online learning platform that uses games to teach tech, business, and Salesforce skills. It offers interactive lessons and practice environments to help users learn everything from basic CRM tasks to using AI agents.

Trailhead provides structured learning paths called Trails, which are tailored to specific roles like Administrator, Developer, Marketer, or Sales Rep. Users can engage in hands-on challenges using "Trailhead Playgrounds," safe spaces to practice without risking real data.

As you progress, you earn points and digital badges, which help you level up your "Trailblazer Rank" on your profile. All resources, including modules and practice areas, are completely free.

Trailhead also offers career paths, guiding users into new tech careers with resources to prepare for Salesforce Certification exams. It features Superbadges, which are advanced challenges that test your skills in real-world scenarios. Adding Trailhead badges to your resume can enhance your job prospects.
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Larry’s Answer

Hi Mason,
I think you are ahead of the game just by work experience before going to college. During college, you will have a ton of opportunity to get experience that will help you land that first job out of school. I would recommend that you incorporate AI into anything you do moving forward. AI is crucial to all marketing and sales positions today. I heard someone say something that was spot on the other day regarding AI - "AI might not take your job but someone that is familiar with AI and using will." Good luck to you.
Larry
Thank you comment icon I appreciate your response. Thank you for your input! Mason
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Alan’s Answer

Take notes as you go, build a portfolio. You will get interview questions like "tell me a time when...." So each time you overcome a big challenge, drive change, coach/mentor, give/receive feedback - write it down. That is valuable experience that so many of your peers won't have, and will be a big edge in future interviews.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for the advice. Mason
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Tyrone’s Answer

You're on a great path to building the skills you need for success in marketing and sales. Your experiences and how you connect them to job opportunities are key.

To boost your progress, focus on soft skills like communication and empathy. These will help you understand others' needs and concerns, giving you the insights needed for mutual success.

Remember to look beyond immediate needs and aim for the bigger picture. Think about the ideal outcome for your clients and how you can work together to achieve it.
Thank you comment icon I appreciate the great insight. Mason
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HK’s Answer

Recognize the value of your work experience and do not dismiss it as "just" a part-time or minor role. The impact of your work is shaped by how you show up, take ownerships of your tasks, look for opportunities, contribute to ideas, and being intentional about value adding. Treat each experience as an opportunity to develop your skills and show what you are capable of.

Make sure to include these into your resume - Turn your basic tasks into impact.
Example - Instead of "managing administrative tasks", you can mention how you "streamlined routine processes, reduced manual efforts, and improved workflow efficiencies".
Thank you comment icon Thank you, HK! Mason
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Helga’s Answer

Make your job work for you, not against you. Use what you do every day to build a strong portfolio. Show real examples from your work, like sales successes, customer talks, and important lessons. Keep track of your journey by noting down your wins, achievements, and even setbacks. What counts is what you learn from each experience. This will give you real-world proof of your skills and growth, while others may only have ideas.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for the advice. Mason
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Jeff’s Answer

As a manager who has hired sales folks in the past, some of the things I’ve looked for in resumes aside from simple education and job work would be:
- does the experience show someone who takes initiative ( extra projects and achievements).
- has the person been promoted and or been given additional responsibility in whatever job experience they had.
- has the person looked for jobs and or projects that show a willingness to interact regularly with people.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for the advice, Jeff. Mason
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Dany’s Answer

Hey there,
I know it is tough. Think in Star Wars terms. Your time management skills is the FORCE in you.

Working 25+ hours a week can be a competitive advantage if you’re intentional about it.
From real hiring experience, students who stand out don’t just list activities—they turn work into proof of skill. Even non‑marketing jobs build valuable abilities: communication, handling objections, prioritization, accountability, and problem‑solving under pressure. Those matter a lot in marketing and sales—and they’re hard to teach.
What separates top early‑career candidates is:

Clear communication (writing, explaining ideas simply)
Concrete examples of impact (“Here’s what I improved”)
Strong time management and follow‑through.

This for me is key and has helped me a lot.
Best of luck!

Limited time forces focus. If you choose experiences that build real skills, tell strong stories about them, and stay consistent, employers will see maturity and momentum—not a resume gap.
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Kiley’s Answer

The students who stand out aren't usually the ones with the longest list of activities—they're the ones who can point to real-life experiences & tell a cohesive story that applicable to the roles they are applying. . Use your work experience to practice problem-solving, dealing with adversity, time management & hard work and start to create stories around that. In hiring, I've seen employers gravitate toward candidates who can tell stories about what they accomplished and learned in real business environments, because those skills often translate more directly to succes.
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