3 answers
Ava
Student
Charleston, South Carolina
1
Question
Updated
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How can I use my skills and experiences to accurately find a job that is fitted for me ?
I am a college senior, I am interested in a career in creative media communication and or publishing, I want to find a job I genuinely enjoy pursuing. I am moving in Chicago after graduation and planning on finding a position in the city. I have marketing intership experience for small business in Charleston area, creative retail sales experience, vice president of inclusion leadership experience, as well as creating a brand for myself through social media platforms such as Pinterest. I have a wide range of skills and can dive deeper based on positions I am looking into.
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3 answers
Johnson Tran
Tutor
93
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Johnson’s Answer
Hi Ava,
You are in a stronger position than you may feel. Read your own paragraph back: marketing internships, retail with a creative angle, leadership as VP of inclusion, and a self-built social brand. That is not a scattered resume, that is a candidate for marketing, communications, and audience-facing roles in exactly the creative media space you named.
To find a job that genuinely fits, I would work in this order. First, name the day-to-day you want, not just the field: "creative media" can mean ad agency account work, social media management, editorial or publishing, brand marketing, or content strategy, and they feel very different week to week. Which energizes you more, making content or coordinating the people who make it? Your answer narrows the search more than any title does.
Second, translate your experiences into outcomes. Instead of listing the internship, write what you grew, launched, or improved, with numbers where you have them. Your Pinterest brand is a real asset here: it shows you understand what makes content travel, which is precisely what Chicago media and publishing employers want to hear.
Third, search where you are going. Start building your Chicago network now: follow Chicago publishing houses, agencies, and media companies, join their talent pools, and message alumni from your college who work there; a 15-minute informational chat beats a cold application almost every time. Targeting the city you are already moving to is a genuine advantage, so lean into it.
Warm regards,
Johnson Tran
Math Tutor / Educator
This week, write down the 3 day-to-day activities you most enjoy from past experience, then search Chicago job boards for roles built around those activities and shortlist 10 positions to tailor applications toward.
You are in a stronger position than you may feel. Read your own paragraph back: marketing internships, retail with a creative angle, leadership as VP of inclusion, and a self-built social brand. That is not a scattered resume, that is a candidate for marketing, communications, and audience-facing roles in exactly the creative media space you named.
To find a job that genuinely fits, I would work in this order. First, name the day-to-day you want, not just the field: "creative media" can mean ad agency account work, social media management, editorial or publishing, brand marketing, or content strategy, and they feel very different week to week. Which energizes you more, making content or coordinating the people who make it? Your answer narrows the search more than any title does.
Second, translate your experiences into outcomes. Instead of listing the internship, write what you grew, launched, or improved, with numbers where you have them. Your Pinterest brand is a real asset here: it shows you understand what makes content travel, which is precisely what Chicago media and publishing employers want to hear.
Third, search where you are going. Start building your Chicago network now: follow Chicago publishing houses, agencies, and media companies, join their talent pools, and message alumni from your college who work there; a 15-minute informational chat beats a cold application almost every time. Targeting the city you are already moving to is a genuine advantage, so lean into it.
Warm regards,
Johnson Tran
Math Tutor / Educator
Johnson recommends the following next steps:
Maureen Benway, PHR, SHRM-SCP
Human Resources
5
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Maureen’s Answer
Hi Ava,
It sounds like you already have a useful mix of experience! To find roles that fit, start by looking for the common thread in what work you've enjoyed the most: writing, design, social media, storytelling, research, or helpings organizations communicate. Then search for a few related job titles -- such as communications assistant, social media coordinator, editorial assistant, or marketing coordinator -- then compare the day-to-day responsibilities, not just the titles. your college career center, professors, internship advisors, and alumni network can also help you review your resume and portfolio and share their thoughts on what roles your experience matches.
Once you have it narrowed down, try talking with people who do this work. Ask for a short "informational conversation" over coffee, either in person or virtually. You can find many professionals on sites like LinkedIn that will give you 15-30 minutes at no charge. You could say, "I'm a college senior exploring creative media and publishing. Would you have 15minutes to tel me how ou got started and what your work is like?" Ask what skills matter, what their typical weeks are like, what they'd recommend to you. you're learning about them and their work, not asking for a job, so the tone is casual, no pressure!
You can also use free AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to brainstorm job titles, compare job postings with your experience, improve your resume, and even practice interview questions. Give the AI tool your actual work experience, and ask it to suggest options. Share some of your portfolio examples from social media, writing, a brand project, your internship work -- and AI can see what kind of work you'd enjoy and help you show employers what you can do!
It sounds like you already have a useful mix of experience! To find roles that fit, start by looking for the common thread in what work you've enjoyed the most: writing, design, social media, storytelling, research, or helpings organizations communicate. Then search for a few related job titles -- such as communications assistant, social media coordinator, editorial assistant, or marketing coordinator -- then compare the day-to-day responsibilities, not just the titles. your college career center, professors, internship advisors, and alumni network can also help you review your resume and portfolio and share their thoughts on what roles your experience matches.
Once you have it narrowed down, try talking with people who do this work. Ask for a short "informational conversation" over coffee, either in person or virtually. You can find many professionals on sites like LinkedIn that will give you 15-30 minutes at no charge. You could say, "I'm a college senior exploring creative media and publishing. Would you have 15minutes to tel me how ou got started and what your work is like?" Ask what skills matter, what their typical weeks are like, what they'd recommend to you. you're learning about them and their work, not asking for a job, so the tone is casual, no pressure!
You can also use free AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to brainstorm job titles, compare job postings with your experience, improve your resume, and even practice interview questions. Give the AI tool your actual work experience, and ask it to suggest options. Share some of your portfolio examples from social media, writing, a brand project, your internship work -- and AI can see what kind of work you'd enjoy and help you show employers what you can do!
Shana Ravnsborg
4
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Shana’s Answer
Great answer from Johnson. I would also add that often what a job is on day one and what it becomes in a year can be wildly different. Trying to find a perfect fit, especially early in your career, can be challenging. What you want is still forming, what businesses genuinely need may not perfectly align with your interests, and in today's world, it is all guaranteed to keep changing. So, lean into the work you like, look for a good fit to start, especially some place that you think will teach you a lot and provide a variety of opportunities. And then communicate with your manager over time about what parts of the work you are most interested in and are most exciting for you. A good manager will keep that in mind and morph the job to your strengths and interests over time. And be open to being surprised. What you think you want today may well be different in a year.