Hi 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 Chat
This 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 conference 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 –
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 – 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 meeting 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 – 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.
