A Day as a Remote Operations Manager
Hey, I’m Kayleen, a third year communications student pursuing digital media and content marketing in the non-profit industry. Sadly, I’m graduating this June and leaving my UCA family behind but I will live on through the spirit of our newsletter! ;)
Well, Winter Quarter ended abruptly. I don’t know if it was just me, but I really did not see this coming. First, we’re ordered to work from home, then we’re ordered to stay at home. My internship at a public relations firm is terminated soon after and I am so busy with virtual finals that I don’t have time to strategize what might come next. Picturing my graduation in June with no clear plan made me panic – and the reality that a huge recession was looming had not quite sunken in yet.
Fortunately, I was one of the lucky ones. Once I returned home for the unforeseeable future, I reached out to my network to work out my next steps. All year, I had been working remotely as a digital marketing assistant for a media strategist in New York who I had met at my internship last summer. My role is mainly writing copy for his client’s social media channels, including one of the largest social enterprise nonprofits in the country, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).
After speaking to my supervisor about the realities of the new workforce, working parents splitting their time with child care, and my newly freed-up schedule, he decided to promote me to Operations Manager. Now, I am fully employed taking on projects that his colleagues no longer have time for, and working on several weekly social media campaigns at once. Being immersed in digital media and the non-profit sector has shown me the incredible resilience and creativity that exists around the world and within our local communities. This is definitely a transformative moment for all of us, and it’s up to you to take this universal pause to reflect on what you really want to do. I am so grateful to have even a small part in the national recovery effort, as it has reinforced my enthusiasm for service and my commitment to centering my career around giving back. I’m looking forward to growing within the community development space in order to expand the reach of their mission by bridging the gap between these organizations and the world of digital media.
My day-to-day from home
Working from my dining room table isn’t exactly glamorous, but I do get to contribute to extremely current and innovative marketing projects. My job is to help promote our partnerships with media and business conglomerates like Verizon, Global Citizen, and Sam’s Club to raise funds for small businesses devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaborating on these new multi-channel streaming campaigns has given me a peek into the modern world of digital advertising and consumer engagement. Verizon’s impressive coordination across their media ecosystem has taught me more about the current marketing and media landscape than I ever would have known before. It’s also cool that I can brag about working on campaigns promoting celebrities like Ryan Tedder, Billie Eilish, and Alicia Keys.
Specific projects are issued on a weekly call with a division of the organization, Rural LISC, as well as monthly national conference calls. Still, a majority of the time communication is through email. I am at the bottom of the corporate totem pole, so naturally, I am the last to know when we’re starting a new campaign to announce a partnership or fundraising initiative. There’s a really quick turnaround when they make the announcement and when I have to compile content for a social media tool kit. Being nimble and flexible is key when directions can change very quickly and there are many different levels of review before the package is approved. Learning time management and finding ways to cultivate a consistent working schedule while at home has been part of the challenge of navigating my new role. Since we’re in this predicament for the unforeseeable future, it’s time to lock down your email tone and get efficient with your written communication. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to be straightforward when you don’t understand directions. It saves everyone a lot of time to explain in the beginning, especially when everyone that I work with has a lot more on their plates these days.
The worst part of the job is that LISC and my supervisor are headquartered in New York so my morning routine usually starts with a 7 am wake up to check all the work emails I missed. Since we’re communicating with several different branches and corporate partners there’s definitely pressure to deliver the social media packages to our communications team earlier rather than later which is even earlier for me on the west coast. I have to be proactive in communicating and reaching out to see what my boss may need for the day or for the week. It’s also important that I adopt a stronger attention to detail in my language and approach. With so many different eyes reading my work, I have to keep their perspective and tone in mind and adhere to their company guidelines as well. This new position has given me invaluable exposure to the realities of the remote workplace so I can cultivate the schedule that works for me now. If the WFH trend continues this experience will give me an edge in understanding how to communicate, remain accountable for myself and my work, and continue to develop my professional skills despite being stuck at home. I seriously recommend you all do the same.
Tips
REACH OUT! I claim to be one of the lucky ones, but you can be too, with a thoughtful approach and a little bit of strategy. All I did was connect with someone who was already strongly planted in my professional network, so start from the center of your circle and work your way out. If you’re coming up empty-handed then ask your current connections about three people they know who need help or are still hiring. Our newsletters are full of resources to find remote work or tips to contact professionals for a virtual coffee chat. Everyone is in this difficult time together, and there are so many people who are willing to help you if you just ask.
Turn to your professors or look locally. While you’re stuck at home think about how you can uplift your community and build professional skills while you’re at it. I know nonprofit organizations could definitely use some help right now so if you’re feeling philanthropic check out https://www.catchafire.org/, a skills-based volunteer matching website. Get inspired by a project, do some good, and hone in your skills. Then add it to your portfolio! The point is: now is the time we all kind of have to get creative, and figure out how to carve out a role in this dismal job market.
Turn inward now and figure out what you are looking for in a career. If you’re having difficulty, take the time to talk to different professionals who work in areas you’re passionate about or want to explore more. Putting in the work now to discover what you want to do or where you want to build your skills will be much more beneficial in the long term, especially when there’s a chance the work from home trend is here to stay. CEOs and entrepreneurs have been calling this “the world’s large work-from-home experiment,” – and if everyone starts to catch on that, this could work permanently we might see a total shift in how the workforce operates. While it will allow companies to have a more scattered, diverse workforce it can make it harder for them to find talent outside of their network. That’s why it’s important to have a strong portfolio, resume, and cover letter. We are going to have to learn to carve out our role in this new working world – and that starts with listening to what people need and being able to ask for what you want.