Career

My Non-Linear Career Timeline

My career has always been a bit...unconventional.

My career has always been a bit... unconventional.

But even when I didn’t know it, my non-linear career path has been leading me to where I am today, targeting digital content design in user experience, learning experience, or content design for social good.

Since 2011, across all these years and different roles, there have been 3 common threads:

Content Design ✦ User / Learner Experience ✦ Social Impact

✦ Content Design

✦ User / Learner Experience

✦ Social Impact

Here’s a closer look:

2004-2010: Teaching

The Job

Paraprofessional Instructor for a variety of high school marching band programs.

The Common Threads

Learning Experience: Developed daily learning experiences, including engaging content, active learning activities, learning technologies, and constructive feedback.

Conducted performance assessments, assisted students to improve performance techniques, and helped lead several groups to top competitive performances.

Social Impact: For me, teaching has always been about the social impact of helping others.

2011-2012: Advertising

The Job

Account Manager for a major American radio broadcaster with local stations, digital media, and national content.

The Common Threads

Content Design: I was always more interested in (and skilled at) creating the content for a sales meeting than I was in the meeting itself. And I envied the Sales Assistant, who would help create visual and written content for the more senior reps.

User Experience: Developing sales pitches and ads for clients involved heavy user research and user experience design.

Social Impact: I always gravitated toward the smaller, local, purpose-driven business.

2012-2015: College Career Services

The Job

Career Center Director / Advisor for 3 consecutive proprietary colleges, managing portfolios of up to 170 clients.

The Common Threads

Content Design: This was a huge part of this role. I developed branding/marketing content for students, educational content for students and local employers, and marketing content for the department.

User Experience: In these roles, UX was largely about creating engaging learning experiences for students, and balancing that with focusing on the needs and experience of local employers in all messaging, content, and processes.

Social Impact: My career started in teaching which, for me, has always been about the social impact of helping others. This role let me get back closer to that.

2015-2022: Career Coach / Resume Writer

The Job

Multi-certified resume writer and career transition coach for 100+ clients annually.

The Common Threads

Content Design: It was almost everything in this role. I developed branding/marketing content for clients, educational content and resources for clients, and consistent, high-volume, high-quality marketing content for the business.

User Experience: This was the rest. I ‘wore all the hats’, which meant building a website, developing website and social media strategy, and creating marketing, advertising, and promotions.

Social Impact: I provided pro bono and volunteer services and used my growing social platform to consistently advocate for people and causes.

2022-2023: Content & Creative Strategist

The Job

Director / Content Creator / Digital Content & Marketing Strategist for an RVer-focused job board.

The Common Threads

Content Design: Again, content design (along with strategic planning) was the main focus of this role. I created digital marketing content and educational resources for several very different audiences.

User Experience: I developed website strategy for those audiences, as well as and content marketing strategy for rebranding and expansion into a new market.

Social Impact: I developed and presented multiple free educational seminars and workshops to help empower job seekers.

2023-Present: Digital Content Designer

The Job

Job seeker actively developing skills through education and personal projects (like this portfolio).

The Common Threads

Content Design: Since October 2023, I’ve been focused exclusively on building skills in user experience, graphic design, motion & video, and WordPress, as well as developing a deeper understanding of social impact work.

User Experience: I developed this portfolio website with a heavy UX focus.

Social Impact: I completed an Ivy League Executive Program in Digital Media for Social Impact. I’ve also been analyzing case studies from social impact agencies and, in my personal time, donating time and money to causes that are important to me.

Recent Key Achievements

Drove 35% average growth YoY for 3 years as content development leader.
Publicly recognized and top-ranked for high-quality content marketing.
Ivy League Executive Program in Digital Media for Social Impact.
Multi-certified digital marketer and content creator.

Relevant Skills

Hard Skills

Graphic & Motion Design
Brand Building
Digital Marketing
User Experience Design
Wireframing & Mockups
WordPress Web Design
Content & Copy Writing
Instructional Design
Training & Development

Soft Skills

Creativity
Communication
Emotional Intelligence
Empathy
Problem Solving
Relationship Management
Teamwork
Adaptability
Resourcefulness

Focuses & Passions

Social Impact
Advocacy
Empowering Others
Helping & Teaching
Igniting Change
Making a Difference
Creating & Ideating
Continuous Learning
Transparency & Accountability

My eclectic background has made me well-matched for roles that require a people-focused approach, a do-gooder attitude, and a stubborn determination to succeed.

I’m deeply interested in organizations that make a difference, inspire people to take meaningful actions, and work toward a more kind and equitable world.

Wanna know more?

Accolades

No matter what role I was in, I was recognized for quality content and trusted by superiors, industry leaders, colleagues, clients, and audiences. Below are some examples.