In an effort to share the stories of the CareerBuilder employees who are hard at work #BuildingForYou, we continue our employee feature series, from celebrating individuality and lending personal experience to their insight on industry trends and everything in between.
Since joining the team in 2019, Emma has been an invaluable asset to the CareerBuilder marketing team. From establishing lead generation processes to navigating our B2B pandemic response, she has led many team members through every challenge along the way. Continue reading to learn more about Emma's work at CareerBuilder - and what she learned from working behind a deli counter.
How have you grown professionally during your time at CareerBuilder?
When I joined CareerBuilder, I helped build up the demand generation marketing team from ground zero. Contributing to this new function allowed me to work with multiple teams across the organization and taught me how a business operates, while providing me with the necessary vantage point to aid in breaking down silos.
While I started at CareerBuilder as an individual contributor, I now manage a team of five direct reports and oversee our e-commerce channel. While I can attribute a lot of that to my hard work and dedication, I wouldn’t have been able to get to this place without the support and mentorship of the leaders I’ve worked with along the way.
What do you enjoy most about working at CareerBuilder?
What I enjoy most about working at CareerBuilder is being part of a group of strong, powerful and uplifting women. I’ve learned so much from my direct and indirect leaders about business, professionalism, and being a great leader. Even better, they’ve taken the time to nurture my potential and maintain patience while I learn my way around new responsibilities.
What is your favorite project that you have worked on during your time at CareerBuilder?
One of the most challenging, yet rewarding, moments in my career occurred in the first few weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world went into shut-down, CareerBuilder had a huge mountain to climb to get past the increasing unemployment rate and jobs decrease. The way the entire business came together in support of our response to the pandemic was inspiring and a huge testament to what people can do when they come together.
It was not only an honor to contribute to CareerBuilder’s response but a fantastic learning experience for myself. During this time, my business acumen, presentation skills, and leadership skills improved ten-fold.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Be vocal about what you want and prove it. While this wasn’t necessarily direct advice from one person, it is something that I have learned through my career from my own experiences, as well as from my peers. It’s easy to get overlooked for opportunities when you’re not vocal about wanting them. It’s also not enough to say you want it; you also have to prove that you can do it because, after all, “actions speak louder than words.”
What was your first job, and what were your biggest takeaways from the experience?
My first job was behind the deli counter of a Mariano’s. While working there, I learned a lot about my work ethic and uncovered my passion for driving efficiencies through process improvements. I specifically recall a time when I typed a two-page letter to my manager, kindly suggesting improvements to the night- and morning-shift responsibilities that would allow us to save time and money.
Who inspires you and why?
I’ve always been inspired by people who choose to have a positive spirit despite the hardships in their lives. It’s a testament to being grateful for the small things that life gives us, which is something to always strive to achieve.
Where is your favorite place in the world?
There’s this eco-park in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico called Xcaret; it is where I go to in my mind when people say, “go to your happy place.” Experiencing a trip around the park’s lazy river is literally like heaven as it weaves in and out of caves, forest, and large “cenotes” or sinkholes. I’ve been thinking about this place a lot during the pandemic.
