Cue the Pomp and Circumstance and get ready to toss your caps — it’s graduation season. Whether you’re set to start your new career immediately or you’re taking time to explore your options, our TrendyMinds pros have some advice to share about professional development, continued education, and personal growth. Plus, anything else they’ve learned along the way. Professional Immersion How did you start your professional career? Camry Randolph, Paid Media Specialist As someone who earned a degree in something unrelated to my current career, I feel like I can speak to the true power of internships. These opportunities allowed me to learn by doing, with professionals mentoring me and providing me with a foundational knowledge of marketing. Internships give you a real taste of what the day-to-day work life will be like — not to mention a plethora of networking opportunities and industry insights that can help you decide your future career path. Gabe Bain, Marketing Director Internships are great, but maybe not for the reason you’re thinking. Often, we think of internships as a way to help us attain the real job we want, but even more so, they help you develop a better understanding of real-life work culture. My internships definitely helped me hone my skills, but the big takeaway is that they taught me how to work with others in a real-world environment. Doug Everidge, Vice President, Pharma I was actually a chemical engineer at the beginning of my career, and I had no idea that I would end up in marketing. In my internships, I learned I enjoyed being part of teams involved in making strategic business decisions rather than just performing scientific calculations on my own. I think it’s really energizing to see how you can leverage skills you learned in one area and apply them to new industries and interests. What’s Trending? Where do you get your industry insights? Meredith Jenkins, Head of Talent To keep up locally, I enjoy reading about business in my community, so the Indiana Business Journal is a daily read. For a larger industry focus, I keep up with AdWeek and Forbes. I also enjoy Hubspot blogs for topics on everything from sales to remote working. Hector Perez, EditorI always look to new creations from my industry. I’m personally inspired by the many movies that I watch — whether they’re classic films or the hottest new thing. The new film, Everything Everywhere All At Once, has some of the most interesting and chaotic editing I've seen in a long time. Mariam Aziz, Designer Trends come and go, but your designs should be timeless. All graphic designers use social media and other platforms for inspiration and guidance, but it’s important to make sure you’re providing work that serves a purpose. Personal Growth How should you invest in yourself? Camry Randolph, Paid Media SpecialistI think work ethic and passion are vital to having a fulfilling, successful career in any field. If you’re going to spend the majority of your life doing something, be sure to make it something you enjoy. Hector Perez, Editor I don’t believe that work is everything; your mental health and goals outside of work should also be a priority. Finding what you’re passionate about and enjoying life as much as you’re able is the best way to find inspiration and grow as a creative person. Working on being your best self outside of work will directly help you in achieving your goals within your professional career. Gabe Bain, Marketing DirectorYou’re going to make mistakes in your first job — and really, in any job. Push yourself to be uncomfortable and keep learning new skills. You may find that what you really enjoy is something you’re not quite ready for yet, and that’s okay. Because once you get to a place where you can develop into a role, your career will become so much more fulfilling.Nuggets of Inspiration Do you have any final pieces of advice? Doug Everidge, Vice President, Pharma Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I would much rather have someone asking good questions along the way than to have them silently wondering about something; it usually leads to good dialogue that benefits the whole group. Meredith Jenkins, Head of Talent Remember to always be flexible, but stay true to who you are. Have a willingness to learn new ways of doing things, and don’t be content with complacency. And always lead with empathy. Mariam Aziz, Designer Take every chance you can get. Community and connections are key; they have helped me get internships, jobs, freelance work, and even good friends. To see a list of our current job openings, click here.