Back in November 2024, most of my team at a small media company — myself included — were unexpectedly laid off from our roles. It was completely out of the blue, and many of us were left speechless by what had unfolded. I found myself in a completely unknown situation, not knowing what to do next.

Turning to LinkedIn, I started applying for as many marketing roles as I could find that matched my background experience. The job hunt truly felt like a full-time job because of how time-consuming it was. Hundreds of applications turned into a few seemingly promising interviews… only to be ghosted.

One December morning, while having breakfast at Bagel Boy with my family, I was expressing my concerns and frustrations. In the middle of our conversation, a random woman nearby (later revealed to me as Sarah Carnes) politely chimed in to give her insights on the predicament I was explaining. The encouragement she gave me left a lasting impression!

She then informed us that she was the CEO of a marketing agency in Sioux Falls and that I should send over my resume since she knew I was looking for a new job.

As soon as I got home that day, I emailed her my resume. In the meantime, I didn’t stop applying for other jobs, but I was hopeful something would come from this unexpected exchange. 

About a month later, I heard back from Sarah, and she informed me of an opening at 9 Clouds for a Digital Strategist. I read the job description and knew it would be an ideal fit for my skillset. After some interviews and a blog writing test, I was offered the role, and here I am!

Adjusting to a New Marketing Team

On my first day, I quickly learned just how organized 9 Clouds is.

9 Clouds uses a project management tool called Basecamp, where they keep track of everything from project details and client information to internal notes and deadlines. I had never worked at a company that was so organized! I greatly appreciate this because all of my work expectations are clearly laid out in Basecamp.

Of course, this was quite the adjustment from my previous roles, where I was left to figure things out on my own each day. At 9 Clouds, I know exactly what I need to do every day. There is a plan and reason behind everything. 

If I have questions about something in Basecamp or another platform, everyone on the team is happy to help. It’s nice to feel supported, especially in a new work environment. 

Getting used to how a company operates takes time, but I’m confident that I’ll get into the swing of things in no time.

Learning More About Digital Marketing

My background is in digital marketing, specifically content creation (like videos, infographics, and blogs) and social media marketing. However, there are multiple areas of digital marketing that I want to learn more about, including email marketing, SEO (search engine optimization), SEM (search engine marketing) and advertising.

Digital Strategists at 9 Clouds have different digital marketing specialties. I haven’t been assigned my specialty yet (that happens in one year), but I’m looking forward to learning more about these areas of digital marketing so I can become a well-rounded marketer.

9 Clouds fosters learning and mentorship, which were important factors I was looking for in a future employer. I’m glad I’ll be able to learn a lot on the job about this ever-evolving field!

Growing in My Career as a Digital Strategist

My first week at 9 Clouds felt like I was at summer camp: getting used to a new setting, meeting new people and learning what my day-to-day will look like as a Digital Strategist.

When looking for a new job, I knew I wanted to be somewhere where I could continually learn and grow in my career. I believe 9 Clouds offers that and more. I’m happy to be here and see where this journey takes me!