I Landed a Job That Required a Different Skill Set — Here’s How I’m Thriving in It Today

Brooke Girardi doesn’t stray away from a challenge. When she realized the future of marketing was digital, she transitioned her advertising career away from print  with hard work. Now a Sr. Digital Content Specialist at Frontier Communications, Brooke manages Frontier’s Digital Marketing workflow. This means making sure Frontier’s landing pages, banners and emails get in front of the right people to go from creation to implementation. 

Frontier Communications is Hiring! Browse Opportunities. 

In this role, Brooke has continued to look ahead, taking risks and acquiring new skills to take her career to new heights.

We spoke with Brooke about how she landed a job much different than what she studied in school, continues to prioritize personal growth and how she continues to set herself up for success. 

How long have you been in your current role and what were you doing previously? How did you get into Marketing? 

I started my career at News America Marketing as a Pre-Press Coordinator right out of college. I managed the creative workflow and print production process for specific accounts and was later promoted to Sr. Pre-Press Coordinator. 

I saw the growth of digital content accelerating and thought there would be more opportunity than in traditional print. So  I set my eyes on an Associate Digital Producer position. I didn’t have much experience in digital, but I did have the other skills they were asking for, I figured, why not? and applied. 

Although I didn’t get the position the first time around, when a second position opened, they came right to me. As an Associate Digital Producer, I was managing online coupon program set ups. I learned a lot of the skills that help me with my current role at Frontier, like HTML, traffic optimization and approval matrices. I was promoted again but left to take a position at Frontier as a Digital Content Specialist. I’ve been with Frontier a little over three years now and am now a Sr. Digital Content Specialist.

What made you choose to work at Frontier?

When my boyfriend (now fiancé) and I were looking to take the next step in our relationship, I knew I wasn’t where I wanted to be financially and started to job search. Frontiers compensation package allowed me to feel comfortable in taking that next step in my personal life. 

What aspects of the culture at Frontier have made you stay?

It’s the people.  With any job, there are going to be ups and downs but it’s the people here that keeps me around .  I’m with these people more than my family and friends. To me, it’s important to have strong relationships with my colleagues. Luckily, I’ve found that at Frontier. If you can knock on your director’s door to talk about sports (we’re huge Giants fans — Go Giants!), to me, that’s a good feeling. 

I also value the level of trust that my team places in me.  I’m not micromanaged, and my boss trusts me to do my job. She always provides valuable guidance and I feel like I can go to any member on my team to help me with any questions or concerns.

The result is a best in class digital experience for our customers.

I also love the flexibility here. They give you a lot of room to maintain work-life balance. I’m getting married this year and have the support of my boss to be able to get things done outside of work without feeling guilty. 

What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned at Frontier?

I’ve learned a lot. I had never worked on a website prior to this and now I’m on my way to becoming an expert. I’ve learned that if you put yourself out there and keep working hard good things will happen.  

What’s the most unique or interesting aspect of your job or company?

I love the merchandising aspect of my job because I get to speak with people all over the country and in different parts of the business . It allows me to meet other people at Frontier and increase my visibility at the organization. I constantly get the opportunity to let people know who I am and that they can count on me.

What’s something you think most people (perhaps even current employees) don’t know about your company that you think they should? 

I participate in our 401(k) program and love that Frontier contributes on my behalf. Also, the company is always looking for ways to improve. If you have an idea, comment or concern, you can speak freely on it and it will be taken seriously. You might be asked to do some research and provide metrics in order to implement the change, but if you are passionate about your idea, then it shouldn’t be an issue. You never know—you can have the next million-dollar idea so don’t be afraid to share it!

What are you trying to improve on? 

There is always room for improvement across the board. I’m responsible for reporting my merchandising placements, and numbers aren’t always my favorite thing, so I’m trying to get better at using data as a storytelling device. It makes it more actionable for my stakeholders and more interesting for me to work on. I’m also learning how to code more on the side.

What’s the one career move you’ve made that you’re most proud of? 

My favorite career move so far was moving from print production to digital. Making that switch was tough, as there are major differences in the skill set needed to do the job. Learning to use HTML was something I never thought I’d be able to do.  I’m proud to say that now I can edit it without feeling like I’m going to break the entire page or banner creative! 

Who is/was the most influential person in your life and why?

My father. He worked 7 days a week to support me, my mom and my sister and still managed to show up at every sporting event. He values family so much and made sure that he provided a strong support system for us. He is someone I strive to be like: I want to work hard, I want to provide for my family and, in general, I want to be great at my job and make people happy. 

What’s the most memorable piece of career advice you’ve received?

One of my old bosses passed along a quote from Babe Ruth that’s stuck with me: “Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” What it’s really saying is don’t be afraid to apply for that job you don’t feel qualified 100% for. Learn new experiences, try different roles. Don’t let fear stop you from moving forward and becoming the best version of yourself.

What was the best quality of the best boss you’ve ever had?

Feeling supported by your boss and knowing that they truly want you to succeed is most important to me. Providing feedback is also key — it’s ultimately what’s going to help you become more efficient in your role. 

What’s next for you and how has Frontier supported your career growth?

Overall, my goal is to continue to grow and continue to climb the ladder. I would love to become a manager, and who knows, maybe even a Director one day. I feel like Frontier provides me with a boss and team who are supportive of those goals. They see that if I succeed, then that benefits the team and in the end benefits Frontier.

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