One Year Later: 5 Career Lessons Every New Graduate Should Know

It’s hard to believe that a full year has passed since I joined EvolveMKD as a recent graduate, eager to begin my career through EMKD’s fellowship program. Over these past 12 months, from fellow to Account Executive, I’ve experienced countless learning opportunities, celebrated milestones, and navigated challenges that have shaped me both professionally and personally. As my one-year anniversary coincides with the arrival of a new class of fellows, just as eager and ready to prove themselves, I’m reflecting on the lessons this year has taught me and everything I’m still excited to learn. 

1. Graduation is only the start of your education

While my marketing degree gave me a strong foundation, I quickly realized that our industry evolves much faster than any curriculum can keep up. The biggest lesson college taught me wasn’t specific marketing tactics, it was how to adapt, stay curious, and embrace learning. A college class won’t teach you how to navigate the nuances of a client’s core claims or perfectly format a meeting agenda (it’s more specific than you might think), but approaching every task with a willingness to learn will take you much further.

2. Ask the question! 

When I first got to EvolveMKD, it felt like everyone was speaking a different language. MLRC, SON, AFD, OPDP….I had no clue what they meant. Like any industry, pharma marketing has its own shorthand, and learning it was about more than keeping up, it was about communicating clearly and understanding critical processes. More than learning the language, the acronyms taught me not to be afraid to ask questions. I realized everyone has been in my shoes and is happy to help. Now, I catch myself using this once-foreign language with the new fellows before remembering how unfamiliar it once was, and my biggest advice to them is to ask questions and keep running lists of learnings and feedback they’ve received. 

3. Get comfortable with feedback

One of the biggest shifts from college to agency life is how frequently feedback comes, and how quickly you’re expected to apply it. At first, it felt overwhelming, but I’ve learned that feedback is one of the fastest ways to grow. Whether it’s refining an email, adjusting an asset, or rethinking an approach entirely, every comment is an opportunity to improve. Early on, and admittedly, sometimes still, I would overthink every little mistake. I’ve learned that to improve, I need to take feedback objectively, apply it, and move forward with confidence.  

4. You’re never too junior

One of the things that makes EvolveMKD unique is that fellows are encouraged to contribute from day one. Initially, I hesitated to speak up because I lacked experience. What I didn’t realize was that my inexperience was actually an asset as I brought a new perspective shaped by the media I consumed every day. Whether it was pitching a social media trend or weighing in on influencer recommendations, I learned that my perspective had value, and that speaking up would only help in building my confidence.

5. Learn from everyone around you

One of the biggest surprises of agency life was realizing how much learning happens outside formal training. I’ve learned so much by watching my managers discuss influencer recommendations, listening to the PR team position a new opportunity, or overhearing conversations of challenges on accounts I’m not even on. Some of the greatest growth comes from observing how others communicate, solve problems, and build relationships. It was not until writing this that I realized just how much my tone and perspective have been shaped by listening to my team, and I encourage anyone starting their first post-grad job to listen and absorb as much as they can.  

Looking back, this year has been filled with far more than I could have imagined on my first day. Every challenge, question, and piece of feedback has helped shape the professional I’m becoming. While I’m proud of how far I’ve come, I know there is still so much to learn. Lucky for me, I’m surrounded by the best possible mentors to help me do it. As a new class of fellows begins their own journey, I’m reminded of how foreign all of this once felt. Now, I’m excited to be the person reassuring them that it will all start to click.