Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Macedo.
Hi Maria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am Maria Eduarda, a 25-year-old Brazilian who moved to San Diego almost two years ago.
When I came here, I aimed to get my certificate in the Business Extensions Program with an emphasis in Marketing from UCSD. After graduating from the course, I applied for my work visa and started looking for jobs in my field. I have a degree in advertising and Marketing, and have been working in the field for seven years with several courses and certifications. I thought the search would be easy, but many interviews later, and after tons of “no’s,” I panicked – what was I doing wrong?
The good news is that persistence is one of my best qualities. While working as a nanny, server, cashier, and so many other things (that helped me a lot with my soft skills), I kept looking for a job that fit my career path.
That’s when, in December, a company called Hale Productions—which I already knew and followed on social media—posted a job opening. It’s worth noting that this job opening had nothing to do with my previous experiences in the job market, but I applied anyway. I also took a long shot and sent a direct message to the owner on LinkedIn. As expected, I wasn’t even called for an interview.
A few weeks later, the same company posted another job opening – this one was perfect for me. I was called for an interview and got the job. I like to think that all we need is ONE person who believes in our potential, and that person turned out to be my current boss.
I started working for Hale initially as a social media manager and continued to grow and develop even more in other areas within the company. The insecurity of the language barrier will always be like a little monster waiting to scare me, but knowing how to silence insecurities is just as important as trying to eliminate them.
Moving to a new country without knowing a single person and having English as your second language is not for amateurs. It’s an almost endless test, the need to prove yourself day after day that YES, you deserve to be where you are.
Here in San Diego, I didn’t just suffer trauma from job searching and interviews (lol) – I also built bonds with incredible people and connected with nature and the sports I love. I pushed myself to evolve every single day. I got to know a version of myself that would make Maria from a few years ago very proud.
It takes courage to step out of the familiar, but the magic always awaits outside your comfort zone.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was not smooth at all. It is so scary to start from a foreign place, not knowing anyone, and being far away from the life I used to know. My biggest struggle, which I fight until nowadays, is feeling like I have to be extra in everything that I do to prove to myself and others that I deserve to be where I am.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a social media manager, content creator, and styling assistant. I am known for my creativity – how I tell stories around the content I create for myself and other brands. I love seeing my visions and ideas come to life! I’m very proud of my work, but my most proud achievement is still in “forever development” – constantly pushing myself to improve, learn more, and grow. The characteristic that sets me apart from others is my perseverence and having no fear to hear a “no” as an answer.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
This may sound cheesy, but it is true: your dreams are waiting for you on the other side of fear.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/mariamacedo.dm
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/meduardamacedo
