Guest Column: Planning to Build a Sustainable Career

Ari Solomon is a paid search manager for media agency WPP Media, working with enterprise ecommerce clients to drive revenue and site traffic as efficiently as possible while continually growing their brands. Ari lives in New York and spoke with Relevant Resume about his path toward a management role.

Finding the right career path is rarely a straight line, and my own journey has been shaped by curiosity, exploration, and a growing appreciation for data-driven decisionmaking.

Ari Solomon doing one of his favorite activities: going to a baseball game.

I was initially drawn to marketing because I found consumer behavior fascinating. Understanding why people purchase what they do felt like a blend of psychology and strategy. As I explored the field further, I discovered that paid search stood out to me in a unique way. It allowed me to apply marketing logic in real time, using data to guide decisions and measure success almost immediately. That instant feedback loop was energizing, and I enjoyed being able to clearly connect my work to numerical outcomes. The constantly evolving nature of paid search—with new products, features, and tests—also keeps the work engaging and ensures that no two days feel the same.

The Joys of Managing Staff and Clients

As my career progressed, my role evolved beyond execution and into leadership, which has become one of the most rewarding aspects. Being in a management position has given me the opportunity to support the growth and development of the associates I work with. Earlier in my career, I was fortunate to have patient leaders who saw my potential and invested time in helping me improve. I take pride in paying that forward by fostering an environment where learning is encouraged and mistakes are treated as opportunities to grow. Helping others build confidence, develop their skills, and move forward in their careers is incredibly fulfilling.

Alongside people management, my role also positions me as a subject matter expert for clients. I enjoy using data to develop thoughtful, strategic solutions to their digital advertising challenges. Being trusted to guide decisionmaking and drive results is empowering, but it also comes with challenges. Clients have access to the same data that I do, which can lead to multiple interpretations of performance and next steps. Metrics can support different narratives, and it’s not uncommon for debates to arise about which path forward makes the most sense. The challenge lies in devising data-driven solutions while clearly communicating why the strategy outlined best aligns with a client’s goals.

Value Patience

My career trajectory played an important role in preparing me for these responsibilities. I started as a marketing coordinator, a role that exposed me to many different areas of marketing. While it was not specialized, it provided valuable real-world experience and helped me understand how various channels work together. More importantly, it gave me the opportunity to identify what truly interested me.

I realized that paid search was where I felt most engaged. When I had the chance to transition into a role focused entirely on paid search, it felt like a natural next step. 

My focus is on continuing to grow into higher-level roles where I can have a greater impact on both my clients and my team. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the importance of patience. Each role builds on the last, even if progress doesn’t always feel immediate.

That lesson has been especially relevant when reflecting on the job search process. Job hunting can be challenging and emotionally draining, and one of the most important things to remember is that timing and market conditions play a significant role. Some people find their ideal role quickly, while others take a longer, more winding path. Persistence is key. Networking, applying consistently, and staying engaged in your industry can make a real difference. At the same time, if you are financially able, it is important not to accept the first offer you receive if it does not align with your values or goals. Taking a role that is not the right fit can lead to dissatisfaction and slow down long-term growth.

Stay Productive and Curious

During periods of uncertainty, finding small ways to stay productive can be incredibly helpful. Side projects, freelance work, certifications, or personal learning initiatives strengthen your resume and keep your skills sharp. Just as importantly, making time for activities that bring you joy can help protect your mental health and sustain motivation. 

I had my eye on my current company for years. I applied to many roles and did not even receive an interview until 5 years into my professional career. Even then, it took interviewing for multiple positions before I ultimately landed the role I am in today. That experience reinforced the value of persistence and trusting the process.

For those still trying to figure out what career path they want, start by reflecting on what you genuinely enjoy learning about. Consider how those interests might translate into a professional role and seek out people who are already working in those areas. Informational interviews can provide valuable insight into day-to-day responsibilities and the realities of a role. If possible, shadowing someone or gaining hands-on experience through a small project can offer clarity that no job description ever could.

Careers are built through a combination of curiosity, effort, and resilience. While there will always be moments of uncertainty, staying open to learning and committed to growth can help you build a path that aligns with both your strengths and your values.

If you want support as you build your career, we can help. Book our Job Hunting Executive Bundle to get ready for applying to your next role with interview coaching, a resume, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter.

Guest Column: How I Accidentally Ended Up Building Websites for NASA

Eden Fuller works as a senior software engineer at NASA’s Space Telescope Science Institute, which operates space telescopes such as the Hubble. Based in Baltimore, Eden talked with Relevant Resume about how she went from studying English to working in software and what it takes to change industries.

In 2013, I graduated from a state college with a bachelor’s degree in English and no clear career path. I’d applied to some competitive master of fine arts programs and had been rejected by all but my alma mater, where I was offered admission without funding. I decided a master’s degree in poetry wasn’t worth the debt, but I had no idea what to do next.

Fast forward to 2026, and I’m a senior software engineer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, leading development on interactive outreach products for some of NASA’s most influential astronomy missions: the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

In 2013, I could never have predicted where I’d end up or the path that would take me there. Here are some lessons I’ve learned over the course of my deeply unexpected 13-year career.

Embrace Happy Accidents

The summer after college, some friends invited me to co-found a startup. It was initially a video game company, and my role was writing content for our games. As we pursued seed funding in an attempt to make the company commercially viable, the company’s focus pivoted to building developer tools for other game companies. This was an area where I had no relevant background, so I found myself learning new skills pretty much every week. I was helping write and design pitch decks, then presenting to startup accelerators and angel investors, then making graphics for software development tutorials and trying my hand at coding for the first time.

Before we got the startup off the ground, I needed a day job. At first, I did childcare on the side. Then, in 2015, I put together a portfolio of my design work. I landed a job as a junior designer at a mobile ad company called Millennial Media.

Cultivate Curiosity…

Millennial Media made interactive mobile ads, the sort you’d encounter between levels of Candy Crush Saga. As my first “real job” in tech, it was an incredible opportunity: I got to design ads for major brands like Disney and Mercedes-Benz, and I got to work alongside more experienced designers and developers. (I’m a huge advocate for remote work, but in the early days of my career, having mentors sitting at the desk beside me was a huge asset.) My colleagues were eager to teach me, and I was eager to learn.

At first, I got into coding because I wanted to "make the pictures move." I had ideas for animation and interaction that I could only execute if I learned some code fundamentals. Then Millennial Media was acquired by AOL, and the layoffs began. Our team started losing developers, but the volume of work remained the same. I picked up development work to help fill the gaps, and since help was urgently needed, my team was forgiving as I learned by trial and error.

…And Do The Work Yourself

I’m grateful I got to build my software development foundations in a pre-AI environment. Expertise comes through deep experience, and that means doing the work every day. As companies reduce hiring for junior engineering positions and pressure the remaining junior engineers to use AI in their daily workflows, I predict there will be an enormous drought of expertise in software engineering. That’s bad for the industry, but good for people who learn without taking shortcuts, and I think that holds true across industries.

Be Someone People Like Working With

Eventually I left AOL to work at my startup full-time. A year later, after countless 80-plus-hour weeks, I was burnt out and ready to move on. A previous AOL colleague who had great respect for my work there had become a manager at Mosaic Learning, a midsize regional company building e-learning products for unions and trade organizations, and invited me to apply. That became my first position with an official software engineer title, and after a couple years of experience there, I was able to get a job on the fledgling U.S. e-commerce team at IKEA in 2020.

I started as a rank-and-file engineer at IKEA. But when my team’s lead engineer was transferred out of our department following a conflict with team members, management gave me the lead role. Collaborating with another lead engineer and her team, I helped build location-aware store inventory information on product pages, a first for IKEA at the time. After that, I was moved onto a team to pilot collaboration between the U.S. tech team and the global organization based in Sweden, and helped build a framework for the teams to collaborate successfully.

You Can’t Crunch Forever

Behind the scenes, I’d spent years applying to jobs at nonprofits fighting climate change. I never landed one, but in 2022, I got a job at a climate-focused B corporation that partnered with fashion brands to refurbish and resell used garments. I was hired as the lead frontend engineer on the team that built their e-commerce sites. At first, it was the best job I’d ever had—but after leadership changes and layoffs, the working environment became untenable.

My boss and half of my 8 engineers were laid off, and the CTO committed my team to an impossible deadline. We began working mandatory nights and weekends—something I’d done at most of my past jobs, but after 10 years, I couldn’t sustain it anymore. I still wanted to do impactful work, but I needed a job that would make space for my life and health.

I decided to leave, and in an incredible stroke of luck, I found the job posting for a senior frontend engineer in the Office of Public Outreach at the Space Telescope Science Institute. It felt perfectly tailored to my past experience: building custom interactive content at AOL, e-learning products at Mosaic, and complex products for large audiences at my e-commerce roles. Ending up at STScI is the happiest accident of my career so far.

If you want support during a career change, we can help. Book our Job Hunting Executive Bundle to get ready with interview coaching, a resume, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter.