Amanda Kinley
To kick off our “Social Media Roles at Autodesk” week as a part of SGH Careers Month, we’re highlighting Diana Rouge, who works on the Autodesk Community Team as a Social Media Specialist. Diana has been with Autodesk for almost 4 years and develops content to engage and inspire thousands of followers on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn every day.. She’s a specialist of many talents—Diana is also a trained EKG Technician! She returned to school in 2018 and completed a program which included onsite laboratory sessions at the Cardiac Center at her local hospital.
Question: What degree did you graduate with, and how has it affected your career? Or, what education / training do you have that has helped with your role?
Diana: I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting & Electronic Communication Arts – my focus of study was on Social Theory and Critique which analyzed more of the ways in which people absorb, process, and react to media they see. Before finding my way to Autodesk, I was a makeup artist for a good 10 years, ended up working at the call center for Sephora.com, and transferred to their social media team. The skills I learned took me to Facebook/Instagram, private marketing agencies, and eventually to Autodesk!
Question: How would you describe your role at Autodesk? What does a typical workday look like? Which skills and qualities are important to be successful in your role?
Diana: A typical workday at Autodesk involves scheduling LOTS of content across our social platforms, connecting and engaging with users who interact with us, and finding those fun nuggets of information, news, and events that will connect with our audience. You definitely need to be organized but also have an eye for intriguing content and storytelling that will get your audiences involved.
Question: What do you find interesting about your role? What are the challenges? What do you find satisfying about your work?
Diana: I love what I do as it is always different each day – challenges can range from experiencing internet trolls and dealing with advertising campaigns with poor results to making sure that you’re sharing stories that are meaningful and not just “filler.” It always keeps you on your toes, keeps you thinking, and really puts you in the shoes of your audience. You really get to learn what makes people interested or not, and what they want to see and hear about—and you get to have some fun with it!
Question: What advice would you give to a student who is interested in pursuing a role like yours?
Diana: A key tip I learned was to really work on your writing skills and your ability to respond quickly and thoroughly. Look for internships with companies that have strong social media presences; learn what popular brands do and what wins people over; and think about how you can relate that to the fields you are interested in. Volunteering to work on social media accounts or helping places that are just starting out is another way to go and there are plenty of opportunities with nonprofit organizations.
Interested to see more of what Diana posts in her typical day? Follow Autodesk Community on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
To catch up on all of the Student Group Hub Careers Month spotlights, including several of our Community Managers, check out the blog!