Michaela O’Shaughnessy: How I Got My Job At Teen Vogue
Michaela O’Shaughnessy is living our dream life. Not only is currently residing in NYC, but she might just have the coolest job ever..Social Media Producer for Teen Vogue. Actual goals!
Along with running Teen Vogue’s Social Media Michaela also has the cutest blog ever, Life Of A Lady Bear, and one of the loveliest any most enviable grids on Instagram. Oh and did we mention Michaela is actually from Galway originally? Yep, this Irish girl is making big waves across the Pond and we couldn’t be more delighted for her. We nabbed Michaela to chat all things school and social media as part of our new Career Corner series…
Growing up, what did you want to be?
When I was growing up, all I wanted to be was a doctor! I absolutely loved studying Biology and Chemistry in secondary school and thought pursuing a path in Medicine would be the best option!
What did you study in college?
For my undergraduate, I studied Biomedical Science which I absolutely loved, especially studying subjects like Anatomy and Physiology. After I graduated from that I decided to switch lanes altogether and study business with the hopes of pursuing a career in marketing or something along those lines.
What advice would you give your teenage self?
I would tell my teenage self to not put so much pressure on herself! In school and college I was always very stressed about every little test and I wish I knew back then that worrying would get you nowhere, and if anything it would makes you get less work done!
What does your typical workday look like?
My typical work day starts around 7.30am with a little search on the internet to see what happened over night in the news and then I catch up on emails that came in overnight. I head to the office for 9.30 and plan my day around meetings, talent visits and shoots which are always a lot of fun! Then around 6.30/7 I head home and take a workout class, finish a few emails and hit the hay before 10pm because sleep is personally vital for my productivity the next day.
What’s been your biggest challenge?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced so far was trying to figure out how to switch fields from Biomedical Science to Business. I knew I didn’t want a career in science when I graduated so deciding on what step to take next and to change careers was a scary time but thankfully it paid off. Another big challenge was making the move to NYC from Ireland. I’m a definitely a home bird at heart so leaving behind my friends and family was definitely challenging but worth it for the wonderful opportunities that the city has given me.
What’s been a personal highlight in your career so far?
I think my personal highlight has to be getting to attend The Met Gala on behalf of Teen Vogue. I’ve always watched the red carpet from across the street since moving to New York so to get to be there in person was such a dream come true. There were so many amazing celebs there and the fashion was just out of this world! Definitely a once in a lifetime event.
What’s your next step?
It’s hard to know what my next step will be especially when you’re living in a city where literally anything could happen! At the moment I’m just focused on working hard at my job and continuing to grow my blog which is my side hustle and then after that, who knows! I definitely see myself moving home to Ireland in the next few years. So, I’m determined to make the most of the Big Apple while I’m here.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your career footsteps?
I would say that having a social media presence of your own is really important if you want to work in social. It shows that you’re capable of creating interesting content and building a following. Besides that, I truly believe that if you work hard and are kind to people then opportunities will come your way.
When did you decide to start your blog?
I started my blog in my final year of Biomedical Science as a creative outlet when I was studying! It really gave me an opportunity to teach myself a lot of skills like photoshop, basic coding and website design as well as social media management, all of which were really helpful in me building the career that I currently have.
How useful was it to have a blog?
I think having a blog was fundamental in me getting where I am today! I truly believe that a prospective employer can learn more about you from spending 5 minutes on your blog than reading your resume. And I think it really helped set me apart from other applicants in the job hunt. Besides that, having a blog is a great way to meet people in the industry and network with like-minded people.
Who inspires you?
I genuinely feel like any woman who is working hard to achieve her goals while supporting other women along the way is truly inspiring to me. My Mom is also a huge inspiration to me, purely because she’s such a great mother and has always worked hard caring for others as a nurse.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
The best advice I’ve ever gotten is to not give up and keep your eyes on your own path!
A big thank you to Michaela for taking part in our first ever Career Corner! We think that Michaela is a great example of what hard work and determination can achieve. And also proves the point that you can always switch lanes when it comes to your career. If you want something just go for it!
If you are inspired to follow a similar career path check out our post on how to start your own blog.
You can follow Michaela O’Shaughnessy on Instagram @lifeofaladybear and visit her blog, lifeofaladybear.com.
