Life & Work with Kaylee Muchow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylee Muchow.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always had an interest in social media but I didn’t think I wanted it to be my job… hence why I entered college with the goal to become a marine biologist… That didn’t last long, I changed my major in the middle of my first semester at Coastal Carolina to Communication (emphasis in integrated communication) and a minor in English. After changing my major, I thought I wanted a career more along the lines of publicity and public relations, however, I got my first social media internship in 2017 and my mind pretty much completely shifted to a social media and marketing focus.

I held social media positions throughout college and after graduation in 2019, I headed off to South Africa with my sister and some friends to learn about leadership and help those in the community (on top of cage diving, hiking, and swimming with seals). I’ve always loved to travel, but this trip in particular really changed (and improved) my worldview… which is part of the reason I’m currently getting my Masters in Strategic Communication with an emphasis in social impact and advocacy.

After graduation, it took me a while to find full-time work, which was extremely frustrating, but I was finally offered a position at RSM (where I currently work), but my employment was put on hold due to COVID, so I struggled for a few months before I was actually able to begin working at RSM in May 2020

It was a traumatizing event like that that forced me to realize that life is SO short and can end at any second and I wanted to start LIVING my life and doing what I wanted with it.

Kind of a long-time after coping with that (although I’m still coping), I decided I wanted to do what I wanted to do, which was to freelance. I am still working at RSM full-time, but I spend the rest of my time doing schoolwork and freelancing. Freelancing allows me the creative freedom that I so desperately wanted when I was looking for a job and when I graduated. The few clients that I have currently are AMAZING to work with and they put my full trust in me.

It’s not something I can viably do full-time yet, which is fine because I LOVE the people I work with at RSM, but I am hoping that one day I can freelance full-time. I am a big believer in ‘non-traditional’ jobs, work schedules, etc… I just want to be able to travel when I want, work when I want, etc.

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?
This has been the bumpiest road I’ve been down in my life. – COVID made it super hard to get and hold down a job – for everyone, not just me!

Moving out and living on my own was difficult after being at home with my parents for a while.

Struggling to be financially independent is HARD, and learning to ask for help was something I didn’t want to do at first.

Losing my boyfriend last year was probably the most traumatizing thing that’s ever happened to me, and adding it to the list of already horrible things that were happening to me (and everyone else) was horrible.

But it was also the motivation I needed to stop hating my life, to make a name for myself, to meet new people, to live again, and to start doing things for ME

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a freelance social media manager. I would say I specialize in strategy and social for small businesses and start-ups. I don’t think a lot of people realize that there is SO MUCH that goes into social media and you can’t go into it absentmindedly.

I am most proud of the fact that I have done this freelance thing completely on my own. I have received HUGE help when it’s come to client referrals (so shoutout to my friends and family for those), and I literally wouldn’t be able to be a freelancer without clients. But there’s so much that goes into it and so many things that I’m paying for that I am doing on my own, and I’m super proud of that.

I think something that sets me apart from other social media freelancers is that I tell it like it is. I am not a people pleaser. I won’t do something on social without a good reason for it and if I don’t think something is going to work, I’m going to be upfront about it.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Doing a ton of research (and then more research) was my key to confidence. Maybe I didn’t need to do THAT much research to be successful, but I needed it to feel confident in myself. I would highly recommend research and learning ESPECIALLY to those who don’t have prior social media experience. It’s totally a job anyone can do, so long as you know what you’re doing!

Having a support system will make your losses easier and your wins even bigger.

Learn to have thick skin. If you’re used to working with people, you know how ruthless they can be.

Contact Info:

• Email:  magicallysocial@gmail.com
• Website: www.kayleemuchow.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/magicallysocial
• Facebook: facebook.com/magicallysocial
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kayleemuchow

Image Credits
Julia Muchow