Meet Cam Buttrick

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cam Buttrick. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cam below.

Hi Cam, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

I come from a theater background, so I always remind myself that if I can perform in front of 500+ people while wearing a crazy costume and embarrassing myself, I can handle a job interview. As cheesy as it sounds, I also make a point to remind myself before any big interview or presentation: “I worked hard for this, I’m awesome, and I deserve it!”

Additionally, I thrive on words of affirmation, and I’ve been fortunate to work under supervisors and managers who vocalize when I’m doing well. I’ve carried that with me into my own leadership roles, ensuring I provide that same encouragement.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a current senior in college with five years of experience in the Marketing/PR industry. I have completed six internships and gained various other work experiences highlighting different facets of the industry—and I’m only 21!

My professional tagline is: “I’m the Gen-Z Voice Your Brand Needs.” I have experience in brand strategy, integrated marketing, influencer relations, social media strategy, and content creation. By starting in the industry at a young age, I developed the skills of a seasoned marketing professional while staying connected to Gen-Z interests and trends.

The benefit of being a perfectionist is that I bring the best version of myself to any role and always strive to go above and beyond in my work. Most notably, when Victoria’s Secret announced their summer internships, I knew I wanted one—and that I needed to stand out. I created a fully customized portfolio showcasing my passion for the brand and the value I could bring to their team. However, I didn’t stop there. I also made a TikTok highlighting the portfolio, and my final, most successful move was referencing both the portfolio and the video in my now-viral LinkedIn post. Thanks to that post and portfolio, I was officially offered the Brand Strategy internship with Victoria’s Secret PINK this summer!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I believe the three most important skills for success in PR and marketing are passion, confidence, and drive.

I think in any industry, passion is the most important thing you can have. In a new role or position, you can be taught the necessary skills, but passion can’t be taught. If you’re starting out in PR and Marketing, find the brands or industries you’re truly passionate about and research how to succeed in them.

Once you have the passion, the drive should come naturally. And when you land the role you’ve been striving for, keep up the effort and give it your all!

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

I think the biggest obstacle myself and fellow graduates are facing is the oversaturation of the job market, especially in Marketing and PR, where a single role can attract over 1,000 applicants. 10 years ago you could walk into an office with your resume and have an interview the same day. Now standing out in such a competitive landscape requires more than just a strong resume—it takes strategy, creativity, and persistence.

To overcome this challenge, I focus on my personal branding and differentiation. I ensure my application materials go beyond the standard by tailoring my resume, cover letter, and portfolio to each specific company. Additionally, I leverage social media, particularly LinkedIn and TikTok, to showcase my expertise and industry knowledge in an engaging way. The biggest thing I tell people when they ask me for portfolio or career advice, is find what makes you stand out. What makes you different from those other 999 applicants and what can you bring to the role that they can’t.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cambuttrick.my.canva.site/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cam-buttrick/