Meet Carla, Senior Community Manager for @YelpJacksonville! Carla recently celebrated her 3rd Yelpiversary, and she is sharing her journey at Yelp, what a typical day looks like as a Community Manager, and more!
Tell us about your journey at Yelp
After moving to Jacksonville, Florida from Columbus, Ohio, I saw a job listing for Jacksonville’s next Community Manager. The job combined everything I love: Jacksonville, business owners, creating a sense of community, and relationship building. I applied for the position and after a few interviews, I was chosen for the job. I started with Yelp back in July of 2019. I was a Community Manager for a year and a half before I was promoted to Senior Community Manager. From starting right before a pandemic, until now, it’s been a real learning experience. It’s been challenging and fun, and I’ve learned how to pivot in situations.
What does a typical day look like in your role?
Typically, I wake up at 5 AM and work out. Then, I take my kiddo to school, do some administrative community management things, check on @YelpJacksonville, interact with businesses, engage with posts, and answer messages. I may also meet with a business owner to discuss hosting an event. I normally write a review or post a picture from a business I’ve visited. I’m also the queen of compliments, so most days I send about 100 compliments on Yelp.
What is your favorite part of your role?
My favorite part of my job is interacting with business owners and letting them know how I can help. It’s always so fun to tell them it’s free to work with me and that my goal is to get the word out about their business. It’s fun to watch their eyes get large and their jaws drop.
What do you enjoy most about working from home?
I enjoy being available for my kiddo. He’s the center of my universe and Yelp has allowed me to be present in his life. We also just got a puppy, and I can take him for walks during the day. Even though I work from home, I’m really into creating structure. In the three years I’ve been here, I’ve tried to hone in on how to be the most productive at work, like writing out what I do every day on a notepad and setting firm start and end times. Luckily, I’ve gotten into a real rhythm. I presented at a Regional Week to my team about the value of time management and scheduling and how it can lead to some freedom in your life.
How does Yelp support your work-life balance?
I value that we get paid time off and that we’re encouraged to use it. You get PTO for a reason, and it’s nice to know we’re supported to take time off to rest, relax and recoup, so we can come back to our careers invigorated.
How does your manager let you know that your work is valued?
My manager is always super positive. I value that she takes the time to let me know what I’m doing right and celebrate my wins. Whether it’s telling me I’ve hit a career-high or that she dug the customized pieces I made for an event, it makes me feel good that she’s noticing those things.
Want to work with Carla?
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