Curious to know what different people do all day at their 9-5? We’re investigating job titles and diving deeper into day-to-day tasks to get the low-down on exactly what those roles really entail. Not sure how much to ask for your raise? Wondering what a VP in finance does in the afternoon? We’re uncovering the details behind jobs, along with the salaries and tasks that come with them, to help you figure out what you’re interested in. Below, read about how a marketing unicorn in Brooklyn spends her day.
Age: 31
City: Brooklyn
Industry: Marketing
Job Title: Resident Unicorn
Years of Experience: 10
Salary: $120k
What does your job title mean? What does your job entail?
I work at a startup, so I make things happen. Sometimes it’s hustling–pounding the phones trying to get brands to partner with us, sometimes it’s coding, sometimes it’s designing a proposal, sometimes it’s pulling reports to show where scholarships (one of our main lines of promotional business) have been posted to show clients the backlinks. The thing about being a unicorn is that we never say no. We always find a way to do everything, especially when you have a lean team of just 5 full-time folks.
When do you wake up?
I wake up between 6-6:15. It takes me about 10 minutes to get out of bed, and I’ll usually grab a shot of espresso and either go for a run or do some yoga if it’s a rest day. I’m always training for something, whether it’s a half-marathon or a 10K. I need that time in the morning to clear my head and think about what’s on my plate. After my run/yoga, I make a pot of coffee, feed my pet rabbit Bernie, and shower.
At 9am I am…
Most likely perfecting my eyeliner. I don’t have to be in the office until 10, which is great!
At 11am I am…
Typically going through emails. I wish I had something more glamorous to say, but I have to get to what I like to call “Inbox Zero.” It shapes my day so that I can figure out what I need to do. Like I said–anything goes in startup life.
What does lunch normally look like for you?
Most of the time I grab a salad from the deli downstairs and have lunch at my desk. Even though I know you shouldn’t have lunch at your desk, I try to unplug from work as much as I can. Usually that means reading a book while I eat. I try not to monitor my emails during this time, but it’s hard.
At 1pm I am…
Still eating. I’m a late-luncher. I’m usually arguing with myself between whether I should be healthy and get the salad or order Chick-Fil-A. I just discovered that you can pre-order CFA through their app, and my life has been changed.
At 3pm I am… 
Usually trying to wind down. At this point I’ve probably had a lot of calls with clients and sales meetings. I try to gather my thoughts, make a list, and crush some proposals. I like to save the creative work for after lunch because it helps me stay focused during the day.
At 5pm I am…
Every day at 5pm, I seem to catch my second wind. This is a great time for me to pound the phones if I have any cold calls left, send leftover emails, or prospect for new clients. I won’t send out any proposals until the next day because I use my time in the mornings to review them. I can’t be trusted with important information that late in the day!
How does a workday end for you? What time do you normally leave work?
I typically leave when I’m done. I think it’s silly how some folks will stay in the office late for optics, but also I totally understand that because I’ve been there before. I’m usually on my way out anytime between 6-6:30.
What do you do after work? An event? Dinner? More work?
I volunteer, so I’ll use my after-work time to catch up on that. It’s usually light admin work or web development. My husband and I take turns cooking dinner, but he works from home. Of course he’ll cook the majority of the time, but I really try to cook something nice at least once a week, so I may need to stop at the store on my way home to grab ingredients… and wine. Can’t forget the wine!
What time do you go to bed? 
I start to wind down at around 9:30. For me, that means turning off the TV and putting my phone away (sort of, I can’t give up my phone). It definitely means no more emails! I wash my face, and I take my time. It makes me feel good knowing I’m treating my body right and will look nice and glowy in the morning. I’m usually pretty sleepy at this point, but if I need some help falling asleep, I’ll read a few chapters of an actual book–not on the Kindle or iPad. I like to keep a real book by my bed because I know that tech lights aren’t good for sleeping. Right now I’m re-reading the classics–you know, the stuff they made us read in high school. It’s a lot more fun reading those books now knowing that I won’t be tested on them! Before I fall asleep, I really try to think about what I accomplished that day. It’s nice to fall asleep knowing that I did make a difference.
Is there anything about your job you’d like people to know?
Sometimes startup life is like watching an episode of Silicon Valley. Sometimes it’s horrible, and sometimes it’s the best thing ever. What doesn’t change for me is that working at a startup allows me to see almost instantly my impact on the company. That’s important for me.