January 24, 2024
Who is Marcus Burnette?
In the dynamic world of web design and development, few names resonate with the blend of creativity, technical prowess, and community engagement quite like Marcus Burnette.
From his role as a Sr. Marketing Specialist at GoDaddy Pro to his contributions as a team co-rep for the WordPress Photo Directory, Marcus Burnette’s journey is proof of multi-talent put at work. He thrives on empowering agencies and freelancers to build robust eCommerce sites using The Hub by GoDaddy Pro and GoDaddy’s premium WordPress and WooCommerce platforms. This commitment reflects not just a career but a passion for elevating the capabilities of others in the digital space.
Beyond his professional achievements, Marcus Burnette is an avid photographer, capturing the world through his unique lens, and a seasoned podcast co-host, sharing insights and engaging in meaningful dialogues in shows like “Do the Woo.” His creation of The WP World and WPAI Universe underscores his innovative spirit, showcasing his ability to integrate cutting-edge technology with practical applications.
As a member of the WordPress community since 2017, Marcus Burnette’s contributions are substantial. From developing various plugins to actively contributing to the WordPress Photo Directory, his work has been instrumental in shaping the WordPress landscape. His presence at events like WordCamp, coupled with his role in hosting virtual events, highlights his dedication to sharing knowledge and fostering community growth.
1. What key skills and qualities do successful WordPress professionals possess, and how can job seekers develop or demonstrate these traits?
Marcus Burnette:
Successful WordPress professionals, regardless of the job, have the skills to solve problems and adapt. These are critical, no matter the role. Whether you’re a web developer, support specialist, systems admin, or some other position, you need to be able to solve problems by thinking them through and adapt.
I’ve always been a proponent of side projects to be able to demonstrate these in a professional way if you don’t have any specific examples from your current job. Side projects allow you to take on many different aspects of a product or project and figure out how to make it successful. Of course, learning from failures is just as valuable (or event moreso) than successes.
2. Can you share a personal or professional setback you faced in your WordPress career, and how you overcame it? What lessons did you learn from that experience?
Marcus Burnette:
At the end of 2019, the WordPress agency that I worked for at the time came into a time of financial hardship. Ultimately, everyone but the owners were let go — including me. Over the next couple of months (with a global pandemic on the horizon), I needed to determine a few things: 1) how to continue to have an income to support my family and 2) what role I would like to take on in the next company.
As a WordPress designer/developer, I ultimately learned to find freelance contract work on my own, something I never had to worry about at the agency. I also discovered that I wanted to work with other agencies to help them be successful — to help those who were building sites for clients. It was this realization that led me to join the support team at SkyVerge, a WooCommerce plugin company that was acquired by GoDaddy later in 2020.
3. What advice do you have for job seekers who feel discouraged or overwhelmed during their job search? How can they stay motivated and maintain a positive mindset?
Marcus Burnette:
Finding a job, especially a career position, can be tedious and time consuming. It took me several months of searching and applying for positions in 2020 before being hired. I also had several interviews, each making me more hopeful before being crushed again with a rejection.
The important thing to remember is that companies are all looking for something a little bit different. Even if you get a rejection for a position at a company, don’t hesitate to apply for the same position at another company! It’s not necessarily an issue of your skill or experience, rather the company looking for something specific. (And you won’t always know what that thing is!) Keep showing up with a smile on your face and the hope that the next one is the one and you’ll be okay.
Also, remember that the interviewers are rooting for you! If you’re the right fit, their search can be over and you all can get to work!
4. How can job seekers differentiate themselves in a competitive job market? Are there any unique approaches or strategies that you recommend?
Marcus Burnette:
Do your homework and tailor your applications to the company. When I was hired by SkyVerge in 2020, I knew the handbook inside and out. (Thankfully, it was publicly available.) I knew the company and their processes. I knew the key figures and how the organizational structure was laid out. I knew how they approached problems and their ways of finding solutions.
If you already feel like you’re part of the company when you step into that interview, you remove their need to imagine you on the team — you’ll already feel like you’re on the team!
Leading up to your interview, tailor your resume and cover letter with knowledge of the company and what they are looking for. Connect with folks in the company on social sites like LinkedIn and be sure to learn about some of the folks you connect with.
The more you know about the company and its people, the easier and more comfortable you (and the interviewer) will be when discussing the position.
5. What are the emerging trends or areas of growth in the WordPress industry, and how can job seekers align themselves with these opportunities?
Marcus Burnette:
The obvious answer here is AI, or artificial intelligence. New positions are being created by this emerging tech, but almost all current positions will be required to be familiar with AI to some degree.
There’s a general fear that AI will replace certain jobs — and it might — but more likely is that it will force those that don’t leverage it to be replaced. I read somewhere “Excel didn’t replace accountants, it just replaced those that didn’t use Excel” and I think the same will be said here.
Generally speaking, try to keep up with emerging tech — at least to the degree that you know what’s out there. You don’t need to be an expert at all of it, just try not to get left behind.
Thank you, Marcus, for agreeing to participate in this project! ????
You can find Marcus Burnette on LinkedIn, Twitter, and on his website.
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