So, you want to work in marketing?
The bad news is you’re not the only one. The good news is we are here to help you stand out in the crowd!
Read on to find out how to best pitch yourself in the increasing diverse and specialised world of professional marketing.
Know your destination
Firstly, you don’t need to decide right now on your ultimate destination; – just your next one. A career in marketing is often fluid and constantly developing. Having an idea of where you want to go and aligning yourself in that direction is the first step to honing your individual skills-set towards success. Come up with a vision for your future through asking yourself questions such as ‘Why am I here?’ and ‘What do I want?’, from there you’ll be able to see more clearly what obstacles are lying in your way and what steps you need to do in order to get closer to your destination. Examples might be a job promotion or an industry interest that you perhaps wish to specialise in. Or It might just be a work-life balance or a different way of working, as opposed to 9-5 in an office, post-COVID.
Know your strengths and your weaknesses
You may have been stuck in the same way of working for a long time. If you’re graduating or looking for a change in career direction it is always important to recalibrate yourself with knowledge of your current strengths and weaknesses, so you know what you need to improve on and what you can promote as your key strengths. Look in all directions for feedback on your work style by asking colleagues, peers, your boss, and your lecturers for insight into the unique ‘brand’ of You. Be open to constructive criticism as well as praise and use it to inform your action plan.
Come up with an action plan
Now that you have gathered the essential data on your individual performance, it’s time to interpret it and use it to fuel a Personal Development Plan. Become a sponge to soak up advice, opinions, knowledge or experience from everybody and everything you come across on your new professional journey – whether it be life coaches, training courses, networking groups or professional societies who inhabit the same space and share your your interests and ambitions. Perhaps choose a virtual ‘mentor’ or marketing guru to follow and emulate.
Collaborate and excel
The personal development doesn’t stop there! Marketing is by nature a fluid and collaborative profession. There are many ways you can use that to your career advantage. Use the people around you – your peers, colleagues, your boss – and don’t be afraid to let them know what you want and how ambitious you are. But of course don’t forget to work hard too – actions speak louder than words! All workplace relationships require tact, empathy and equivalent exchange so find out what makes your Marketing Manager tick and identify the key hot buttons which determine the key decisions made in your workplace. Adjust your personal ‘brand’ towards meeting – and surpassing – that criteria.
Position yourself to be the best
In true marketing fashion, once you have perfected your personal brand it is essential you take the next critical step of ‘closing the deal’ and delivering the added value you promise. Use your new-found direction and self-improvements to deliver at work and provide customers and those around you with an invaluable work ethic, positive attitude. Try to develop a personality USP (unique selling point) – in any relevant creative way you see fit. It will make you stand out in the crowd and help accelerate your career. Take a genuine, authentic interest in your Company’s performance and promote your strengths through your completion of tasks, goal achievement and the progression of the business.
