Starting your digital marketing career path
How do you start a career in digital marketing?
There is no set answer. This career doesn't follow a linear path like becoming a doctor, or a lawyer or an accountant. It's fluid, it's curvy, and even people in it don't even know how they got there.
Jen Bales and I sat down for our debut episode to talk how we got into marketing, and you will see we do not share the same story at all. Jen thought she was on track to be an actor, and I thought I was going to be the next Sandra Sully.
So what's my story?
I was fortunate to go to an academic school, so academic that everyone was pretty excellent at writing, so being "good" was basically being average. I never considered it a skill I had. I was just like everyone else. It wasn't until my final exam with my beloved English teacher, who was also my harshest critic, told me that I could do this thing called writing.
It's funny how one comment by one teacher can shape who you think you can be.
I told my high-school boyfriend at the time you laughed and said: "haha you can't be a writer." So like any mature, level-headed girl, I have spent my life proving him wrong (lols hormones).
I left school determined to become a journalist, like a proper real one writing about big word stuff. Foreign correspondent! Political writer! 'Insert important topic' writer! That's what I wanted to be!
Life had other plans. I was the cohort to graduate during the global financial crisis (GFC, 2007-2009) which basically meant there were nada jobs available. Let alone in journalism.
My writing dream was still strong so I put my hand up for whatever required words and worked for free for around two years. I wrote for the local newspaper, a national travelling magazine, Girlfriend magazine, businesses and even as a rugby union match reporter (I do not know the rules of rugby). Whoever would let me write for them I did.
Finally, I got a job (PAID) as a content writer for a solar power company. I still thought I was a journalist. If I could speak to my younger self, I would say "HONEYYY YOU'RE IN MARKETING!"
Fast-forward 10-years and I had lived in London, travelled Europe and spoiler, had numerous jobs in marketing. Yes, it took me a good decade to realise you can still be a writer even if you aren't a journalist. Marketing is one of those incredible careers where it caters for all types…the writers, the artists, the tech nerds, the video legends, the data geeks and the blue sky thinkers.
So my tips for getting into marketing:
Work out what you love, and let that be your specialty. I'm a generalist marketer, but my thing is writing. It is always good to have something you are excellent at to flex in interviews, and if you want to freelance on the side.
Work for free. Get experience. You will only discover what you are good at through doing.
Be open to all industries. Some industries seem cool and fun. But usually, they can be rigid, underpaid and not allow you to try new things. Sure, solar power seemed dull, but I was doing more things and learning more things than friends that got the "cool" jobs.
Educate yourself with free courses, look into Facebook blueprint, Hubspot, Google and LinkedIn.
Create a social media page where you share your learnings, tips and document your journey.
Got a question about how to start your marketing career? Ask below!