Who Works in a Marketing Role? May I Buy You a Coffee?

danielkcheung on 12/10/2016 - 17:33

Hi, I'm Daniel and I've been a self-employed freelancer since 2010. You may have come across my AMA here - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/260756. Whilst I wish to continue as a wedding photographer, it is no longer sustainable to support my wife and I. As such, I am wanting to re-enter the workforce at a part-time or full-time capacity (as my workflow has become streamlined and systematised). I believe the skills I've picked up as an entrepreneur apply to the Marketing & Communications field.
As such, I wish to learn more about the various roles in the industry as the roles are very diverse.

If you're in Sydney and would like to share what your role entails, may I buy you a coffee? I'd like to know more so that I may apply for the right roles. I did the same when I was doing my MBA and found the real life conversations with investment bankers to be very revealing.

Thanks in advance :)

Education & Work

Comments

  • Savas on 12/10/2016 - 17:37
    +2

    Should've posted in the deals section, but good luck!

  • Mikinoz on 12/10/2016 - 17:38
    +1

    No bikies option

  • pformag on 12/10/2016 - 18:47

    So you have an MBA???

    • danielkcheung on 12/10/2016 - 18:55

      Nope. A major in finance was probably a very bad decision :/ I've put it on pause indefinitely for various reasons.

      • Hellfire on 12/10/2016 - 19:41

        Do you at least have a bachelor's? It is incredibly difficult to get into marketing with a relevant degree. You best bet is probably via an entry level sales role and then shifting sideways. Also possibly a photographer with a marketing/creative agency.

        • danielkcheung on 12/10/2016 - 19:43

          I have a Bachelors in Health Science + Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (basically I have complete all core subjects of a MBA + financial electives bar 1 remaining semester).

        • Diji1 on 12/10/2016 - 19:46

          It is incredibly difficult to get into marketing with a relevant degree.

          Yeah those relevant degrees will get you nowhere.

        • Hellfire on 12/10/2016 - 20:06

          @Diji1:

          True. Marketing graduates have high unemployment.

        • danielkcheung on 12/10/2016 - 20:46

          @Hellfire:

          Mostly because, from my own bootstrapped digital/content marketing efforts, marketing roles require hands-on results-driven experience (lots of A/B testing) that no course can provide. I know my marketing theory inside out but application in the real world is very different to what is prescribed in outdated textbooks.

    • scrimshaw on 12/10/2016 - 19:17

      an MBA can make one seem 'overqualified' for certain entry level roles (true for smaller companies), even if you do graduate with one it's best to actually not mention any master degrees on your resume while you're still a newb.

      • danielkcheung on 12/10/2016 - 19:45

        Then it helps that I don't have it :P

  • holdenmg on 12/10/2016 - 19:24

    Hi,

    I'm not in a Marketing Role, but I'm quite into Coffee… :+)

    Anyhoo, have you looked @ http://www.ami.org.au/imis15/AMI/About/AMI/About_Folder/Abou…

    You might like to look at Sydney Mentoring if you become a Member:
    http://www.ami.org.au/imis15/AMI/Events/Mentoring_Program/NS…

    Good luck with it all and thanks for the AMA, it was a good read.

  • poboy on 12/10/2016 - 20:10

    I'm in marketing, but a different state. I recommend going on linkedIn and looking at large companies, then checking if you have second connections that work there. Approach the second connections by using your first connection as leverage.

    Getting into marketing without a degree would be hard. Not impossible though.

    • danielkcheung on 12/10/2016 - 20:44

      I've been doing just that today :) One of LinkedIn's suggested jobs was how a marketing role came to mind (I was going to apply for entry level admin stuff again). Reading (CBA) job descriptions have been useful (and I have a lot of related/transferable experience/results).

      I don't have a marketing degree per se. I do have an unrelated Bachelors and have done plenty of theoretical marketing concepts in my now abandoned MBA.

      • poboy on 12/10/2016 - 22:19

        I would recommend against Admin. The business will typecast you immediately and then won't let you out again. What you could do is negotiate 50% of your time in a marketing function, then 50% in another function.

        • danielkcheung on 12/10/2016 - 22:51

          I feel as though I'd be selling myself short in an admin role. The past 6-years have taught me about pushing myself beyond my comfort zones and having read a few job descriptions, I have nothing to lose. I'd still want to sit down with some people to get a better understanding of what they actually do.

          In the mean time, I'll be crafting personalised CVs for each role since all my editing has been done :P

  • Savas on 12/10/2016 - 22:16
    +2

    Starting to think OP should've made it lunch

  • nomoneynoproblems on 12/10/2016 - 22:21
    +1

    Damn man, sorry to hear that its come to this. I'm in a similar spot and wish you all the best.

    • danielkcheung on 12/10/2016 - 22:49

      It's not all doom and gloom. Wedding photography was never the answer for more than a few years. Physically it doesn't make too much sense once I hit my 40s plus I do want (some of) my weekends back :P

      Secondly, with my vast experience as a wedding photographer, I am working on a venture that levels the marketing playing field whilst connecting marrying couples with qualified, vetted, and reliable wedding photographers. This will take years to gain sustainable revenue as I don't want to go the VC route. I'd love to do this on the side with a salary job.

      The dream is to be location independent one day. Just not as soon as I had thought. The wife is incredible and I should do my best whilst my body and circumstances can allow it.

  • Camembert on 13/10/2016 - 10:34
    +2

    I'm in the marketing/comms field (more focused on comms now). It took me a good 8 years to get to a good position, but finding the first job after my comms degree was relatively easy as I had office admin experience (and the role paid peanuts!)

    I think if you focus on an entry level marketing role (coordinator or assistant mostly) for a creative company, you may have more luck. I can say with certainty that in my previous marketing roles, I would have hired a coordinator who had photography and business skills as they are definitely transferable! Your business experience would count to me for a lot more than a fresh grad with a degree and limited office skills, especially for an entry level role.

    Have you considered part-time study in marketing or comms? If so, I'd suggest uni or tafe over a private college. If you've enrolled in a course and have that in your CV, it may help show you're serious about a career in marketing/comms.

    If you have any questions or want to know more, feel free to PM me :)

    • danielkcheung on 13/10/2016 - 13:55
      +1

      Thanks for taking the time to reply :) I've put out some feelers talk to some more people.

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