Question

Topic: Career/Training

Career In Marketing!!!how To Go About It???

Posted by Anonymous on 4/25/2008 at 6:43 AM ET 500 Points
Dear all,

I would highly appreciate your assistance with regard to a career decision. I guess it would have been better if I sent you all my CV to explain my situation but, I shall briefly tell you the story and hope to get some feedback/advice from all of you.

I am currently stuck in a workplace which I hate. My first degree was in law whereas my master’s degree was in international studies which included optional marketing subjects such as International Marketing, Marketing Communication and etc. My thesis was on international marketing and branding for which I obtained grade A. Soon after my masters degree I started my career in marketing but, only for six months as, in the meantime, I was offered a job at a legal consultancy company. I was offered salary double to that of the marketing position. I took it. I was 24, young and willing to earn some money, which compensated for my feelings of sorrow for leaving marketing industry. Needless to say that I think about marketing every day, career prospects, creativity, strategising, thinking in marketing terms and etc. The question is:
HOW DO I GET INTO MARKETING (AGAIN)???

I am always asked why legal consultancy? I am told I much better suited for a job of a different nature much better. I must say it did give me extensive client relations experience, PR activities, management and organisation of work, client negotiation and etc. In addition, there is the strong academic background and knowledge of marketing theories.
BUT WHO CARES ABOUT THIS??? THERE IS NO REAL MARKETING EXPERIENCE IN MY CV?

Who is going to consider me for marketing position with this kind of CV? I am afraid of interview questions such as: “why marketing now, why not three or four years earlier if you are so into marketing“, “why legal consultancy first and now marketing“.

There is no real connection and who really cares about the academic background when you lack in real work experience? Should I mention in my CV those six months experience in marketing? I am afraid it will backfire? “So, you are interested in marketing, you started career in marketing, it went on for six months and then you moved to legal consultancy company (which has nothing to do with marketing) and, now, you want to work in marketing again“! How about that for an interview question? How do I answer this potential question?

My plan is to „sneak“into marketing through PR, client relations or corporate communication position (all of which are my interests) and, subsequently progress into more strategic marketing and branding position.
Am I a lost care, forever to be stuck in the legal profession?

Pleeeease help! All your advice and suggestions will be highly appreciated. I hope they will assist me in realising my burning desire to step into the marketing industry (again)!

Many thanks,
Emir




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RESPONSES

  • Posted by darcy.moen on 4/25/2008 at 9:35 AM Accepted
    Before making a HUGE change in your career, why not dabble and EARN your stripes? You came to one of the most dynamic and interesting forums on the planet that, ummm, just happens to offer ANYONE who can register themselves the opportunity to ANSWER questions and offer SUPPORT to business people who have marketing problems.

    Uh-huh, this place could help you give your inner marketer one heck of a workout. Everyday you can return, pick a question, offer up your response, and earn not only points, but personal pride. There was a time in my life when I felt pretty darn low and lost. I had sold my beloved business and *GASP* had taken a *JOB* that was, well, less than fulfilling. This forum offered a way to keep my business and marketing mind sharp, not to mention some of the questions even stretched and strengthened my abilities. All the while, I was affirming that my particular expertise had purpose beyond my former business field (dry cleaning).

    All this said, why not join your local social clubs and network your way into some consulting jobs with local small businesses? Take out an advert in the local papers offering your consulting services on the side. You might be able to moonlight your way into your own small marketing firm.

    I also agree with the above response, set up a blog and express yourself.

    Hope this helps you.

    Darcy Moen
    Customer Loyalty Network
  • Posted by Levon on 4/25/2008 at 12:22 PM Accepted
    Seems like you could specialize in marketing law. Plus that is a high end industry which tends to have marketing dollars to spend. Have you considered Marketing Law Services?
  • Posted by jcasalou on 4/25/2008 at 2:52 PM Accepted
    Why not get into teaching marketing at a university or college? At the same time you could get into the marketing program for that university and learn how to promote and uphold their brand image as a school.

    You could also stick with what your educational background is...see if there's a large law firm that has a PR or marketing department. They would take you in heartbeat because your knowledge on the industry.

    Also have you thought about joining any marketing organizations that do networking events? Such as the AMA or AdCraft (more advertising focused)...
  • Posted on 4/27/2008 at 3:05 PM Accepted
    I would re-do your resume. Highlite the marketing experience. Change the name of what you did. "Legal Consultancy? An interviewer (if you get that far) is going to waste five minutes of your precious interview time with you explianing what it is.

    Focus on the marketing aspect of your job. I strongly feel you do have marketing experience. Were you responsible for client generation (sales)? Did you manage the client relationship (CRM)? Did you send out marketing communications ? Did you solve their problems? Did you gain repeat business or referrals?

    You also show tremendous value to a legal swervices firm that needs marketers. Who knows the business better than you? You know the client side and the legal firm side.

    This is a bad cheesy idea but an example would be, that prepaid legal company. They are always trying to find representatives, they need marketing.

    Research legal organizations, or firms that sell to legal firms etc. Target them for your resume.

    good luck, I think you can do it. The skills you bring to the table are considerable.

    I was in pharmaceuticals. There was a department of lawyers who oversaw marketing communications. The FDA needed to approve every brochure and statement etc.

  • Posted on 5/7/2008 at 11:23 AM Author
    Sorry guys for not taking you all for your great advice before the administrator closed the question. All your advice and suggestions are much appriciated. I hope the points were equally distributed to you all :)
    regards,
    Emi
  • Posted on 5/7/2008 at 11:25 AM Author
    spelling mistake in my previous post ---- THANKING you all....instead of taking you all :)
    Emi
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