Question

Topic: Career/Training

Going Beyond The Non-profit World

Posted by walter.rob on 5/10/2008 at 11:17 AM ET 125 Points
Great forum, and I hope your expertise can help my dilemma. After 10 years as a broadcast news producer, I made the switch to Marcomm, signing on as the Marketing and Communications Director for a local non-profit that specializes in matching volunteers with at-risk children for one-to-one mentoring. In two years, I have: created content for and designed marketing materials for recruitment, fund raising, and fund raising events; implemented an integrated marketing and communications strategy based on a new slogan that was designed to appeal to potential volunteers and donors; handled internal communications; designed an agency intranet; created and coded a new niche website designed to appeal to male volunteers; created communications and marketing plans; done e-marketing; not to mention produced two annual reports in-house.

Now, I'm looking to move into the for-profit world, but I don't know how qualified I am for a marketing job. I have no formal marketing training, but yet it feels like everything I do has to do with marketing. Even as a tv producer, I was marketing my newscast and the stories within it.

How do I communicate what I have done to a corporate HR type who may or may not appreciate the jack-of-all trades experience I've had at this small non-profit? Or, am I qualified at all?
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Levon on 5/10/2008 at 11:23 AM Member
    I think with your background you should make a pretty good Marketing Communications Manager. I would just emphasize on your Resume the marketing roles and responsibilities more so than the broadcast ones. You were producing television which is one of the most desired mediums by marketers. Few marketers have T.V. production skills which are a extreme value in the age of the video internet. Your practically hired.

  • Posted by Frank Hurtte on 5/10/2008 at 6:09 PM Member
    Sounds to me like you have a compelling story. Now you just need to do some networking. I recommend you not float your resume... it's a personal preference thing with me, but I feel like the job you are perfectly suited for isn't going to come because you summitted a resume.

  • Posted by walter.rob on 5/11/2008 at 1:05 AM Author
    @levon - Thanks for the confidence boost. As it stands, there's plenty more on my resume about my current job than the broadcast jobs, and I wonder if it's too much.

    @Frank - Thanks for the comment - but when you say don't "float" my resume, what do you mean? As in, don't apply for marketing jobs, or don't post my resume on a job board? As for networking, I'm considering joining the local chapter of the AMA, but I'd like someone's honest opinion if it would help in the networking department. And if not there, where?
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 5/11/2008 at 8:41 AM Member
    Don't list your job titles - list your achievements and skill set. Titles vary from business-to-business, but the things you have done speak should be universal.
  • Posted by walter.rob on 5/12/2008 at 1:28 PM Author
    @amandavega:

    Thanks for the insight, especially regarding the agency road.
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