Gavin Llewellyn gives his Smart Insights on navigating a career in marketing.
1. Create a winning CV
Marketing is about good salesmanship so learn how to sell yourself. Make sure your CV is well laid out, to the point and includes results. Where possible quantify what you have achieved.
2. Master your interview technique
Consider using the STAR story technique to describe your skills and experiences. Structure your interview answers by talking through the Situation, Task, Action and Result.
3. Become a T-shaped marketer
Rand Fishkin’s T-shaped marketing approach is a useful way to think about developing your skills and experience:
“T-Shaped basically refers to having a light level of knowledge in a broad array of skills, and deep knowledge/ability in a single one (or a few).”
If you specialise in a single area (e.g. SEO, UX or analytics), think about developing a lighter level of knowledge across a broad spectrum of inter-related skills.
4. Develop your network
This doesn’t have to be schmoozing and self-promotion, it could just be keeping in touch with people you have worked with or helping out someone else in the industry. Attending conferences and meet-ups is a great for learning new skills and meeting fellow marketers.
5. Keep learning
Every day is an opportunity to learn something new. Great marketers keep an open mind and treat every situation as a learning opportunity.
Build your knowledge and understanding by:
- Starting a blog
- Becoming a member of a professional body
- Subscribing to quality publications
- Mentoring others
Marketing is a competitive field. To stay ahead, create a strong CV that really showcases your achievements, and stay alert to opportunities for learning and developing your network as you move onwards and, hopefully, upwards.