Diploma fresh in hand, ready to conquer the marketing world? Before you start that new job, take a look behind the marketing agency curtain and get helpful career insights in this Q&A with some of our seasoned professionals.
Q: What do you wish you knew when you started out in this industry?
Jeff: Not every idea is a good idea. If the team doesn't respond to your first idea, it probably wasn't good enough. So don't make a big deal out of it — just go think of something better.
Ryan: There’s a lot to learn beyond the classroom. It’s a solid foundation for a career in marketing. Now it’s time to learn about relationships: how to make them and cultivate them for your long-term success. Find a good mentor as soon as you can.
Bryan: You will make many mistakes. When you do screw up, step up: Trying to cover it up will cause more harm than calling it out. And even when you do everything right, the result can still be failure. Get up and try again. And again. The wins will come.
Jeanette: Have the self-confidence to offer your opinions and ideas, but don't take it personally if those are not the winners. Try to learn from feedback and apply it to future challenges.
Q: What is the most important skill that new graduates can bring to a career in marketing?
Patrick M.: Adaptability. You often have to wear a lot of different hats or tackle something new or do something that "isn't your job" when you work in an agency.
Barry: Being okay when things change. From client contacts and current team members to internal processes and the solutions you bring to the table, expect changes and embrace them.
Minda: Be curious and ask questions. Always be looking for ways to do something better or more efficiently.
Toye: The ability to connect with people, effectively relate to different audiences, and read the room. As a marketer, you are always adapting to the needs of the customer and target audience and you have to be flexible.
Kristi: Critical thinking is crucial. Marketing is fast-paced and ever-changing, and oftentimes, not all the needed information is provided. To succeed, young marketers must be able to think logically, make informed decisions, and solve problems on their own.
Q: How has marketing changed since you started in a way that affects your day-to-day job?
Patrick B.: Everything is intertwined now. There used to be things that existed in a vacuum (this is a print ad, this is a web page, etc); now everything is planned and executed to be as integrated as possible. That means you have to always be able to see how the full puzzle fits together.
Patrick M.: It's obviously become much more digital and instantaneous over the years, but the foundational ideas of having a great idea and communicating it well to a targeted audience is still at the core of creating effective and memorable work, no matter how it is produced.
Rachel: Every darn thing has changed about the way we market, how we go to market, the tactics available to us — literally everything. The one thing that hasn't changed is that we market to human beings — humans are still humans no matter what technology is at play. The changes in marketing technology have forced me to think about how to apply new techniques to the motivations, needs, pain points, and wants that humans have had since we've been around.
Q: What are some common mistakes that you see new marketing professionals make, and how can they avoid them?
Patrick B.: Assuming that there is one right answer. There can be a lot of "right" ways to tackle any given problem. Listen a lot, ask the right questions, pay attention to those who look like they know what they're doing, and you'll be off and running in no time.
Jen: More times than not, if someone newer in their career isn't successful in their role it is because they are not open to feedback. Be willing to learn from everyone around you, every day.
Jeff: Expecting "formal training" to help with career development. If you want to learn something, go learn it, and then ask for a chance to use that new skill.
Rachel: Waiting for someone to tell them what to do and all the steps to do it, and not being willing/able to explore or investigate a subject on their own.
Bryan: Not asking questions. If you have the slightest doubt about anything, if you’re not sure you fully understand something — ask questions. There’s no shame in being a newbie.
Pro Tips for New Grads
Looking for more great tips and career advice? Check out our recent Q&A with young marketing professionals and find out what surprised them most about working in marketing. And be sure to visit our careers page to find our latest job openings.
By Two Rivers Marketing
