Careers in Marketing
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Whether you’re a school leaver, uni student or looking to change careers, a question we get asked a lot here at Rebel Nation is, “How can I get started in the marketing industry?”.
There are many ways to get into marketing, and so many different roles and fields once you’re in the door. Not to mention new roles developing all the time as the industry grows and changes. From social media management/content creator, communications and creative copywriting, marketing strategist, graphic design, videography to website design and development - marketing really is a diverse realm.
Today we thought we’d share Alanna and Jade’s stories as to how their journeys led them to where they are now, Business Manager and Director of regional marketing agency Rebel Nation!
Right about now, we recommend you go and whip yourself up your favorite margarita/cocktail and get comfy, it’s a bit of a tale. We’ll try to keep this blog version to the point but do check out the audio podcast for all the juicy details.
Traditionally, there are two ways of getting into marketing…
1. Tertiary/Study path - Finish high school, go to university and study within the marketing field (design, web, professional writing/PR and communications, business majoring in marketing etc) or complete tertiary study via a TAFE certificate or online course.
Tip – If studying with an online provider, make sure that it’s a reputable institute and that your hard work will be recognised in the field.
2. Experience path – Take any opportunity you can to learn from doing. This could be high school work experience, university placements as per course outline, interning, volunteering for a community group or organisation you’re passionate about (helping with their social media or website etc) – basically getting experience (and mentoring!) however you can. Volunteering your time to a sporting team or charity group is usually welcomed with open arms and is an opportunity for you to gain invaluable real-life experience while honing your skills.
You can also set up side projects for yourself. If you love social media, why not set up a social channel around a hobby and play with the different types of posts etc? Or if writing is your jam, start a blog. If web gets you wobbly at the knees, build a website – these can all be added to your portfolio as work examples to a prospective boss.
Or, for maximum effect, you can combine both approaches! By taking the initiative to get real world experience, even if it is working on your mum’s friend’s side hustle Facebook page, you’re demonstrating to potential employers that you are passionate about the work, learning more and taking initiative.
Alanna’s adventure to Business Manager
I guess I took the path of option 1, tertiary study mixed with a bit of option 2, real world experience. My journey looked like this.
Finished high school with the option to leave regional Queensland for a job placement in Brisbane or pursue a university degree. I chose uni and enrolled in a Bachelor of Digital Innovation, as I had enjoyed art and IT studies at school.
After a few semesters, I got a taste of what I liked and disliked and changed my degree to a Bachelor of Professional Communication majoring in Design.
While studying, I was presented with the opportunity to work full time for a publishing house laying out real estate publications using my graphic design skills (cue meet-cute with Alanna + Jade).
In my final year of study, I moved to a Social Media Officer role within local government while also freelance writing for a contributor-based magazine and writing for a business magazine that Jade launched locally in Mackay.
Somewhere amongst all that, I also volunteered my design skills for my roller derby team - designing event posters etc. I designed a skincare label/packaging for a friend’s side business and, in 2020, I started a gardening Insta page that I used as a creative outlet as well as a testing ground for social content.
Through this journey, I found that I really enjoy the management side of marketing, pulling things together and having an overview of how everything works and to be able to help with problem solving for the client and the team, and that’s how I found myself in the position of Business Manager and right-hand woman to Jade. I am fortunate that the skills I’ve acquired along my journey all help me to understand each side of the story/work in our agency and I get to flex those skills daily working alongside an amazing team and fantastic clients in a project management capacity, as well as creative duties.
Jade’s journey to Director of Rebel Nation
Growing up, I wanted to be an author and I would write little books that my Mum (being a teacher) would help me bind them. As I got older, I branched out into poetry and other writing styles. One of my personal goals to this day is still to write a book, but in the meantime, here is what my journey to date looked like.
During high school, I wanted to go to uni and do a dual degree in psychology and law, with the aim of being a lawyer with a really good understanding of psychology. However, after a family tragedy during year 12, I decided to stay in Mackay with my family and enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts. In my first semester, I did both psychology and legal courses - to test the waters on whether this was what I still wanted.
After a 6-month deferral in my second year of study (hello burnout!), I returned to study and changed the focus of my degree to journalism as I’d always been interested in writing. During this course, while I really enjoyed writing, I didn’t enjoy having to get stories out of people in a negative way. However, I did accidently find myself doing a PR course – which was that “found it, love it” moment for me. This resulted in ANOTHER degree change to Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Professional Communication and Media and Cultural Studies.
As I finished my degree, I started applying for marketing positions – still wanting to be close to the fam. In a regional area, there’s not a lot. When I saw a job ad for a marketing assistant at a local bank, that had already closed for applications, I took the chance to write something really cool and apply any way. And lucky I did, because I got the job. I was super fortunate that my writing stood out and allowed me to work with an amazing mentor for 15 months before being made redundant when the business got bought out, and moved to Brisbane.
My next job was at a local publishing house where I started as a receptionist and moved up to layouts and proofing before becoming the production/office manager. While I learned so much there, and had another great business mentor, it didn’t feel like marketing that I could sink my teeth into.
I then moved to an agency for a couple of years before being hired as the Marketing Coordinator at our local council. During this time, I also worked on a few passion projects and businesses - including volunteering my marketing skills for a local animal rescue group, freelance copywriting, launching a regional business magazine and started a women’s networking group with a friend.
As the freelance work grew, I realised I had enough work to make it in business as a sole trader – so I left my cushy council job to go out on my own. Two years into that, Kylie Porter approached me about buying her Out of the Blue Marketing agency - which I did, taking over on 1 January 2018. We rebranded a year later as Rebel Nation, to complete the merge between my sole trader business and the agency, and just this year launched a new arm of the business, bridgED.
What’s our point? It’s simple really - there’s many ways to get where you want in life, and who you are and what drives you is going to help you get there. The more you work at something, the better you get. And if you are looking to break into a marketing career, here’s what we look for in new team members – refined, job specific skills aside.
Passion – You can’t teach this, but if someone is enthusiastic and excited about what they do, that really shows.
Initiative – Going the extra mile earns a gold star and helps you stand out from the crowd.
Willingness to learn – Marketing is an ever-evolving industry that requires constant learning. Not to mention - if your skills aren’t the strongest but you’re open to learning and feedback, then we see that as a plus (skills can get taught and practiced, if willing).
Flexible – Again, ever-evolving industry with varying clients and moving goal posts – you need to be flexible and open to change.
Problem solving – A BIG part of marketing is problem solving. Understanding the goal and working out how to get there is most of what the job entails - no matter which area you find yourself in.
Clear communication skills – Agency, inhouse or freelance, you will always have a client to work for and team you need to communication clearly with, even if copy isn’t your thing. This makes for a smoother, happier and more productive work environment.