Career Change, 30yo, Single, Current Experienced Marketer

Pivot Eoin

Hi everyone,

Maybe somebody will have some advice here.

I'm currently a work from home online marketer. The money is quite good, and it's really really flexible as far as Lifestyle is concerned, but I'm just a bit done with it. People at conferences and who I know in the Industry keep telling me that I'm too much of a people person to be communicating via Skype all day, working in a home office. They're right. I'm not happy doing this anymore, it has allowed me to travel a lot which was great, but I'm not too pushed about that anymore.

Let me just say, that I realize that this is a very privileged spot to be in, and most people (think) would swap their job for mine in an instant. I just need more people interaction and to feel like my job is doing more. I'm not looking to go into the Marketing Agency space in Dublin, as I have been there before and found it to be full of people who love to blow smoke up their own hole, but really get **** all done.

I've reached out to an executive coach (Find recruiters just want to push me into one of their empty roles) to see if they can assess my Skills Base and apply it to a certain market that might work for me, but does anyone else have any tips about changing careers?

Any input is welcome, thanks. E

zoobizoo

Do you want to get out of marketing altogether?

Have you thought about events or sales or a marketing role involving them?

I was a media planner, worked in sales then, then got into events.

It's hard to leave the marketing brain behind.

Pivot Eoin

zoobizoo wrote: »

Do you want to get out of marketing altogether?

Have you thought about events or sales or a marketing role involving them?

I was a media planner, worked in sales then, then got into events.

It's hard to leave the marketing brain behind.

Isn't that the Truth! I had thought about events as I have an interest and this is more related to what I did in College, and I have some experience and obv is great for the people aspect. But I want to somehow cross apply some strengths, not too interested in starting out as an Events Associate.

zoobizoo

If you work from home, could you start doing some consulting....

So you'd be meeting clients and advising them on strategy, where to start with marketing plans.

I'm on a programme with a state agency at present and there are about twelve start ups on it none of whom have marketing experience, or can afford full time staff but would need a marketing person.

Diceicle

Have you considered renting a shared office space?
Would that give you the human interaction / company?

CinammonGirl

I second the office-sharing suggestion. I work for myself also (alone, 99% of my communication is online). I shared a co-working space for a few years and it was one of the best things I have done workwise. Everyone does their own thing but there is always someone to have a coffee or lunch with. We also organised nights out and Christmas parties.

stuboy01

Hi OP,

I share your pain to a certain extent. Have worked in media for almost 20 years. I started out in small businesses in video/tv and events, then worked for myself as an independent producer whcih I found difficult working from home. moved into a shared office space (much better but went bust during the recession). I craved a career change to something more stable but as previous poster has alluded to...its hard to leave your way of thinking behind. I upskilled but with a specific focus on market and am now a marketing manager for a multinational's irish business.
I know it's a reverse journey to yours but what a really wanted to say was this:
I had to apply for an entry level position after I reskilled, i threw my CV into a telesales role in a large business. The HR director rang me to scope me out, why woudl someone with senior management and owner roles (albeit in small companies) want an entry level job.
I was honest, I said, 'what would you say to me if I applied for a managemnet role in your business?'
she said, 'I'd say you dont have the right experience'
Exactly!

Long story short, I took the interview with the telesales manager and HR director, did very well. got a call the next day to say I didn't get the job due to over experience, LOL.
however, two days later the Managing Director of the company rang me. the HR director sent me interview report to him saying that he should really meet me.
Met him, not for a role, just to meet him and talk to gauge my experience and skill set.
They then created a role for me to start the next January.
it was just over entry level salary 25K a fraction of what i'd been used to, and it was a very loose role (project manager) they really had nothing specific in mind for me just wanted to see what i would do.
anyway, I initiated my own projects where i say the business was weak and within two years had moved up to marketing manager and got a very decent salary.

sorry about the epic but I wanted to illustrate in a real way that you can take a step back and move much further forward.
Also, it's never too late to change your career path, I'm already considering my next career (not job) change and I'm in my 40's.