What do Marketers go on to do?
by Jon Mitchell
Marketers continue to move on to new challenges and ‘disappear’ from the marketing radar, but what is it they go on to do and why do they decide to leave the profession in the first place?
Having spent seven years in the marketing profession this is a question I have often asked myself. Now as a career transition coach specialising in marketing, I feel I may be in a position to answer this question.
But first I would like to examine why marketers decide to move on in the first place.
One reason I come across again and again is ‘quality of life’ – wanting more control over their working life and a better work/life balance. ‘Quality of life’ and ‘work/life balance’ are hot phrases at the moment. When you consider that the British have the longest working hours in Europe, you don’t have to look far to realise why. This isn’t purely limited to marketing, but it is certainly one of the key reasons why Marketers decide to move on.
Time spent on the job also contributes to stress and burn out. Not only are marketers working longer hours, but the pressure to deliver is increasing. The Internet, email, and mobile communications are proving to be a double-edged sword. The digital revolution gives us more information at a faster rate and allows us to be more flexible with our work location and house; but with these benefits comes greater expectations.
Most marketers I know have a computer and some type of office space at home. As a result, they work longer hours. I often hear stories of people catching up with work in evenings, feeling it is the only time they can catch up on admin, e-mails etc.
Age is another factor I often come across, mainly with relation to Marketers working in agencies. The average age in a marketing agency is 27 years old. If you are in your late 30’s and haven’t made it to a senior position people often feel it is time to consider other options.
Sometimes Marketers become disillusioned with the industry. They lose the feeling that they are ‘making a worthwhile and real difference’ and want to get that feeling back. I also have clients who are simply looking for a new challenge. Their career in marketing has run its natural course and they are looking for a completely new set of experiences and challenges.
So what is it they go on to do?
Marketers learn a number of key business skills that are transferable to a whole range of professions and industries, so it is no surprise that the areas they go into are extremely diverse.
I recently worked with a client called Lisa who was a Group Account Director at a large marketing agency in central London. She had become disillusioned and unhappy with the way her life was going – long working hours, stress, commuting into the West End, ‘living on the run’ as she put it. She no longer enjoyed the buzz and excitement of agency life. She wanted to make some big changes but didn’t know what to do.
Lisa is passionate about food and cooking, and through working with Lisa we established what her priorities were – what she truly wanted from her career and her life.
I received a postcard from Lisa just over a week ago. She has just opened a small boutique B&B and restaurant on the waterfront in a small Greek fishing village. In the postcard she told me how much she is enjoying her new life and how her marketing skills are proving to be invaluable in attracting clients. She even offered me a discount if I went to stay, an offer I am more than likely to take up!
Other areas that Marketers go into that I have come across include property (residential development, estate agent, gites and ski chalets abroad, property management), hospitality (running bars, restaurants, B&B’s, hotels – in the UK and abroad), human resources (recruitment, HR, life and career coaching and headhunting), management consultancy, IT, not for profit sector, teaching (Marketing lecturer to primary and secondary school teaching), running flower & antiques shops and garden centres.
With the training and skills marketers develop, they go on to lead extremely successful careers in a whole range of industries. So if you are a Marketer and are considering a career change but don’t know what to do, don’t be disillusioned…the world is your oyster.
Jon Mitchell is a career coach that specialises in career transition coaching for marketers.
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