This blog post was written for a marketing seminar class at George Brown College and originally published on my website www.rightinthatmiddle.com
It shouldn’t be a surprise to you when I say this, but networking is important when you are establishing yourself in your career. Insightful, but easier said than done.
Where the first semester of digital marketing was all about theory, the second semester pushed the application. And this application was no more evident than in our digital marketing seminar where we met people from all areas of the industry. In class, our presenters focused not only on highlighting their expertise but also took the conversation deeper exploring how data has influenced the landscape and the true power of digital tools.
Hearing from industry leaders throughout the semester showed the diversity of opinions in the field. It is true -anything can be marketed, and anyone can be a marketer.
To connect or not to connect
Like many other industries, marketing is about who you know. Given the fact that this business is about people, it shouldn’t be surprising that as young marketers there is a lot of encouragement to connect and build your network. At the same time, how do you know you are connecting with the right people?
There were some weeks I would rush to LinkedIn to find the individual and connect immediately. I wanted to continue whatever impression I had made in class and reach out right away. Truthfully told, it was also an excellent way for me to ensure that I followed through.
Industry professionals were not the only ones I was able to connect with over the semester. Both inside and outside of the classroom I met many new classmates. Meeting my classmates in breakout groups was a great chance to get to know people on a more intimate level while also learning more about their processes as we tackled case studies. I have been extremely excited to see more faces online and finally start to connect names to certain people I know I have interacted with this semester.
Being picky isn’t a bad thing
Not everyone is going to like every area of marketing. I am sure that sentiment can be said for most professions. In my previous life as a barista, I can tell you countless tasks I was responsible for that I did not enjoy, yet I continued with the work. In marketing, there is a bit more wiggle room. While of course, we will not like every area of our job, we can certainly be strategic about what areas of the industry we place our focus on as we look towards our first jobs as digital marketers.
After being in this class I know with confidence what areas of the industry I will continue to pursue in marketing. When I came into the program, I had a few different goals and a lot of them were skill-based. Now not only do I feel I have gained a new understanding, but I also feel like I know where I want to continue in this industry.
It shouldn’t be a surprise; I love history and politics. I always have, and always will. I think it is an area that will always interest me. It has shaped so much of who I am and how I see the world, and it is the place where I learned how to be good at learning and understanding.
If I can do marketing in areas that relate to those fields, I will do it. Until I can secure that opportunity, I am so ready and excited by the chance to focus on strategic marketing, public sector marketing, content marketing, and social media marketing.
These are areas that I not only enjoy but also feel connect directly to how I want to grow this platform. Like I said earlier anything can be marketed and I don’t see why history and politics can’t be the same.
Networking is like dating…
It can be scary to make the first move.
Over the past semester, I have tried much more to be fearless in my professional career. I have faced many hiccups from missed moments to personal crises taking centre stage, it has been challenging to make time for such an important task as networking.
Inside the classroom, I took delight in connecting with Caroline Berryman, program manager for York Region, as I was able to share a passion for engaging people with everyday issues that matter. Learning about how to be effective in the government through marketing is something I have wanted to do but didn’t know how until after I saw her presentation.
Outside the classroom, I loved the opportunity to visit Publicis Canada in Toronto with classmates and learn from the brilliant minds of Alister Adams, Jessica Balter and Rylee Strachan. Learning about how people were able to get their start in the industry and what types of skills to focus on was immensely helpful to learn from everyone at that organization. And hey, I can’t complain when I get a cozy sweater. I may or may not be wearing it right now while I write this amazing review…
Building a base to launch
It can be hard to network. Sharing who you are can be challenging and making yourself stand out can be daunting, but it is worth the effort.
Learning from others is the best way to grow what you’re doing and building my network has been a crucial element of that growth. I am glad I have had the chance to get my feet wet in this program as I expose myself increasingly to the digital marketing world. I can’t wait to see how I can work with my connections to drive my goals in this industry.
Who knows who I will connect with next? I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Do you think networking is an effective way to grow your career?
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