The Beginning
Launching Life Of A Marketing was a personal desire as well as a professional need. It all started with my experience of wanting to get into marketing and facing many obstacles along the way. The community and platform has received amazing feedback which has been so overwhelming and unexpected. I think it’s only right to share my journey to give insight and understanding on how I got to where I am ( I still have a long way to go) and be an example that perseverance is key!
I started my career firstly through education. I went to the University of East London studying Marketing and Media Communications. I always knew I wanted to get into marketing, specializing in fashion in-particularly since secondary school. It started when I was in my business studies class and really enjoyed learning about the 4 P’s marketing mix which is, product, price, promotion place. I was so intrigued that this was the basic strategy of developing a product and service. With a love for fashion, I started to research if fashion marketing was a career option and when I discovered I could I was sold, I knew that my passion had a career trajectory.
Whilst I was in my second year of University I started to look for internships to take during reading week or during the summer holidays. I didn’t see much marketing internship at all, this was back in 2011 – 2012. I did see quite a lot of PR internships and thought this could be a good avenue to get my foot in the door.
Work Experience
I got my first work experience opportunity at Flipside PR doing one day a week for 3 months. Later on, in the same year, I got a one week experience at Hello Magazine in the marketing department for a week during the run-up to Christmas. I also worked at New Look part time whilst I was at University and asked the PR team if I could intern during the summer, I got a two-week internship during the summer. By the end of University, I had completed all three internships getting my feet wet.
The Interview Struggle
I was under the impression that having these three internships would help me secure a job once I graduated. That was not the case. I went on endless interviews and I was not getting anywhere. For a year and a half, it was constant rejection even with all the internship experience I had gained. I have been in the reception and the potential employer walked straight passed me, assuming I was not an ‘Olivia’. I have been in an interview room and been questioned about my experienced as if it was not believable. You name it, I have experienced it.
That was a very tough time, trying and receiving constant rejection. But after a long stint of perseverance and various more interviews I finally got my first job in marketing working for a small beauty company. I was so grateful that I even got a yes, after 20+ interviews (which were with some of the biggest names in fashion and media).
I think the beginning of sharing my journey is SO IMPORTANT because I speak to a lot of budding young women who want to get into marketing but are struggling. I can truly understand because that was me. I did not have a ‘connect’ a ‘bring in’. I didn’t know anyone, all I had was my CV and the skills I have picked up along the way and was just persistent to get an opportunity.
Stay focused. Persistent and most importantly DO NOT GIVE UP
Part Two Pending…..
