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Original poster

Fed up with marketing and comms, what else could I do?

19 replies

justdontwanto · 05/07/2023 07:58

Been working in various marketing and communications for about 10 years. Currently a marketing and comms exec and I used to love it but now I’m just fed up with it.

I’m bored of having other departments thinking they’re a comms expert and having to firefight when they go create their own content or video which is ridiculous and then being the bad guy who says they can’t post their own poster they made in comic sans font.

constant demand and pressure.

going to constant meetings to talk about what we are doing all the time, feels like we just talk about what we want to do than actually doing it.

having constant debates about what font/colour to use or what word sounds better.

the business not having proper objectives and expecting marketing to fix everything for them.

I love writing but just feeling really fed up with the whole thing. or maybe it’s the company I’m at? Has anyone moved on from marketing and gone into a different career and if so what?

OP posts:
LittleMonks11 · 05/07/2023 08:29

If you love your work have you thought about going self employed and having a range of clients. Be your own boss. I'm freelance writer/editor and work with other freelancers mostly in design, copywriting, and writing.

Original poster
justdontwanto · 05/07/2023 08:30

LittleMonks11 · 05/07/2023 08:29

If you love your work have you thought about going self employed and having a range of clients. Be your own boss. I'm freelance writer/editor and work with other freelancers mostly in design, copywriting, and writing.

I would love to be a freelance writer/editor. I enjoy copywriting and editing the most. But I have no idea how I would even get started - how did you do it?

OP posts:
Piffpaffpoff · 05/07/2023 08:33

I've no advice for you I’m afraid but, as a fellow comms person, I wanted to let you know that I nodded so hard at your second para, my head nearly fell off. 😉

SaveMeFromForearms · 05/07/2023 08:36

Oh god, same.

Would love to go out on my own but with bills to pay it seems pretty insurmountable to be honest.

I'm sick to the back teeth of it right now.

Kattykatty · 05/07/2023 08:36

It may be the company. Sounds like partly cultural issues. What sector are you in?

Blingstar · 05/07/2023 08:56

@justdontwanto are you me? Identify with all your points. So tired of these debates with colleagues who think they know better are amateur designers. I do think consultancy may be the way forward though.

bryceQ · 05/07/2023 09:00

Sounds like the company is crap.

I've been freelance for 7 years I really like it but it's not for everyone, it's tiring in a different way

Original poster
justdontwanto · 05/07/2023 09:05

Kattykatty · 05/07/2023 08:36

It may be the company. Sounds like partly cultural issues. What sector are you in?

I’m the public sector

OP posts:
amispeakingintongues · 05/07/2023 09:23

I've been thinking exactly this for a while. Its tedious. Public sector too but also worked in private for 7 years and no difference

SaveMeFromForearms · 05/07/2023 09:31

I'm private and its constantly demanding; give us ideas, today (but we have no information to give you and if we did it would be wrong because our own department is deeply incompetent).

Then you get blamed for not driving sales based on literally no info.

It's so exhausting.

LittleMonks11 · 05/07/2023 15:45

I work in a niche sector and stuck to my niche. It's where all my contacts were. I walked into two long term freelance contracts as soon as I started out on my own. Been freelance for 16 years. Been able to WFH and be there for my daughter. So if you specialise in a sector or industry stick to it and mine all your contacts. Many companies are going down the sole consultant route rather than full time staff or spenny agencies.

SaveMeFromForearms · 05/07/2023 15:55

That's great @LittleMonks11

I've ended up in different sectors so have lost my niche really. Something for me to think about.

Fantina · 05/07/2023 16:16

I do think it’s one area people feel their opinions count for as much as the experts who, you know, have qualifications and experience. No one would dream of telling the facilities manager that they’ve had a go at their job.

Original poster
justdontwanto · 05/07/2023 16:21

LittleMonks11 · 05/07/2023 15:45

I work in a niche sector and stuck to my niche. It's where all my contacts were. I walked into two long term freelance contracts as soon as I started out on my own. Been freelance for 16 years. Been able to WFH and be there for my daughter. So if you specialise in a sector or industry stick to it and mine all your contacts. Many companies are going down the sole consultant route rather than full time staff or spenny agencies.

Ah that’s really good - something for me to think about

OP posts:
Original poster
justdontwanto · 05/07/2023 16:22

Seems it’s the same crap private or public sector lol

OP posts:
LittleLegsKeepGoing · 05/07/2023 16:22

I work in a similar field and if I had £1 for every time someone expressed surprise that we need more than a few hours notice to put something good together I could be retired.

Yes, you can probably cobble something together in 20 minutes but it'll look shit. That's why you've come to us!

That being said, our company culture supports the professional aspect of our job so overall it's not a slog. Might be worth seeing what else is out there with a better fit for you.

BitOutOfPractice · 05/07/2023 16:23

Sounds like the company you’re at op!

Original poster
justdontwanto · 05/07/2023 16:25

LittleLegsKeepGoing · 05/07/2023 16:22

I work in a similar field and if I had £1 for every time someone expressed surprise that we need more than a few hours notice to put something good together I could be retired.

Yes, you can probably cobble something together in 20 minutes but it'll look shit. That's why you've come to us!

That being said, our company culture supports the professional aspect of our job so overall it's not a slog. Might be worth seeing what else is out there with a better fit for you.

Oh my god - alllll the time

OP posts:
nodogz · 05/07/2023 16:32

It's the place not the work. Time for a move.

You need a senior team who get it. You don't spend your life explaining what you're doing when you're shaping the vision everyone is working to.

Private isn't always better than public.

I'm an in-house person and I'm wary of freelance as you end up working all the time often for people who don't value you

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