Applying for Communication/Marketing job

[Ricepudd246]

Posting on behalf of a young family member.

They are 25 and currently living and working up North as a video editor (4 years), but are having a rotten time in work and looking to leave for a better/similar paying position (21k).
I have no idea what a communications job entails, but thought this might be a good way of researching career prospects on their behalf. They want to know if they would be considered when they apply for this position or would need further study and a basic overview of what the job would be.

At the moment as a video editor they have to write radio/digital/tv content, shoot it and edit it. They have to price up jobs to a budget and manage clients directly, write schedules and find locations, they have to train junior members of the team. (Only things I can remember of the list told to me!)

So Would it be unreasonable to apply for this type of work with an editing history? There aren't many video editing jobs around at the moment, and the wage isnt great. It seems like the jobs are related to me, but as I say I've no clue really and that's where you come in. My industry and job application process is unique so I can't offer any meaningful advice to them.

Thank you for reading.

The job local to them is a communications officer role.

Some employers are good on looking at transferable skills and others only want direct experience of the job advertised. Sounds like your family member has good transferable skills, especially at that level of job so it's not unreasonable to apply but it will depend on the type of organisation

Obviously it depends on the role, but communication officer is a much broader role and would include things like writing newsletters, emails to staff/customers/suppliers, blogging on the website, social media, ensuring all are consistent with the brand and in line with marketing plan.

So all the stuff about planning content is all very relevant even if the technical side may not be.

Sounds with that experience, an account manager in a comms or marketing agency might work. They tend do take a brief, sort out a quote, plan out the steps and work with the clients.
You could spin the CV/application that the hands on creative skills will help translate the clients idea to a creative brief that is suited to the people working on the output and the hands on knowledge can help guide the client to a suitable but attainable result.
I have seen a few creatives move to this management role but you have to clearly show good project management/ organisational skills and sounds like he could.

Can you post the job description? Going from a video editor to a comms manager who has to write press releases (for example) would be a stretch but if the role is more focused on social media and creating video content for marketing purposes then that would be a strong link

Hi OP, is it possible to know what industry the comms role is in? I think that will be the crucial thing. It sounds like they have loads of great transferable skills but if the comms role is in say the pharmaceutical industry rather than say the media industry it may be trickier, as the requirements/knowledge needed may be more specialist. From what you've said it doesn't seem like an unreasonable transition.

I don't have the job description, but I know it is working for his local college and university, so I would assume a lot of it will be social media and I know he said that the ad specifically mentions video.

Maybe it's been lost in translation, but I wouldn't describe their current role as an editor. If they're writing, sourcing crews, managing shoots and managing clients, then they're essentially producing - which is much closer to comms management than straight technical editing is.

What they need to do is sit down and look very carefully at the new job description vs their current role and pull out all the transferable skills. I moved from tv production to general comms and found it an extremely straightforward move (it was within the same organisation though).

So for example, if the new role involves events - an event is the same as a shoot (actually I'd say a shoot is more complicated). If they're writing scripts, they can write other content. But (as you know) it's about making it easy for the recruiter. So if the new JD talks about social media and content, they need to say 'experienced in producing and generating content' in their application. Which of course they are, because scripts are a form of content. But just make it super broad and easy.

That's not to say ignore the technical editing if that's needed in new job, because a lot of applicants won't really have that skill!

I don’t think it’s at all unreasonable to apply, emphasising his writing, budget and stakeholder management skills. I previously worked in comms for education and video editing skills were v useful. If he’s not successful he should keep going as it sounds like he has a lot to offer. If he did want to train or upskill then he could look at digital or social media diplomas/short courses - I doubt they would be really necessary but they never hurt the cv.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. It sounds promising, I'll pass it on.

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett I believe this is a part of the reason for leaving the current role, the additional producer work isn't being recognised and therefore paid for fairly on top of expectation to edit and shoot content.

If they enjoy the editing side I would actually recommend trying to find a role in a post house. Good editors make tons. An online editor in a London facility can make 40k+ and often much more. Really good editors and online editors are in high demand at the moment

Hi OP - he can apply but it all depends on how he sets up his cv (emphasising his relevant experience) and how well he presents himself in person. As a op said above there are a million different types of comms jobs, all requiring different skill sets, but it is very much a ‘people-based’ job and you need to be able to build good relationships (both within your org and external stakeholders) and manage lots of different tasks at once.

If he isn’t successful with this role, there are lots of full-service digital marketing agencies who offer every time of marketing/comms under the sun including video production, so he could apply for a job at one of these and look to try and develop his other marketing skills on the back of his video skills.

Only just getting around to replying now.
He has applied for the job so fingers crossed.

@Elletine Are you thinking editing as in proof-reading or video editing?

I work in marketing at a uni and I think we'd be pretty happy to see someone with those skills. A junior marketing job is relatively straightforward and can be taught on the job to a sparky person with good transferable skills. All the editing skills would be a bonus we wouldn't be expecting but would be pretty pleased about. Outsourcing that stuff is expensive!

@Ricepudd246 video editing