Anyone else falling out of love with their comms/marketing career?

[TodayIsMagic]

Maybe I’ve just ended up working in the wrong places. Maybe I’m just getting old. Maybe the tik tok generation are wired differently and I should move over and make room for them.

Worked in communications/marketing roles for 13+ years. Have a journalism degree but never worked as a journalist beyond the work experience I did while studying. Worked in roles as a comms manager writing news/blogs/social content/working with web agencies or graphic designers.

Had to develop rhino skin over the past 5 years (and two different employers – both third sector) as everyone has an opinion – the website needs to look better (but they won’t release any budget to update it), we need to be on every social platform going (but my business case for a digital strategist/intern even[!] gets turned down), we should start producing videos and podcasts (I don’t possess the skills to film/edit/cut them – “why not? You can use an iPhone for that, can’t you?”)

I’m exhausted with writing RFPs, business cases, etc for some director in a totally different department to tell the senior leadership his teenage children can build websites. Or anyone can start a podcast.

Basically, everywhere I’ve worked the comms/marketing function has been desperately under-resourced/under-funded. It’s grinding me down. Feel like doing a 180 career change and just writing for enjoyment/hobby.

Do you need to do a complete 180? There are so many different areas of marketing. I myself work in FMCG, very different role so have a very different set of challenges. However with a comms background you would have loads of transferable skills, I just wonder whether you've thought about other areas of marketing rather than a complete career change?

Yep! I did and I left that area of work. Haven't really regretted it tbh, life it a lot less stressful. But I occasionally miss the buzz of it

I'm having a similar career crisis myself OP.

Was a journalist and been in comms for over 10 years now and the stress has really ramped up in recent years.

Everyone thinks they're a comms expert in my organisation and I find is so frustrating.

Really not sure what my next move will be. I'm 50 now and can't imagine doing this until retirement!

Change sector. I work in professional services. I have budget and a great team. The partners can be a bit full of themselves but you get those types anywhere. The pay is good too.

In most businesses, comms is, and will always be, seen as a function of secondary importance. A position I agree with, sorry. I can see why that would be frustrating for anyone working in that field. You won’t change anyone’s mind by campaigning for comms to be seen as the most important part of the business, or telling them how very important your work is. So you either live with it, or you move to a different function that’s considered to be of higher value to the business.

I could have written this myself, almost word for word (not third sec though)!

On mat leave at the moment. Far too much time thinking about the wonderfully fulfilling careers I COULD have, if I was prepared to give up the reliability of the marketing money. With a new baby, I'm not sure I am though

Yes!! Everything thinking they can tell me how to do comms and sometimes I do think fuck it, let's do it your way and let it all get fucked up. Which is what is currently happening cos HR dismissed the need for a comms plan for a whole office closure and are now tying themselves and everyone involved in knots.

@HeyBearILoveYou what alternative job roles have you come up with? :)

I think our profession has become increasingly under skilled and there's definitely a sense that 'anyone' can write/plan/do the socials. And actually even just typing that, the idea that 'doing the socials' is the answer to a absolutely everything, rather than one single tactic at the end of a proper marketing campaign.

But I agree with a pp, change sector rather than career. Or go freelance, I don't have to deal with any BS like this.

@KurriKawari I'd really like to go into victim support services, but appreciate that's not a standard switch from b2b marketing! I volunteer in that field and would love to make a career out of it, but need the reliability of a decent wage with three kids in the south east!

Completely relatable.

I've found that since having children and seeking out part-time/ flex roles in Marketing & Comms I keep working for small organisations, start up marketing teams expecting the impossible.

Also disillusioned and not sure where to go from here. Have also considered freelancing but feels very daunting to get going!

I second this, I am also in professional services and it's sooooo different to roles earlier in my career which were as you describe.

I'm similar. Background in journalism then moved into PR in my 30s and nearly 20 years later I've had enough. But I work in a small specialist comms agency and its mainly WFH. Dream job for many people my age perhaps but I need to earn more and I'm desperate to get back to an office at least part of the week.

I left the mar/com world during COVID, after working 15 years in various industries. Agree with issues raised by other posters. Just couldn't do it anymore. Now, I'm a magazine editor and am much happier, despite a pay cut.