Marketing - transferable skills and shifting to a different type of role?

[Kai1981]

I’ve been working in marketing and communications for 20 years. Currently a fairly senior head of dept.

But I feel like I’m using a lot of energy in the role, we have 5-6 hours of meetings daily with lots of new people. I’m more introverted so while I can behave in ‘extroverted’ ways I’m finding it so tiring now.

Are there adjacent/similar roles I could move to in other areas? Or are some marketing roles just less full on. in terms of marketing (I’ve been in this company for ten years so wasn’t sure)?

I’d like to stay in a job that allows me to be creative and analytical. I could also use my project management skills but I’m not an extremely detailed kind of person.

Hey. Firstly... 5-6 hours of meeting a day omg, how do you get any work done? I feel for you.

I've been in marketing and comms for about 15 years now. I've freelanced for 10. Since having my daughter (5 years ago) I've been part time working on various projects. Freelance work is never guaranteed but for me it's always balanced out in the end.

It's a big leap but if you are well connected you might have a good shot. I'm trying to move a little more into copywriting which I feel I should be able to do around baby#2 who will hopefully be arriving next year. So maybe you could shift or niche?

If you're not sure about that, maybe you could start browsing other jobs and see what excites you. A change of industry or specialism might be what's needed? And sound like the culture of the organisation is gonna be super important for you.

Good luck ✨

Thank you! It’s hard to get work done to be honest.

Interesting that this isn’t the norm, I don’t know any better after being in this company for so long.

Maybe trying a different role in a different place would help. I can copywrite but I don’t love it. I like the big picture stuff but am probably not bright enough to become a straight out strategist for example. 😀I’ll have a think about specialisms though.

Freelancing is trickier right now but it would mean trying different things out, you’re right.

Also more of an introvert who masks as an extrovert in the workplace, so I sympathise it is exhausting OP. 5-6 hours of meetings a day, is anything actually accomplished?

Not much no, except the stuff that I delegate to others. Meanwhile I snatch time where I can to work on strategy and other complex docs!

And yes the masking is so challenging. Hope you’re surviving it!

Another marketing introvert here :) I specialise in consumer insights and product innovation. I work client side for a large global FMCG company. I have previously worked in "generalist" marketing roles but found I enjoy the strategic side of things more, so that's basically what my role is now. I lead the portfolio strategy and innovation strategy for the business, the innovation process, and anything market research related falls within my team.

@BoxOfCats That sounds like a brilliant role! Can I ask you made the move, was it just a case of being able to show some specialist and/or transferable skills?

I had about 8 years generalist experience under my belt, but had worked on a few innovation projects. I then basically just re-wrote my CV to dial up all the relevant projects I'd worked on. From there I worked in a few Innovations Manager / Insights Manager roles, until my more recent move into a "Head of" role.

It was a big leap of faith moving into a specialist area, but it kind of helps if you do it while moving companies as everyone just assumes you are an expert (which is not how I felt at the beginning!).

I moved into lecturing after working both client and agency side. Initially I did five days a week, now I do four, and have a freelance social media gig which I do as and when as long as everything gets done (often in the bath of an evening!) but makes up the fifth day’s pay and keeps my hand in.

@BoxOfCats Good point re ‘starting afresh’ and people assuming you’re an expert

@Judystilldreamsofhorses Thank you! Lecturing is interesting. Do you need certain qualifications? I like the idea of a portfolio career where even if some days I am in a lot of meetings it’s balanced by ‘quieter’ work.