Retraining from marketing to something else?

[Wonderbug81]

I'm a senior marketer and have worked in corporate environments for 20-plus years. For various reasons including perimenopause and a better understanding of myself (introverted, don't enjoy senior decision making pressure), I want to do something else.

Any thoughts on related/adjacent jobs that:

• Wouldn't mean starting from scratch e.g. allow for transferable skills

• Pay reasonably well and have some responsibility but don't require me to get involved on all the senior toxic politics

• Don't involve 6-8 hours of meetings a day (the norm in my last two roles)!

Following with interest.

I am a Head of Marketing and Coms and of a similar age.

It isn't so much the job itself that I now hate, it is the environment: the endless/pointless meetings, the office politics, the idea that everything can be turned around really quickly without affecting quality.

I am done.

Currently on sick leave because of burnout and I have given myself the target not to be in this job anymore by December this year.

Marketing has not changed for the better in the last two or three years. People are of the firm opinion that AI can do it better so let them find out

I've moved to internal training at the same corporate I've worked for a long time as a digital content designer. It's completely remote and involves lots of writing and editing training materials but some in my team train new starters remotely, back end design and some more admin heavy based but lots of opportunities. Marketing also killed my soul and went off sick!

Sorry to hear your experience and hope you can move forward.

What you say, about not hating the job, is exactly the same for me. Unfortunately the actual job gets buried in all the other layers of corporate/office life.

Glad you were able to make a successful shift. Completely remote sounds like a dream!

Can you share more about how you managed to make the move?

We have an internal jobs board so kept an eye on that and when something of interest came up would message the person recruiting and ask for a chat. It's good to get yourself out there and from my experience, they always prefer to recruit internally even if you don't have all the skill set but have a very good knowledge of the business. You might be able to find yourself a year secondment to begin with?
Absolutely love working remotely!! I used to have meeting all day too and it sucks the life out of you. Now I close my laptop, start the dinner and have time to decompress before nursery pick up!

Content/Brand Strategist - content marketing is booming especially in B2B tech, fintech, edtech, there’s a strong need for strategic content planners.

A lot of work can be done at home or you work for one agency and go out to those business that request someone, either way you avoid endless meetings and politics.

Watching this thread to as a Head of Marketing. I need to find a remote role that isn’t bloody crypto or SAAS, and if I can shift sideways out of marketing while I’m at it so much the better. I’m sick of churning out ideas constantly for no major impact.

The dream! Thank you. Great to know that a change is possible, just a case of being open to it and jumping on opps when they come up.

Thank you. I've moved into more of a B2B role from B2C so will definitely explore this one.

Less keen on working for clients (rather than client-side) but if the role is more aligned in other ways it's worth thinking about.

Hello!!

I can't offer much advise but i'm in the same position and i feel your pain. I work in a totally non-commercial niche side of marketing and have been for about 13 years and i want out but i don't know much else. It's soooooooooooooo hard. I've been doing loads of courses over the last few years but i feel increasing more stuck in this marketing world.

Following with interest! 15+ years in marketing and I'm done, I think (although I do still need to earn decent money). I don't think AI will make things any better and expect severe downward pressure on jobs, and even more unrealistic expectations.

Realise this is a slightly older thread, but
@Geogaddi what is your non-commercial niche, if you don't mind sharing? (One of the things I am most done with is the unreasonable commercial pressure). @HollyLondoner congratulations on your transition! Do you have any advice on what job titles are involved and what experience might be useful to build up for such a role, if one is not moving internally?

Anyone moved into any kind of teaching or community engagement work after Marketing?

Thank you and good luck to all xx

Former Head of Marketing for 20+ years in Corporate
I felt the same as you and couldn’t want to leave. I now work as a consultant/freelancer. I wouldn’t say it’s easy, obviously challenges around business development and building a business but I have loved the work I’ve been doing for clients. I realise I still enjoy marketing!

@fiorentina did you find it a challenge to initially find freelance clients/consultancy gigs? How did you go about this? I've always worked in-house and worry that I just wouldn't have any clients/work if went out on my own, although I have not tried this and am not sure how to try it exactly.

Sorry, maybe I should start my own thread rather than hijacking someone else's. I'm still fairly new to how MN works....

I networked with former colleagues and contacts, told them my plans and my initial business came from there. I have a simple website and also used LinkedIn as a marketing tool, sharing content to keep my name out there.
It can be feast or famine, at times I’ve been very busy and at other times quieter, so I’ve budgeted accordingly. It can be hard to line up future business when you’re busy with existing business. Overall though it’s been right for me for now!

Thanks so much for sharing @fiorentina! That sounds very inspiring. I'm really glad it's worked well for you. Now I just need to get over my fear of self-promotion/linkedin haha!

This sounds like a great pivot!

Fellow burned out 42 year old marketer here looking to pivot without retraining from scratch too!

I really relate to your post OP.

My last job was head of marketing & Communication. I hated it because of the ridiculous expectations, pointless meetings, office politics, ridiculously short delivery times and the bullying/toxic atmosphere.

I ended raising a grievance against my manager and accepting a financial settlement.

I am a bit in limbo now. I have been doing some freelance work for two companies for the past 6 months but I am not sure where to go next.

Seems to be a lot of these stories sadly. Hoping we can all find better options in 2026!