How do you get ahead in marketing? A great track record in the business, proven results and a queue of former colleagues and clients ready to give you glowing references will help.
But what if you’re new to the sector – full of ideas and enthusiasm but without concrete work experience to back up your passion?
You know you’re brilliant but persuading employers of your potential takes more than self-belief, although that’s important too.
Well, as any marketing professional worth their low-sodium salt will tell you, it’s pointless to sit back and wait for offers to come to you.
Instead you must put yourself out there and use s1jobs to keep you up to date with the latest vacancies.
Yes, it’s called making your own luck.
That’s what Shannon McEnroy did and now she’s reaping the results with a great job and links to the industry, such as s1jobs, that keep her up to date with fresh opportunities and new developments.
Shannon, who is 24 and from Glasgow, originally studied drama but a desire to do something creative yet also practical persuaded her to switch to marketing.
During her two-year HND course at City of Glasgow College she completed a total of 14 separate internships, getting real hands-on experience and gaining valuable skills . . . and a big black book of notable contacts.
It was a stretch to keep up with her studies while doing so much work, but by the time it came to find a full-time job Shannon was already on talking terms with lots of people in the business.
Even better she knew exactly how to apply the theory she’d learned in the classroom and office, converting it into real results.
Now she works for a digital marketing specialist based in Edinburgh, focusing on search engine optimisation and pay-per-click advertising.
Shannon hasn’t severed her links with the college, and works with the Course Team, delivering presentations and workshops that focus on current industry practice in marketing.
“When I started college I really didn’t have much self-confidence,” she admits, “and I really didn’t think I would fulfil my ambitions.
“But the lecturers were so encouraging and pushed us to do our best. So I’m really keen to give something back.”
If you’d like to follow Shannon and make yourself a lucky break in marketing, get a head start by looking at the latest Marketing vacancies on s1jobs.