Endless opportunities outside the comfort zone
I NEVER thought that at 23 years of age I would find myself in a marketing manager position, with the autonomy and responsibility some people work for years to achieve. And in Sydney! Perhaps that sounds arrogant, but I say it with more amazement than confidence at times. It just goes to show you can do anything if you put your mind to it.
People sometimes ask how I got here, and it is not too hard to put it down to determination and hard work. All the work experience, voluntary projects, casual jobs and getting involved with associations such as the AMI have helped me to develop my skills and knowledge. Not only is it hard work, but it is learning to step out of your comfort zone. I found that going to seminars and networking functions helped me interact with new people from different industries, thus making invaluable contacts for future business.
Once you can determine a focus (such as marketing) for your career, it becomes easier to take the steps to get to where you want to be. You can work out what sorts of jobs could give you experience to suit a marketing role. For example, customer service and retail train you to work with customers, merchandise and monitoring sales. You can involve yourself in voluntary work, such as market research, to give you exposure to surveys and different research methods. There are so many different ways to develop your skills and experience to complement the path you want to take. It certainly helps to have experience in all areas of marketing that you will be working in.
Then there is moving interstate or overseas for your career. Sometimes I think to myself, “I can’t believe I just picked up and moved!” Then I think about how far focus and drive can take you when it comes to a decision like that. There was a point when I realised that I wanted to pursue my marketing career in a big city that had a lot of opportunities. There comes a time when you have to ‘bite the bullet’ and follow your dreams, no matter where you end up. I can safely say that it was the best decision I have made for myself both personally and professionally.
By telling you all of this, what I am trying to say is that if you want to do something or go somewhere but you are unsure of where it will take you – just do it and find out! Your career can take you amazing places if you let it.
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