24 May Finance to Marketing: Advancing Careers with Success
Switching from Finance to Marketing
“A month ago I took a leap of faith and made a life changing decision that can either make or break me” This is probably you after signing that big contract. Starting a new job can be highly nerve-wracking and intimidating. You would know this from experience. Remember the high levels of anxiety that came with your first day in “The World of Work”? Well, the same applies to making that big switch from one career path to the next.
Moving from the field of Finance to Marketing is both risky and exciting. The goal for any working professional is to reach the pinnacle of their careers. Changing lanes could almost scare you into questioning whether or not switching is the right decision to make. As long as your decision to change is influenced by passion, drive and a love for this new career path, you have nothing to worry about.
The Transition
Finance is known to be a challenging field which comes with responsibilities. It encompasses mostly money, risk analysis and time, and of course, how all these variables are factored into the investment decisions made within the company and thus, development, profitability and growth. Marketing on the other hand involves the product/service, the customer, communication channels and how all of these variables are factored into the growth and development of the company. While these two distinct fields may seem unrelated, they are both highly valuable.
These functions are important as they work towards achieving one common goal- that of growing the organization. Marketing within a digital advertising agency lifts the stakes a notch higher. The expectation is that one comes into the role knowing exactly how a digital agency operates, technologically savvy and ready to bring innovative ideas into the mix.
Understanding that an advertising agency is a more creative space in comparison to finance, this might breed fear and create uncertainty. You cannot prevent the inevitable but you can work towards managing expectations. As soon as the feeling of uncertainty creeps in and you’re too nervous to go on with the bold step, take a moment to assure yourself that through preparation, you’ll ease into the transition.
All you need to do is to take things one step at a time. Bobby Unser hit the nail on the head when he defined success as the point where preparation and opportunity meet. When you prepare yourself for this career move, you’re increasing the chances of a smooth transition and a beautiful bright future ahead.
Here’s how you can prepare yourself for the big switch:
1) Research
The most important thing about jumping into a new ship is understanding the dynamics of the environment you’ll be moving into. This encompasses a lot of research. Unlike finance, marketing is highly susceptible to change and involves a great deal of technology. Unless you research properly, you will not know what’s expected of you in your new role.
You need to acquaint yourself with the rules and regulations of the industry, procedures and protocols. Research everything there is to know about your employer, your new role and organizational culture. This could be achieved through reading books, blogs, articles and case studies on subjects related to your new job. You could also watch videos which could give you a better understanding and clearer picture of what it is you are to do.
2) Ask questions
If you’re one of those people who are afraid of asking questions because you do not want to appear stupid, then you need to get rid of that mentality and start speaking up. What you need to acknowledge is that you do not know everything and you definitely won’t be an expert on a position you have never occupied in your entire existence. This is where asking questions when there’s something you do not understand, becomes key. If you’re unclear about something, seek clarity, then tackle it head on.
3) Get a Mentor
A mentor is somebody who takes up the role of your adviser. This individual has more experience in the field and will provide guidance where guidance is needed. They show you how things are done. It is advisable that you get a mentor with extensive experience in the field you’re moving into, so that you have someone who’s able to correct your wrongs while they speak of something they are confident about and they have specialized in.
4) Convey confidence but do not be arrogant
No employer wants to regret the decision of bringing on board someone who can not even say their name without crumbling. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be arrogant. Majority of employers evaluate attitude to determine who is likely to last longer within the organization. It is therefore also important to remember this during the salary negotiating stage.
When having the salary discussion with your potential employer, it must be evident that you understand the market, the industry and your role. They must be able to tell that employing you will be an investment to their company. The common saying “Know Your Worth” emphasizes how you should refrain from selling yourself short. This means you should be able to keep yourself within the boundaries of confidence and arrogance.
5) Focus and give it your best.
When starting out in this new role, it is important to focus all your energy into learning as much as you can, as fast as you can. This unfortunately may not be possible with a busy schedule. You need to dedicate time to learning the ropes and putting in a lot of work. The last thing you want is being a jack of all trades and a master of none.
Work at mastering your new role first. You might just want to keep a clear schedule for the first few weeks, put in those early morning and late nights, just to grasp the workflow- you will not regret this as it will be to your benefit later on in your career. Another tip to help you stay on top of your game is to be efficient- work on those deadline and give 100% at all times.