help a guy with a marketing degree create more career options
November 10, 2009 6:47 AM Subscribe
I am turning 40 on Friday, and getting my act together career-wise is overdue. I have had bipolar in recent years and haven't worked since April 2005, though I am getting better and believe I could get in mental shape for work in the next 12 months. I have a degree in marketing, though I graduated a long time ago (1991). Since then I have worked in sales admin (processing enquiries), did some basic marketing in a small firm (without much success, I have to say) and also was a junior consultant where I delivered presentations on internet marketing around the country (basically the same presentation in different places). The last one I was the happiest with as our company had a steady contract to do them, I got good feedback and knew I was "earning my corn".
However I am now in a long-term relationship and don't want to travel all round the country. Ideally I would use the next 12 months to buy current marketing books and refresh my knowledge, then seek a position where I could learn on-the-job within an existing marketing department (being the sole marketing person in a small firm didn't work out too well for me). However I would like to think up some alternative options that I could also investigate. My strong points are patience, empathy, writing skills and working with information. My weak points are lack of assertiveness and having a hard time dealing with difficult people. I have another limitation in that because my fiancee is unable to work, once I work I will need to support us both on my salary since her benefits will be finished. So I guess I need to be making around £20,000 ($30,000) a year fairly soon after being in the new career to support two people on one salary.
Also if anyone is a marketing practitioner and could recommend a worthwhile book or online course that would be great. In some ways going after a marketing career seems the simplest since I would not have to go back to school but I am not sure my heart is really in it.
I know you are not my career advisor, but if any alternative careers that I would be qualified for with my background spring to mind please say so.
However I am now in a long-term relationship and don't want to travel all round the country. Ideally I would use the next 12 months to buy current marketing books and refresh my knowledge, then seek a position where I could learn on-the-job within an existing marketing department (being the sole marketing person in a small firm didn't work out too well for me). However I would like to think up some alternative options that I could also investigate. My strong points are patience, empathy, writing skills and working with information. My weak points are lack of assertiveness and having a hard time dealing with difficult people. I have another limitation in that because my fiancee is unable to work, once I work I will need to support us both on my salary since her benefits will be finished. So I guess I need to be making around £20,000 ($30,000) a year fairly soon after being in the new career to support two people on one salary.
Also if anyone is a marketing practitioner and could recommend a worthwhile book or online course that would be great. In some ways going after a marketing career seems the simplest since I would not have to go back to school but I am not sure my heart is really in it.
I know you are not my career advisor, but if any alternative careers that I would be qualified for with my background spring to mind please say so.
This thread is closed to new comments.
I'm curious as to how you define "marketing".
posted by KokuRyu at 9:32 AM on November 10, 2009