Here's how you can navigate the lack of experience in Creative Strategy when changing careers.

In my view, one has to be a continuous learner. Not only to keep up with current trends and innovations, but to be able to advise C-suite leaders or clients to embrace a spirit of experimentation and calculated risk-taking by advising them to try new approaches, challenge conventional thinking, and be willing to learn from both successes and failures.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to be a "creative thinker" — which is the cornerstone of any successful marketing strategy. It involves thinking outside the box to develop unique ideas and solutions. This skill is crucial for creating compelling narratives that capture the audience's attention and differentiate the brand from its competitors.

To overcome the lack of expertise in Creative Strategy, embrace learning and skill transfer, as well as active networking and strategic volunteering. Additionally, focus on developing a portfolio and participating in personal initiatives to effectively demonstrate your expertise.

Eu reflito sobre minhas funções anteriores e identifico como essas habilidades me ajudaram a alcançar resultados. Em seguida, articulo essas instâncias para mostrar como meu plano de fundo pode trazer uma perspectiva única para tarefas de estratégia criativa. Essa abordagem ajuda a compensar minha falta de experiência direta, destacando minhas habilidades comprovadas em áreas relacionadas.

Según mi propia experiencia, transferí habilidades que adquirí dentro de mi carrera de grado y en mis primeras experiencias laborales para sentar las bases y tener nociones para dirigir el departamento de Diseño de las marcas que maneja, y siendo el Diseño una herramienta del Marketing. Asi que para mi el transferir habilidades adquiridas fue la mejor estrategia para poder desempañarme de la mejor maneja en mis siguientes puestos del area de Marketing.

All experience is beneficial to understanding customers. Just place yourself in the customers shoes, trust your “gut” and your past experience will guide in identifying the key insight.

El éxito en la creatividad se rige por la capacidad de integrar tantas miradas diferentes como te sea posible. Si cogemos un ejemplo al azar como la comida, veremos claramente como la mirada de nuestra abuela, la de una persona vegetariana y la de un chef de estrella Michelin, son completamente diferentes pero perfectamente válidas y complementarias. Los 3 enfoques aunque provenientes de diversas perspectivas, transfieren conocimientos sólidos, haciéndolos ideales para potenciar la creatividad. Por tanto, tener un background distinto, lejos de ser un hándicap, es una grandísima fortaleza y en muchas ocasiones, nos ayudará a salir de los marcos que nos autoimponemos logrando desarrollar nuevas ideas.

Identify and articulate how your existing skills apply to creative strategy. For example, project management skills are essential for overseeing creative campaigns, while analytical skills are crucial for understanding market research and consumer insights.

It’s very important in the area of advertising/ communication/ creative to regularly network with your ex-colleagues, the clients that you’ve worked with, within industry forums or even just within say smaller online groups too that one feels for is passionate about. Let’s say someone is really inclined in writing content/ copy there’s a lot of online groups/ forums and joining and network in with people there could be a good way to also create some opportunities for one’s next move

O networking é uma ferramenta poderosa ao entrar em um novo campo. Eu me conecto com profissionais em estratégia criativa por meio de plataformas de mídia social, eventos do setor e seminários. O networking ativo fornece insights sobre as nuances do campo e pode levar a oportunidades de mentoria ou oportunidades de emprego. Ao fazer networking, concentro-me na construção de relacionamentos genuínos, em vez de apenas buscar benefícios imediatos. Compartilhar minha jornada e aprender com as experiências dos outros pode fornecer uma orientação inestimável enquanto navego pela minha mudança de carreira.

Connect with professionals in the creative strategy field through LinkedIn, industry events, and professional organizations. Join groups and forums related to creative strategy to learn from discussions and build relationships. Networking can lead to mentorship opportunities and job referrals.

Active participation in networking and fostering relationships is widely regarded as a crucial component of success, particularly for aspiring designers aiming for widespread recognition. Embracing social engagement not only enriches one's experiences but also strengthens connections with clients, facilitates effective communication, allows for mutual learning with fellow designers, and ultimately enhances professional growth.

In times of overwhelm, I often hear a voice urging me to reconnect with old friends, those who shared experiences and laughter in a different chapter of life. But it's not always easy, especially when years have passed and daily contact has become rare. Yet, it's crucial to show we care beyond moments of need, otherwise, our intentions may seem purely transactional. Reaching out with a simple "how are you?" can spark meaningful conversations, rekindle old bonds, and remind us of the support network we have. So, pick up the phone, send a message, or schedule a coffee date. It's never too late to reconnect and nurture those valuable friendships. #networking #relationships #genuine #connection #friendship

Building a portfolio is crucial for showcasing your strategic thinking and creativity, especially when transitioning into a career in Creative Strategy. Start by volunteering for projects with non-profits, startups, or community organizations to gain hands-on experience. If live projects are scarce, create mock campaigns for brands you admire. Ensure your portfolio includes a range of skills and transform your projects into detailed case studies. Finally, make your portfolio visually appealing and engaging using visuals and compelling narratives.

Another effective strategy is to charge minimal fees at the beginning of your career to build a strong portfolio. For instance, during the first two years of my agency, we charged clients just enough to cover overhead costs. This approach allowed us to work on a diverse range of projects, showcasing our strategic and creative abilities. This method can help you gain valuable experience and create a portfolio that speaks volumes about your capabilities.

Criar um portfólio que demonstre sua compreensão da estratégia criativa é essencial. Eu começo trabalhando em projetos hipotéticos ou oferecendo meus serviços para organizações sem fins lucrativos ou pequenas empresas. Documento meu processo, desde a pesquisa e ideação até a execução e resultados, para mostrar meu pensamento estratégico. Um portfólio bem elaborado muitas vezes pode falar mais alto do que anos de experiência, pois demonstra diretamente minha capacidade para potenciais empregadores ou clientes.

Muchos piensan que no tener trabajo o experiencia es una limitante para la creación de un portafolio, todo lo contrario: cuando aún no has tenido la experiencia de trabajar para ninguna marca, tenés la oportunidad de trabajar para la que querás. Elegí tu marca favorita identificá una barrera u oportunidad que esa marca podría resolver o aprovechar y luego imaginá que te contrataron para hacerlo. Creá tu propuesta y publicala en RRSS, esto a parte de demostrar tu capacidad podría llamar la atención de la marca o de la agencia trabajando para ella y así conseguirte un trabajo real. Otra forma de generar un buen portafolio sin tener trabajo o experiencia previa, son los proyectos personales, estos son capaces de demostrar tu potencial.

Realizar un portafolio es la manera de enseñarle al mundo quién eres. Para empezar, mi consejo es que elijas 3 proyectos que te representen y demuestren tus capacidades. Intenta crear una narrativa que una todas tus piezas bajo un mismo concepto creativo. Eso aportará calidad a tu portfolio para que no se vea como un compendio aleatorio de proyectos. A lo largo de tu vida irás evolucionando como profesional y explorarás otros formatos visuales para plasmar tus ideas. Elige el que más se adapte a ti. También irás desarrollando más proyectos y afinando tus skills, por lo tanto, el portfolio será un libro en constante work in progress. Pero no te preocupes, eso es un buen indicio de progreso.

O voluntariado oferece uma maneira prática de ganhar experiência enquanto contribui para uma causa. Eu procuro oportunidades em que possa aplicar estratégias criativas, como ajudar uma instituição de caridade com uma campanha de arrecadação de fundos ou um grupo comunitário com planejamento de eventos. O voluntariado permite que eu trabalhe em projetos reais, fornecendo resultados tangíveis que posso incluir em meu portfólio.

Recently I have been volunteering my photography services for a great cause that brings me a lot of joy. Not only do I get the satisfaction of doing good, I get to practice and improve a variety of skills, including my creativity. Find something that brings you joy where you can use your creative skills for good. You won’t regret it!

Choose your Volunteering opportunity wisely !! Whenever you choose volunteering opportunity Make sure that opportunity helps you to gain skills which you really want to develop or the experience which you are trying to get. Because, it's all about time !! Volunteering is never free it always comes with the most expensive trade which is time. So, be very strategic that which place , position and what kind of experience you are trying to get from that volunteering opportunity.

Offer your services to non-profits, startups, or small businesses that might benefit from creative strategy support. This not only builds your portfolio but also provides practical experience and demonstrates your commitment to the field.

When it comes to gaining experience in creative strategy, I find that volunteering is a highly effective approach. I usually look for opportunities where I can apply my skills, such as helping a charity with a fundraising campaign or assisting a community group with event planning. For instance, I recently helped a local non-profit develop a digital marketing strategy for their annual fundraiser, which involved everything from social media planning to email outreach. Volunteering allows me to work on real projects and produce tangible outcomes that I can include in my portfolio. This not only enhances my practical experience but also demonstrates my proactive attitude and dedication to learning and growing within the field.

Personal projects, interning with agencies, working on problems that give you the exposure to strategic thinking great helps in building a strong portfolio.

For most creative people, a portfolio of one’s personal projects and work in the creative field is a great expression of one’s creative capabilities. It’s not just always about the brand work done but most often especially in times of changing a job/ new role in the creative field it’s often these personal experiences and projects that can also be showcased in terms of the prospective company understanding the potential of the person

Initiate and complete personal projects that require creative strategy. This could be anything from developing a brand for a fictional company to creating a comprehensive marketing campaign for a local business. Document the process and outcomes to showcase your capabilities.

Creative strategy is a dynamic field that requires continuous learning and adaptation. Stay curious, seek out new knowledge sources, and be willing to experiment with emerging tools, techniques, and methodologies. Embrace a growth mindset and view challenges as opportunities for personal and professional development. By consistently honing your skills and staying ahead of industry trends, you'll position yourself as a valuable asset in the ever-evolving creative strategy landscape.

En mi opinión, creo que lo mejor de los proyectos personales es que podés ser tu propio cliente. Al no tener las limitantes impuestas por un cliente externo, los proyectos personales nos permiten exponer nuestra creatividad en su estado más puro y honesto, promoviendo así la generación de oportunidades alineadas al tipo de trabajo que nos gusta hacer y no el que nos toca cuando trabajamos bajo los lineamientos de alguien más.

Creative strategy is strategy. Establish metrics that align with the environment you are pursuing. Measurable progress and small wins will keep you motivated. Do dare to say no.

The risk of failing with a creative strategy in a new job is much higher due to a lack of experience. Actionism and rash actions to achieve supposed quick wins should be avoided at all costs. This is because it often undermines established processes that are set up in a company for good reason. My recommendation: observe, note, analyze and prioritize for 100 days. This period has proven its worth in distinguishing relevant processes in the creative department from those that need to be strategically revised and optimized.

Mantenha-se Atualizado: Leia blogs, assista a webinars e siga líderes da indústria nas redes sociais para se manter atualizado sobre as últimas tendências e melhores práticas em Estratégia Criativa.

Another meaningless AI-generated question? No more please, it’s happening too often. In this case, can you please tell me what you mean by ‘Creative Strategy’? A business or marketing or operational or tax or legal or whatever that is ‘creative’ in its iteration? or a Brand Strategy that is uniquely imaginative? Or an identity design strategy to visualize a conceptual branding direction? And (and I can’t believe you actually said so) you suggest that one could obtain a ‘certification in Creative Strategy’? Really? Who offers it? Trump University?

While changing carrers is a challenging path, one thing we must be aware is our state of mind. It is easy to fall in the pitfalls of denial, lazyness, or even depression. To mitigate that and remain optimistic around the upcomming journey, we have first to fine tunning, or adjust our mental state. Try to exercise awereness by constantly assessing your mood. If we do not operate in positive mode most of the time, our creative thinking remains sleepy. Once we set ourselves in a positive vortex, we achieve the peace of mind necessary to understand the path and think in a strategic, organized and, above all, creative way.