Katy Hetherington’s Post

I’d never worked in marketing before, but I once landed a job as a Marketing Communications Manager. My background spans internal, external, media, and change communications. When an agency approached me for a contract role, I decided to interview because I loved the brand and was curious about the opportunity. The interview went well, but there was a concern: I didn’t have a corporate marketing background (although I majored in PR and marketing at uni). My response? My skills in creating content and campaigns are transferable. A target audience is just that—an audience. Whether internal or external, the goal is to craft and deliver a compelling message for a key purpose. I got the job, and it was a fantastic experience. It made me an even better communicator. Don’t let your job title or CV limit you. Your skills are transferable. Hiring managers: recognise transferable skills and take a chance on great talent. They could be a really valuable addition to your team. I thank that manager for taking a chance on me! Apply for that role and have that conversation. You never know where it might lead. #decisionmaking #transferableskills #communications

Skills in various industries are transferable and are, arguably, an advantage.

I couldn’t agree more with Mel Loy perspective here. As a recruiter, I see firsthand how job matching goes far beyond the list of technical skills that many job ads focus on. While it’s true that skills like writing and verbal communication are essential, they are just the tip of the iceberg for a truly effective communications professional. Focus on the strategic, interpersonal qualities that will help your new hire truly add value, lead change, and thrive in a dynamic environment. That's how you’ll find someone who will truly make a difference. #JobMatching #Communications #StrategicComms #Hiring #Career

In today's competitive job market, landing your dream job in the marketing field can be challenging. With countless applicants vying for limited positions, standing out from the crowd is essential. Whether you're a recent graduate or a seasoned professional looking to advance your career, these five tips will help you navigate the hiring process and secure your next role in the dynamic world of marketing. Visit our website to read the blog.

I've been through a few rounds of recruiting people now and it never really gets easier. So Dean Connelly’s advice on CVs makes a lot of sense to me. (https://lnkd.in/eH6RsxAN; PRmoment) The recruitment process is often pressurised and recruiters/hiring managers/company owners are sifting through A LOT of CVs in a short amount of time. Here are a few of my own tips to supplement the useful article above: ✨ Be concise: hiring managers know exactly what they are looking for, so having clear job titles and key words that are relevant to the role are crucial. ✨Be really targeted: some aspects of your CV may not be relevant to the role you’re applying to, so tailor it to match the requirements and experience needed for the role. You don't need a detailed description of a 2-week internship you did five years ago, for instance. ✨Be ready to explain yourself: if your credentials don't quite fit the role, be prepared and willing to explain why your skillset makes you the right person for the job. More resources on our website: 💡 How to get a job in marketing https://lnkd.in/eAZ--bMx 💡 What do you need to be a marketer? https://lnkd.in/e4nHsuHa #prjobs #jobs #recruitment #CV

A degree in communications can open doors to a diverse range of career #opportunities, offering a blend of #creativity, strategic thinking, and interpersonal #skills. As the landscape of media, marketing, and #technology evolves, the value of communication expertise continues to grow, #leading to a variety of high-paying job prospects. A degree in #communications offers a pathway to numerous high-paying #careers across various industries. From public relations and #marketing to media planning and digital #content strategy, the skills acquired in a communications program are highly valued in today’s #job market. By leveraging their expertise in messaging, #media relations, and strategic thinking, communications #graduates can secure lucrative roles that offer both financial rewards and #professional fulfillment. #MassComm #DigitalMedia

People of PR: what questions do you ask when you're interviewing entry-level staff? For more senior roles, it's fairly straightforward, as you chat a lot about experience, what they feel they excel at, how they approached things, etc., etc. But for entry-level staff, it's a little bit harder. What we tend to look for is an understanding of PR, what news is, and the basics of how to write. Beyond that, if they're organised and enthusiastic, we can teach them. So we ask: 🤔 Why do you want to work in PR? 🤔 What is your understanding of the difference between PR and advertising? 🤔 How does a PR agency serve its clients? 🤔 What makes a good news story? 🤔 What are your strengths and weaknesses? 🤔 What types of clients do you want to work with? They're a bit ronseal, but they do a job. What do you ask? Am I missing any killer questions? #publicrelations #internjobs #jobs

A quick skim through any job ads for communications roles and you'll undoubtedly see: 'High-level written and verbal communication skills.' To which I say... Duh. In fact, most of the skills listed in these ads are just tactical skills that can be taught. They don't reflect the *real* skills strategic communicators need that can't be taught, they can only be developed with the help of great mentors and experience, and a learning mindset. For example: - Business acumen (I cannot stress enough how important this is if you want to be taken seriously as a strategic advisor) - Relationship building - The ability to adapt quickly, and often, sometimes multiple times a day! - Influencing and negotiating to get the outcomes you need - Making the complex simple (a skill that takes a lot of time to master) ... and more. So my call to hiring managers and recruiters is this - think about the strategic skills that will add value to your team, not just the tactical stuff, if you really want that role to make a difference. Have I missed anything from this list? Let me know! [Image description: A list of the skills people think we need as comms professionals, vs what we actually need. The 'think we need' list includes tactical, low-level skills like creating campaigns and managing channels. The 'actually need' includes interpersonal and strategic skills, like business acumen and relationship building.] #jobs #communications #career

Assumptions I Had About the Communications Industry Before I Started Working 1. I thought communication jobs were fun. This has proven to be true, it is a lot of hard work, but it is work that I enjoy. Our work allows us to be creative and do tasks that are outside of “traditional” work duties. Some of our tasks involve writing, which I love, conceptualising and implementing marketing campaigns, taking pictures, designing product packages and logos, planning events, social media management, media liaison, and crafting catchy messaging amongst other tasks. All these tasks need to be strategically aligned with the organisation's goals. 2. I thought communications was all glitz and glam. This is not true, yes when you work for certain organisations you get to organise and attend glamorous events. But you are usually not enjoying the flashing lights, but rather responsible for ensuring that the lights do flash when they need to. You are responsible for ensuring that the venue is branded accordingly, in some organisations this means carrying heavy material and branding items to do the actual setting up. You are responsible for ensuring the program runs smoothly and all the speakers are lined up as should be. Not so glamourous after all, but very rewarding when you see an event you have planned for weeks or months come together beautifully. 3. I thought career progression would be quicker. This has proven to be harder than imagined, as an experienced communications professional I now know that you need to work very hard to get ahead. Even hard work does not guarantee growth, you need to either study further, network with people who have influence, do a short course, or any other avenue that will help you set yourself apart from other candidates. The reality is that our industry is saturated, we are all trying to progress in our careers, and competition is tight. What assumptions did you make about your industry before you entered the job market? #LessonsFromMyCareerJourney #CorporateCommunicationsProfessional  

After 5 years of Guest/Customer Relations, I am pivoting to a new challenge :Public Relations. I enjoyed helping guests/customers and resolving issues, but I realized I was missing out on the creative aspect of my work. After quitting a full time job I have been doing content writing and public relations internship, where I get invaluable insight and hands-on experience. Here are the similarities and differences between Customer Relationship (CR) and Public Relations (PR) roles that I found and also the transferable skills: Similarities: 1. Communication: Both roles involve effective communication with various stakeholders. 2. Relationship-building: Building and maintaining strong relationships is crucial in both roles. 3. Problem-solving: Both roles require resolving issues and finding solutions. 4. Attention to detail: Accuracy and attention to detail are essential in both roles. 5. Adaptability: Both roles require adapting to new situations and challenges. Differences: 1. Focus: Customer Relationship: Focuses on individual customer needs and issues. Public Relations: Focuses on the organization's reputation and messaging to a broader audience. 2. Audience: Customer Relationship: Interacts with customers, often one-on-one. Public Relations: Engages with various stakeholders, including media, investors, and the general public. 3. Goals: Customer Relationship: Resolves customer issues, ensuring satisfaction and loyalty. Public Relations: Manages the organization's reputation, builds brand awareness, and maintains a positive image. 4. Skills: Customer Relationship: Emphasizes empathy, conflict resolution, and product knowledge. Public Relations: Requires writing, media relations, crisis management, and storytelling skills. I am eager continue growing in my career and exploring opportunities PR and content writing. If you are a PR professional or have advise to share, I'd love to hear from you. #publicrelations #intern #communication #PR