September's Expert: Susan Hoffman
Susan Hoffman has a decade of experience in Marketing Communications, with experience that ranges from internal and external communications to vendor and partner management, trade show and event management, content and collateral development and even on- and off-line design and development.
Question: I've been working in advertising sales (cable and print) for 8-9 years now, and I'm looking to transition into a marketing strategy, advertising, or research role. I've been on a few interviews for positions of interest, but they all seem to want a candidate who has experience in the exact role that they're looking for. (Although I know that I'm completely capable of doing the job. Especially coming from the sales side and well versed in advertising). How do I successfully transition from ad sales to marketing?
Answer: There are several ways to get on a new career track, especially when you have a skill set that is cross-functional. First, start with your resume. As a Sales professional maybe you collaborated with the marketing department, or played a key role in strategy that directly affected the way the company was presented, or performed market research that directly affected your (or the company's) profits. These are all Marketing/Sales crossover functions and can help to demonstrate to potential employers that you have relevant experience.
You can also look for contracting or consulting work. In many cases this is more project-based and short-term, but it can offer exposure to many different positions and industries.