The background:
- Graduated from target with degree in Economics and Management
- Marketing research at HBS for 2 years
- Founded a marketing/PR firm in high school, kept up with it throughout college
- Three IB internships at MMs and boutiques
- Management consulting for 6 months, left due to work environment
- Currently doing PR in Austin for local businesses
- Currently pursuing MS in IMC from Northwestern University
The story:
- Sick of working for tiny brands and mom&pop stores. Big fish in a small pond are horrible to deal with. Client I spoke to the other day didn't even know what market research was. Hard to counsel clients on PR/marketing when they don't even have stable business operations in place.
- Sick of Austin. Grew up here. It's a bore. Don't argue this point - to each his own, and I say it's boring. Most friends are also in SF/NY/Bos/Chi so it's a bit lonely.
The goal:
- Want to work either in-house for a inter/national brand or at a larger PR/marketing agency that will give me access to said inter/national brands.
- Will also take management consulting in a marketing-focused group.
- Call me a prestige whore if you want, but due to my end goal (VP/Director of Marketing), I would like to work on high-profile clients and build my expertise there, as opposed to working with small fry.
The issue:
I'm at such a weird stage in my career (2 years out of college) that recruiters don't know what to do with me. I'm not an entry-level/recent grad but I'm also not experienced enough for mid-level positions. I just want to transition out of the pidgeonhole I'm currently in ASAP, but most individuals do not want to take a chance on someone who isn't quite at mid-level. And why would they pay me for something an eager grad could do? Should I just go back to b-school and try to transition that way? I've tried the networking thing (oh god, how I've tried), but networking does you no good if there are literally no positions available in a company for you.
Thoughts? Rip it apart, I need honesty. Looks like b-school might be on the horizon. Time to take on loads of debt...
2 years out of college is entry level. Thinking that it's not is probably your first problem.
Also, it's unclear why you've done what you've done with "Director of Marketing" as your goal. I hope you have a good story about why you left the management consulting job after 6 months (bad work environment is not a good excuse). I think you need to tighten up your story as to why you've done these things and suck it up and apply for entry level jobs.
I'll have to disagree with the Dickster as well, 2 years is not entry level. Don't bother wasting your time applying for those positions. Yeahright has good advice though.
I'm not sure why you are having an issue, in all honesty. PR agencies are constantly hiring because the turnover is insane and with marketing research from a target school, management consulting experience, and small agency PR experience you should be a lock for Account Executive or Senior Account Executive at top PR agencies, those positions usually want 2-4 years experience. My only question is, what industry do you want? In order to get in-house you typically need agency experience for most industries, tough it out at a PR agency in a major place like NYC and then jump ship and work your way up.
Figure out your industry Find out the major PR firms in NYC that cover that industry Email HR asking if they have openings
FYI, I know all this because my girlfriend does it.
Nonetheless, thanks for the advice.
I think you need to push much harder at these major firms. My girlfriend's agency just hired 3 people and the positions were all below Senior Account Executive. They only got like 15 applications for each spot, and interviewed every person. Most were apparently absolute idiots. This is a top 10 agency in NYC.
You may say, well the requirements for experience differ.... that's because not all firms have senior account executive and not all firms have assistant or associate account executive. Regardless, there is tons of positions that pop up looking for a 2-3 years experience. Yes, lack of PR internships may make it harder, but the barrier to entry is much lower then you realize.
It sounds like you are doing your MS at Northwestern online. I know absolutely nothing about marketing and Northwestern obviously has great programs, but wouldn't you be better off doing the program on-campus? Then you'd get OCR, a network, chance to move out of Austin...like now that I think about it, this solves all your problems.
Rerum sint fugit vel voluptatem sit. Rerum illum alias veniam. Omnis fugit aperiam qui totam eveniet eos. Eaque sunt ea voluptas similique deleniti.
Iure iure est exercitationem qui et. Recusandae pariatur qui occaecati optio qui aut.
Sed quae sapiente odit corporis. Aliquid iure consequatur magnam velit. Voluptas id enim quod magni voluptatibus iusto cupiditate animi. Et deleniti quasi est blanditiis ab. Iusto voluptas ut ut quae.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...