A ‘side hustle’ is a way of bringing in extra income that’s not your main job.

And they’ve become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among Gen Z.

In fact global survey of 10,000 workers by Kantar in February 2023 discovered that 40% of Gen Z workers have two or more roles. 

Some brands not only allow but encourage employees to have a side-hustle. And, whether we talk about it openly or not, a lot of us have them. In fact, 25% of adults were ‘side-hustling’, according to a white paper by Henley Business School, back in 2018. According to the Kantar study this year (2023), 30% of the workforce have a second job due to economic concerns.

Side-hustles can range from being a musician in a function band at the weekends to renting out your spare room to AirBnB-ers. Using your employers’ time and resources to side-hustle without their knowledge could land you in hot water. But, if navigated thoughtfully, there are plenty of benefits to side-hustling, not least to your career.

It can help you to think like an entrepreneur

While many of us begin side-hustles to ease financial worries, having a thriving interest — that generates an extra income — could actually enhance your employability too. How? Well, being able to think like an entrepreneur could help you land a dream role. Many employers now look for ‘intrapreneurialism’ i.e. the ability to think like an entrepreneur and embody that start-up mentality, rather than simply waiting to be told what to do. Your experience of having your own enterprise outside of your day job could be used as a strong example in an interview or application situation.

Enjoy the balance it brings 

Living a balanced life is not just about work and rest — following your passions can be a route to true fulfilment. So, if you’re pursuing something you truly love in addition to your ‘day job’, that could lead to all-round fulfilment and personal growth. And while the phrase side-hustling primarily refers to paid work, there are also voluntary roles that can provide those elements too. Although they are unlikely to be remunerated, the training and networking offered by many voluntary organisations can enhance your long-term work prospects. Plus, it be a great way to gain confidence. For example, perhaps in your volunteering role you have the chance to regularly chair meetings but do not yet do that in your paid role. That experience can provide great examples to offer in a job interview or at a personal review, and you can get references and testimonials.

A chance to make more money

Side-hustling can be lucrative and if you’re sales-minded then some work-from-home selling roles may offer high earning potential. And the experience you gain might help you get a promotion in your day-job as well. Sales roles can help some people improve their confidence and motivation, and there’s often training available which could benefit you in your primary career. Be sure to consult an accountant if you feel like you need help when it comes to submitting your tax return or forward planning your finances when you have income from more than one source.

Widen your potential 

Let’s say you’ve worked in PR for a decade, but always in B-to-B tech for example, and you’ve been keen to branch out into the food and drinks world for a while. Having a side-hustle could support your case for moving roles and give you the experience and contacts required to make the move. Sometimes in the marketing world we can find ourselves stuck in a silo and unsure how to switch. Helping out at food festivals, for example, could be an innovative way to launch your new foodie career and not only give you the experience but also the networks too. And of course it’s a way to see if you actually like it as much as you think you might do!

So, does having a side-hustle help or hinder your long-term career? Is it something to keep quiet or should you mention it in your interview?

It’s important to understand your employer’s policies on side-hustles — and being open and honest about your side hustle can help you to avoid problems later down the line. If you’re working on a freelance or temporary basis then — unless it’s a conflict of interest — telling your clients tends to be less of an issue, but openness is often still helpful anyway.

It’s worth being aware that using equipment provided by an employer (laptop/phone) would be a no-no. Even if the employer were to say it’s okay, then insurance, data protection and security issues mean that, in reality, it’s just not worth the risk.  And side-hustlers need to consider those very basic things, such as if a social media post goes out in your working hours for your side-hustle, scheduled or not, the employer could have a little or a large frown on their face. Particularly if the PAYE role is one where there are deadlines to be met.

Once all this is taken into account, your side-hustle could become a real career-enhancer, perhaps even one that sees you stepping into the role of employer one day too.

Career Academy is brought to you by the founders of Moxie and Mettle  – [email protected] – 0117 301 8223.

What we mean by transferable skills in the creative sector

One common issue we see with candidates is a misunderstanding of what constitutes transferable skills. Especially when they’re looking to switch careers or move sectors. Getting that wrong can hinder a job search, but it doesn’t have to. To help clarify what you need to know, and to get it right – here’s what we mean by transferable skills in the creative sector.

What do we actually mean by transferable skills?

Identifying and evaluating your skill set is essential to finding the right job. Every candidate will have a mix of hard skills (also known as technical skills) and softs skills. Hard skills are usually tied to a specific job or discipline. Transferable skills can be a mix of both hard and soft skills, and interpersonal skills.

Although many hard skills are honed in particular job roles, some will be transferable if you’re going for a job in the same industry i.e. proofreading, language skills, and proficiency in industry-standard software.

The short and obvious answer is: they are skills that can be easily carried over from one job to another. Chances are you may have more than you realise. But, the real value is understanding whether you have what it takes to do the job you want to, and align your transferable skills accordingly.

These could include:

Why are transferable skills important? 

Before we get into more of the top transferable skills employers look for, let’s define some of the reasons why they’re important for candidates and employers:

It’s also worth noting that skills aren’t the only thing you can transfer over from one job to another. Workplace achievements or awards that are relevant to the role you’re applying for, or even the organisation count too. So make sure you highlight them.

Reflecting on the projects, pitches or presentations that have gone well or stretched you beyond your daily responsibilities could reveal some valuable skills including creative thinking, adaptability and leadership.

What do candidates sometimes get wrong about transferable skills?

The main mistake we see with candidates is that they often identify job (or industry) specific skills as transferable when they might not be.

For example, you might currently work as a production coordinator in TV production and want to become account manager at a creative agency. Although there are some similarities, such as production workflow, you won’t necessarily have the client management experience to switch. Does that mean you can’t make the switch? Not necessarily, but you need to be realistic about which skills are transferable and consider your salary expectations.

 

How can identifying the right transferable skills help with job hunting? 

One of the most valuable ways to use transferable skills is to demonstrate your capability – even if your experience doesn’t quite match the job description. This is especially important if you’re looking to move up in terms of responsibility or you’re changing careers.

So how do you identify what your transferable skills are when applying for a job? Identifying and defining what your skillset is will help you tailor your CV as well as your cover letter or application. But if you’re not quite sure how to start, there’s a few ways to approach it.

But also:

Transferable skills are also valuable because they’re generally more evergreen than hard skills. With hard skills, you need to keep up a certain level of training and learning. But your communication, and analytical skills or collaborative abilities will continue to be useful, as long as you apply them.

What kind of transferable skills are employers looking for?

On the job training is a valuable part of any career progression. But, with budgets stretched for the foreseeable future, it won’t be offered by every company. A 2019 UK government found that finances were a barrier to providing more staff training. Which is another reason employers look to transferable skills to identify candidates that will have a positive impact on the company culture, as well as fulfilling their job role.

According to recruitment sites including Indeed and FlexJobs, the top 10 transferable skills employers look for are:

  1. Problem Solving: Being able to quickly identify a potential problem is a boon to any team. But quickly and calmly working towards a solution to that problem is even more important.
  2.  Analytical Skills: Having a keen eye for detail is closely linked to problem solving, but having analytical skills can help identify opportunities for your team or company. Analytical skills can include interpreting data and making use of research.
  3. Leadership: Whether you’re in a leadership role or not, you can always look out for opportunities to take the lead on a smaller project, and that can include experience outside of work including volunteering or community groups.
  4.  Adaptability: Being able to embrace change or adapt your approach according to shifting priorities will go a long way to proving yourself.
  5. Teamwork: Another obvious one, but great work only happens when people work together. Demonstrating an ability to work well with others, and step up beyond your core responsibilities is valuable too.

As well as:

  1. Communication: From written communication to how you speak to clients and co-workers, and crucially, knowing when to listen – being a good communicator is essential to every role.
  2. Time management: Beyond showing up for work on time (again, that’s a minimum requirement) – having a great time management can also highlight how a person organises workflow, tackles tasks and delegates work.
  3. Creativity: You don’t necessarily need to be in a creative role to bring creativity and fresh ideas to a role or workplace. Creativity can help energise a team and works well with problem solving and analytical skills.
  4. Interpersonal Skills & Relationship Building: Building great relationships is essential to a good working culture and happy clients.
  5. Tech and Computer Literacy:You don’t necessarily need advanced data skills or tech capabilities. But being able to learn in-house systems, troubleshoot basic problems and being generally tech savvy are skills that employers value.

How to highlight your transferable skills?

In the first instance, use your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant transferable schools. And once you land an interview, chances are you’ll be able to ask a couple of questions that will allow you to give some clear examples.  Whatever the example, make sure it’s truly relevant to the job you’re going for. Then you’re ready for the chance to stand out as a candidate.

Career Academy is brought to you by the founders of Moxie and Mettle  – [email protected] – 0117 301 8223.

What benefits and rewards are most important to employees in the UK?

Having been in the recruitment business for over three decades, we’ve seen the rise of benefits and rewards packages as part of job offers. But with the spotlight on flexible working and work life balance in recent years – are they more important than ever to attract and retain talent? Here’s our guide to the benefits and rewards job candidates are looking for.

What do employees value most at work?

Before we get into the world of benefits and rewards, it’s important to understand what matters most to employees. One message is clear, post 2020 and the shift to remote working during much of the pandemic: flexible working is here to stay. Polls by companies including recruitment company Michael Page, and HR and payroll software provider CIPHR both found that more free time outside of work was a top priority across different sectors. And an even bigger study of 10,000 participants by Remote found that 76% of employees want flexible working hours.

So, what does this tell us? It tells us that rewards and benefits are part of a wider shift in working culture. You can’t offer ‘free time’ as a benefit, but you can offer working models that facilitate it, such as hybrid models that cut out long commute times, five days a week. And it comes back to creating a package of benefits that reflects what employees care about, beyond their day-to-day responsibilities.

What is the difference between a reward and benefit?

Benefits are distinct from rewards as they refer to how employees are compensated for their work. There are a certain number of statutory benefits that UK companies are legally obliged to offer as part of any contract of permanent employment. Statutory benefits include at least 28 days paid holiday leave (which can include public holidays), sick pay, parental leave (maternity/ paternity and shared leave) and pension schemes.

Non-statutory benefits vary between sectors and businesses, but typically include flexible-working, health insurance, performance bonuses and subsidised healthcare. Rewards are also known as perks, and can be a mix of gift cards, cash rewards, regular team social events and brand discounts. Some companies are signed up to schemes like Perkbox and Caboodle.

How important are rewards and benefits to prospective employees?

Benefits and rewards packages can make a difference to working culture. They’re proven to boost workplace productivity and morale, combat stress and help with retention, as acknowledged by market reports including one by the CIPD. And according to the 1000 UK workers polled in the CIPHR survey, pay and benefits ranked as the second most important aspect of a job, after work-life balance and above job security.

But with a growing number of potential benefits packages how do employers know which ones to prioritise? Here are five of the most common benefits and rewards UK employees currently value the most.

Benefits:

Flexible working: This Covid-19 pandemic has increased the case for flexible working, and more employees are prioritising more free time. Although remote and hybrid working have dominated the conversations around flexible working in the past couple of years, it’s worth remembering that it isn’t just about location. If a job has to be office or site based, consider the option of flexi time, with core hours that aren’t fixed to the 9-5.

Health insurance: There has been a surge in demand for healthcare benefits in the past couple of years too. Larger companies might offer comprehensive healthcare packages which could include private health insurance, dental insurance and even life insurance. But small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly offering private health insurance benefits too.

Bonuses and vouchers: During these times of economic uncertainty, bonuses are becoming increasingly important to staff. Most are tied to performance, while others are end of year or periodic bonuses. Companies including Monzo, Co-Operative Bank, British Airways and Morrisons all offered non target-specific bonuses including sign-on payments and cost-of-living bonuses during 2022.

Gym memberships: Demand for discounted gym memberships has also surged and are an increasingly attractive benefit for attracting and retaining talent.

Employee assistance / wellbeing programmes: These could be a mix of access to mental health and wellbeing services including a certain number of counselling sessions per year, mindfulness apps, or financial helplines.

Rewards:

Rewards and perks are a broader category, but data from Perkbox suggests that employees have similar priorities here too. There are five of the rewards that employees value the most at work.

  1. Employee discounts (Including restaurants, cinema, and supermarkets) as well as gym memberships)
  2. Greater recognition for work (Can be linked to performance bonuses or social / event-based incentives)
  3. Unlimited or extra holiday
  4. Free or discounted at home entertainment (Including streaming subscriptions to Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV etc).
  5. Free breakfast or lunch

Perkbox also reported being allowed to work from home as a high priority too, but we’re classifying that as a benefit as it’s a long-term working policy, rather than a reward.

What are the top benefits being offered by companies

The key takeaways from the data on what employees are looking for is that they broadly fall into the following categories: Better work-life balance (flexible working), additional financial compensation and stability (bonuses and childcare vouchers). Insurance and healthcare, mental and physical wellbeing (discounted gym membership, access to mental health services, healthy snacks at work etc).

So, are companies and employees aligned when it comes to the benefits and priorities on offer? To answer that, we have collated examples from the kind of jobs our candidates are looking for in sectors including marketing, PR, digital, social media, events, copywriting, and design.

Here are five of the most common benefits currently being offered:

  1. Flexible Working: including fully remote, hybrid, multi-location options, and early Friday finish
  2. Private healthcare: insurance and well-being.
  3. Additional time off: including long service leave, volunteering/purpose days.
  4. Financial rewards and incentives: including bonuses and allowances.
  5. Discount schemes: Including gym memberships, retail discounts, and transport schemes like transport seasons ticket loans or cycle-to-work schemes.

What are the top reward-schemes being offered by companies at the moment?

Here are five popular employee schemes currently being offered by UK businesses:

  1. Perkbox
  2. Perkpal
  3. Caboodle
  4. Make UK
  5. Staff Treats

What do current trends tell us about the importance of benefits and rewards to employees?

The good news is that companies are paying attention to what their employees value in terms of corporate benefits and rewards. And that is reflected in the job listings we’re seeing across all levels of seniority and salary bands.

Several companies also flagged ongoing training and professional development in their list of benefits. But this is arguably essential to talent retention and staff productivity, so therefore shouldn’t be classified as a benefit. Unsurprisingly, the biggest benefits packages were tied to premium job listings and larger companies. But there were at least one or two benefits listed under small company job postings too. The message is clear: when it comes to attracting and retaining talent – benefits and rewards do make a difference.

Career Academy is brought to you by the founders of Moxie and Mettle  – [email protected] – 0117 301 8223.

What kind of marketing opportunities are there in the UK?

Over more than three decades, we’ve seen marketing careers and opportunities grow as it becomes an increasingly essential part of any business. At its core, marketing is about understanding customers and clients and building a relationship with them. And that is as true of digital and data-driven marketing as it is in more traditional marketing. But with so many different opportunities in this fast-paced industry – we wanted to shine a light on marketing jobs and careers in the UK.

What is the current landscape for marketing professionals in the UK?

Marketing is ultimately a process closely linked to sales. But other promotional activities like PR, social media and advertising can fall under the marketing umbrella too. And although it may feel like a sector that has only been around for a few decades, it’s actually much older. The first billboard was invented by Jared Bell to advertise a circus in America 1835. Search engine marketing actually began in 1995, a long time before Google.

But back to business. The good news is that despite the economic challenges of the pandemic, marketing job vacancies began to rise again in 2021 along with media, advertising, sales and PR, according to the Total Jobs Hiring Trends Index.

According to a report by Marketing Week marketing managers have been in particularly high demand, along with roles paying between £25,000 to £50,000. Although there are plenty of opportunities in marketing across all levels, and according to recruitment company Hays, these are the ten marketing roles that have seen the highest pay increases since pre-Covid 19.

 

  1. Senior Marketing Executive
  2. CRM Manager
  3. Social Media Manager
  4. Marketing Executive
  5. SEO/PPC Manager
  6. Marketing Analyst/CRM Analyst
  7. Customer Insight Analyst
  8. Marketing Assistant
  9. eCommerce Manager
  10. CRM Executive

Key concerns:

But one area of concern is a skills gap across marketing. Hays, Marketing Week and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) have all highlighted this issue.  A study published by the CIM and training body Target Internet highlights a decline in digital skills across all job levels and sub-sectors, with the biggest gap in analytics and data. With data and digital fast-growing, it’s important for employers to invest in training, and for marketers to up skill to keep pace.

And when it comes to attracting and retaining talent,  more companies will need to offer flexible and hybrid working models. According to the Marketing Week Career and Salary Survey 2022, 82 per cent of marketing professionals surveyed identified both as important, and around half are currently working in hybrid models.

How do people get started in a marketing career?

The world of marketing is and always has been highly competitive. But the good news is, there are different routes into it, and plenty of entry-level positions. According to career sites like Monster and Target Jobs the qualifications required vary by company.  But university degrees in creative or digital and commercial disciplines such as journalism, business and communications have been identified as providing relevant skills for a career in marketing. Entry level opportunities might come through graduate schemes, which are typically offered by larger companies.

Graduate schemes can run from a three or six-month placements to two-three year programmes. And some of the longer schemes are geared towards management and leadership opportunities. Organisations that currently run graduate marketing schemes include Aviva, DHL, Virgin Media, Diageo, Mitsubishi and Centria.

Another route into a marketing career is by taking an assistant or junior role. Entry level marketing or marketing-related roles include marketing assistant, marketing administrator, communications assistant, junior copywriter, social media assistant, and sales and marketing assistant. Most of these jobs will involve supporting a team and learning some of the creative, digital, and promotional skills that will help you progress and specialise later in your career.

Recruiters, and of course Career Academy can help you prepare for your first marketing interview. But there are also industry-specific sites with dedicated marketing, advertising and PR listings including Campaign, Marketing Week Jobs, PR Week Jobs and The Drum Jobs. You should also set up alerts on job sites such as Indeed, Total Jobs, Monster, Reed or LinkedIn.

What are some of the most advertised jobs in marketing?

Most marketing jobs are in-house, with just under a quarter of marketing professionals working on a freelance basis.

Some of the main types of marketing include:

Offline marketing: Although this is a more traditional form of marketing including print magazine, newspaper, billboards, – TV ads still have huge reach.

Digital marketing: Involving any kind of marketing and promotional activity using the internet as the primary messaging channel or platform. Examples include SEO, social media, and blogging.

Content marketing:  This is a type of marketing that is focused on the creation and distribution of consistent, relevant and valuable  content to engage with your target audience. It can overlap with digital marketing and examples include for example videos, social media posts, newsletters and podcasts.

B2B or B2C marketing: These types of specialist marketing activities are usually carried out by agencies rather than companies. B2B stands for Business to Business and B2C stands for Business-to-Consumer. Some agencies marketers might switch between both, but as the name suggests B2B involves businesses marketing to other businesses, while B2C is marketing products to services directly to consumers.

Based on job listings on sites including The Guardian, Reed, Hays and Indeed, mid to senior level  management and executive positions are among the most advertised. Roles include:  marketing manager, sales and marketing manager, marketing and brand manager, social media manager, digital marketing manager and content manager.

This is also consistent with the kind of roles being searched for by candidates, especially in digital marketing, according to research by the Open Business Council. Some people work across different marketing platforms, but more often you’ll find the type or specialism reflected in the job title when roles are advertised.

What are the average salaries for marketing professionals?

These are the average salaries across junior, mid-level to senior and head of department marketing positions, according to the Major Players Salary Survey 2022.

Marketing, PR & Comms

Digital Marketing

Social Media and Content

How much do marketing salaries vary by region?

It’s worth noting regional differences in marketing salaries. Although this information isn’t broken down in the Major Players report, some of the figures above align with median earnings in London and the South East.

Recruitment website Reed gives the £37,754 the UK average salary for marketing and media. Elsewhere, according to the CWJobs salary checker, the average annual marketing salary in London is £52,500, that’s compared to £47,500 in Warrington, Edinburgh and Cardiff, £42,500 in Bristol and £37,500 in Manchester. But the area where the average marketing salaries are the lowest is currently the East Midlands with Leicester and Peterborough on the lower end at £32,500.

What is the future of marketing in the UK?

Marketing in the UK has already weathered several difficult periods over the past few years. Different factors like Brexit and Covid 19 have all had an impact. But as we’ve seen from the rise in opportunities during the second half of 2021: it’s also an incredibly resilient industry. So, although 2023 will bring more economic challenges, it’s worth remembering the UK has one of the best-performing advertising sectors in the world. And it’s likely that data ad technology will continue to drive marketing, which means more job and learning opportunities for marketing professionals.

Career Academy is brought to you by the founders of Moxie and Mettle  – [email protected] – 0117 301 8223.

What are the best podcasts for creatives?

Whether you listen to them on a walk or have them on in the background while you work, there’s a podcast for pretty much every niche. But podcasts are also a great source of inspiration, learning and professional tips for people in the creative industries. From entrepreneurship and freelancing to marketing and design insights: here’s our guide to ten of the best podcasts for creatives. All the podcasts mentioned in this article and are free to stream or download.

How To Fail with Elizabeth Day:

https://howtofail.podbean.com/

Listen for: Inspiration and entertainment

Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Podbean, Audible

Author, journalist, and podcaster Elizabeth Day has made quite a success out of failure. Inspired by her best-selling book of the same name – How To Fail is based on the principle that our failures can often make us more successful in the long run. Each episode, she interviews a guest about their life and they choose three failures to discuss. Although many of her guests are famous, including climate activist Greta Thunberg and actress Minnie Driver – there are plenty of episodes featuring less well-known creatives and entrepreneurs including fashion designer Henry Holland.

Ctrl Alt Delete with Emma Gannon:

https://www.emmagannon.co.uk/award-winning-podcaster

Listen for: Inspiration and entertainment

Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Audible, Podbean

Another book-inspired podcast for creatives is Ctrl Alt Delete with author and podcaster Emma Gannon. Gannon’s podcast is aimed at people who want to shape their careers, rather than be defined by what they do. Each episode features interviews with creatives and business owners. Like How To Fail, there are a lot of famous names in there, and they’re an entertaining listen. But there are some standout episodes that might feel closer to your experiences, such as creative coach Sara Tasker on how she built her business, behaviour expert Dr Katie Tryon on hybrid working, and journalist Anna Codreo-Rado on freelancing.

The TED Interview:

https://www.ted.com/podcasts/ted-interview

Listen for: Inspiration and ideas

Where to listen: TED.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music

Like the TED Talk series, The TED interview dives into big ideas on everything from tech innovation to climate change. Host Steven Johnson talks to creators and thinkers from around the world including former White House photographer Pete De Souza. As well as fascinating stories and insights – there are also some episodes on relevant topics including economist and sociologist on the benefits of a four day working week, and Harvard professor Francs Frei on leadership. Listen on TED.com to get the transcripts.

Being Freelance:

https://www.beingfreelance.com/the-best-freelance-podcast

Listen for: Freelancing and advice

Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts

Hosted by freelance video and podcast producer Steve Folland, Being Freelance is actually a whole community of freelance creatives including copywriters, illustrators, company directors, graphic designers and marketing professionals. Steve chats to creatives like marketing consultant Nadine Campbell and creative director Reuben Krabbe for candid chats about freelance life, how they got started and their hopes for the future. It’s worth a listen whatever stage you’re at in your freelance career. And there are useful insights from specialism-focused episodes, to tips on building a freelance network and finding clients.

Creative Rebels:

https://www.instagram.com/rebelscreate/?hl=en

Listen for: Inspiration, insights and  advice

Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, You Tube, Spotify

As the name suggests, The Creative Rebels is a podcast by and for people who have rebelled against the 9-5. Hosts  David Speed and Adam Brazier are co-founders of Graffiti Life and Parlour Tattoo. Some episodes focus on creative advice based on their own experiences, but they also interview interesting creatives including The Business Survival Kit authors Bianca Miller Cole and Byron Cole and Lucy Wener, founder of PR and design consultancy The Wern.

The Creative Condition:

https://www.bentallonwriter.com/the-creative-condition

Listen for: Insights and advice

Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Podbean, Spotify, Soundcloud

Illustrator and writer Ben Tallon is an interesting and prolific creative. He started The Creative Condition to speak to other creatives for honest conversations about their work and processes. It’s often a candid and informative look at different challenges we face in our work life. Some episodes dive into wider social and creative issues, including mental health – while others are more focussed on career challenges including how to maintain creativity and joy in an agency environment and how to start over in a new creative discipline.

The 21st Century Creative:

https://lateralaction.com/

Listen for: Insights, inspiration and advice

Where to listen: Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify

Hosted by poet and creative coach Mark McGuinness, The 21st Century Creative explores creative careers and insights. McGuinness interviews creators including artists, writers, commercial creatives, entrepreneurs and thought leaders. Guests have included coach and creator Kay Lock Kolp on parenting and creativity, marketing expert Naomi Dunford, and entrepreneur Vicki Saunders on women in business. And if you fancy something a bit more interactive, each guest will set a creative challenge based on the theme of the episode.

The Entrepreneurs by Monocle 24:

https://monocle.com/radio/shows/the-entrepreneurs/

Listen for: Inspiration, ideas, thought leadership

Where to listen: Monocle 24, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Soundcloud

Monocle 24 is a 24-hr global radio station with several podcasts including The Entrepreneurs. It’s a weekly 30-minute podcast featuring interviews with inspiring business owners from around the world including startups, design, art and branding. There is a pretty big archive to listen through. But if you just want a quick burst of inspiration, listen to one of the 5-10-minute Eureka episodes including Eureka 278 with fundraising lessons from creative networking site The Dots founder and CEO Pip Jamieson.

Letters From A Hopeful Creative:

https://www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-guide

Listen for: Career advice, community

Where to listen: Apple PodcastsAcastSpotify, and Google Podcasts

An archive of fortnightly podcasts hosted by creative coaches Sara Tasker and Jen Carrington that ran from 2018-2020. Letters From A Hopeful Creative is an agony aunt-style podcast where they help a listener to resolve a creative problem each episode. It’s an insightful, empathetic podcast that most creatives can resonate with from broader concerns like business burnout, comparison and authenticity to more specific queries around marketing yourself on social media, taking the leap into self-employment and knowing your worth. Although it doesn’t look like there are new episodes being produced, most of the dilemmas and advice is still pretty evergreen. And at just under an hour per episode, Sara and Jen are great company to break up your working day.

The Digital Marketing Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-digital-marketing-podcast/id373596600

Listen for: Marketing industry insights

Where to list: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible

This ad-free panel show-style podcast with expert hosts Daniel Rowles, Ciaran Rogers and Louse McDonnell aimed at being informative but entertaining on all things digital marketing. Each episode is around 20-30 minutes, and the podcast is a mix of panel discussion and expert interviews on topics including privacy changes, marketing & AI and video marketing. The Digital Marketing podcast is a great, bite-sized way to keep up to speed with digital marketing trends, forecasts and tips.

Whether you’re looking for something entertaining on your lunch break or something to help you solve a problem, podcasts are a great source of inspiration, research and professional insights for creatives of all disciplines. Let us know if you decide to give any of these a go.

Career Academy is brought to you by the founders of Moxie and Mettle  – [email protected] – 0117 301 8223.

What kind of creative networking groups are there in the UK?

With three decades of recruitment and coaching experience under our belts, we know the value of networking. And it doesn’t always have to mean donning a name tag and speaking to strangers. From virtual networking events and talks, to professional working groups and meet ups: here’s our guide to finding the best UK networking groups for creatives.

Why is networking so important for creatives?

Networking is arguably important for any career. But for creatives, and particularly freelance and contract workers: building a network of good contacts is essential. Creative sector work thrives on collaboration – no marketing campaign or social media strategy is the work of a single brilliant mind. Industry leaders like Architectural Digest,  The Society of British Interior Designers (SBID) and Forbes all champion networking for creative careers. And we quite agree, here’s a few reasons why:

What kind of networking groups exist for creative professionals?

Networking used to mean going to a conference or trade event. And those events still have their place. But there are lots of different types of groups you can join for regular events, informal meet ups, job opportunities and support:

Professional Membership Associations: For regular events, training, mentorship and webinars it might be worth joining a professional membership organisation like IPSE (for self-employed professionals), CIPR for PR professionals and Charity Comms for communications professionals working with charities. Some events and resources are free or ticketed for non-members too, so it’s worth checking them out, even if you don’t want to join up.

Online Networking Groups: These types of networking platforms and groups are ideal for job opportunities, finding collaborators, resources and general support. Some of the main groups include The Dots, Hive Collective, and Yuno Juno.

Digital Creative Communities: These types of online groups are focused more on peer support, and knowledge-sharing rather than professional opportunities. So if you want to ask questions, ask for advice or exchange ideas and thoughts on the creative industry – check out organisations like Creative UK, The Design Hub, Women in Technology and Code Untapped. Many digital communities also focus on underrepresented groups, and can help provide a safe space to discuss industry challenges too.

Meetup Groups and Events: Perfect for people who prefer casual and informal networking over corporate events. Meetups are great for getting to know your peers, finding collaborators and sometimes even mentors. Regular creative industry meetups include Copywriters Unite,a regular pub meet up in London, Manchester, Leeds, and Bristol.There are plenty of opportunities for designers too. Dribble Meetups are an international design community with events all over the UK from casual coffee shop chats to large-scale events. Other groups include The Marketing Meetup (virtual and in-person), Sheffield DM, and The Marketing Social in Liverpool.

How much has in-person networking returned since Covid-19 restrictions ended?

The pandemic has shifted the way we network. But there are some important advantages to these shifts. Virtual networking is more accessible for creatives with medical conditions, disabilities, carers or anyone else who might otherwise miss out. Joining via Zoom, Teams or Google Meet also takes the pressure off for many neurodivergent creatives, and other people who don’t enjoy attending large events. But is there an appetite to get back to in-person networking? That depends on who you ask.

According to a study by Handshake, 67% of Gen Z respondents no longer believe they need to have in-person interactions to form meaningful professional connections. But given the sheer number of networking and industry events listed across the UK being advertised  – it’s clear that creative professionals still want to meet away from screens. And according to the Skills and Education Group, in person networking has made a welcome return.

Which areas have a high number of networking groups?

Networking can be a great way to find other people in your industry in your region. Most big cities and regions have regular networking events or groups. London, Bristol and Manchester all have thriving networking groups for creatives that hold regular in person and online events.

In London, major events include DigiMarCon – a two day digital marketing and media and advertising conference which takes place in September. Creative co-working spaces like Second Home run regular events programmes (and co-working is a great opportunity for informal networking in general). There are also regular events listed on Eventbrite, and meetups like Copywriters Unite.

But there’s plenty going on outside of the capital. In the south west, membership organisation Bristol Creative Industries is driven by a belief that creatives can achieve more collectively than alone.

As well as in-person and online networking events, workshops and talks – the organisation also connects members with jobs via its directory and jobs board and encourages collaboration across the region. Bristol, for example, is also home to several other networking groups including The Square, We Mean Biz, and the film professionals’ group South West Talent Connect.

Manchester has a thriving creative networking culture. Like Bristol, it’s a growing hub for creative talent, home to BBC studios, tech companies, and creative agencies. One of the biggest networking groups in the area is the Shout Network, which is a north-west wide business networking organisation. Connected North is also a huge regional event with keynote speakers from digital leaders which launched in 2022. There are also several meet-up groups in Manchester including The Marketing Meetup.

How to find networking groups in your creative discipline?

Aside from doing a quick google search, there are plenty of places to find in person and online networking groups for your discipline or interest. Social media networks like Facebook or LinkedIn are a great place to start. Over on Facebook you’ll find Freelance PRs, Creative Networking, Founders Freelancers and Rebels, Noi Club, and Career Academy’s group for jobs and opportunities in marketing, PR, digital and social.

On LinkedIn you can find groups including the Copywriter Network Group, UK Marketing + Communications, and Marketing, PR, Media and Digital Jobs and Career Opportunities Network. For digital and tech networking and professional opportunities there are lots of communities on Slack including freelance platform YunoJuno , non-profit digital network Digital Charities and tech community UK Tech.

Where and how to find online and hybrid networking events?

For general information, start with an online search or use event listing sites to filter between in person and event type. But if you’re looking for a specific discipline or type of working group, here are a few that host regular online and in-person events:

Creative Equals:

https://www.creativeequals.org/

Aimed at: Creatives and organisations who want to make the industry more diverse and inclusive

Types of networking: (IRL and online events)

Creative Equals is a consultancy focusing on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) consultancy and it runs regular in-person and online events including workshops, talks and the RISE: For Creativity conference.

Creative Mornings (international):

https://creativemornings.com/

Aimed at: Global creatives

Types of networking (IRL and virtual meetups)

Creative Mornings began in New York in 2014 with a simple concept: free breakfast and a short talk for creatives  one Friday morning a month. It’s since spread across the word with live networking events and talks in the various chapters including Cardiff, London, Derby and Edinburgh. Regular online networking events include Virtual Field Trips, which include themes such as job search tips, building content strategy and communicating ideas.

PoCC:

Aimed at: What the acronym stands for: People of colour navigating the creative industry

PoCC is a creative members network for creative professionals of colour designed to drive cultural shifts in their industries. It offers a mix of WhatsApp groups as well as networking and talks.

Ladies, Wine & Design (international):

https://ladieswinedesign.com/

Aimed at: Women and non-binary creatives

Types of networking (IRL and virtual meet ups)

The global non-profit is aimed at addressing the statistic that only 0.1% of  creative agencies are founded by women and non-binary people. Ladies, Wine, and Design has chapters in several UK towns and cities including Cheltenham, Ipswich, Southampton, Sheffield and London and hosts a mix of online and in-person events 

What is the outlook for networking trends in the UK?

It’s too early to say how networking in the UK creative industries will change in the future. But there are some clues to be found within recruitment and employment. Just as we’ve seen work shift towards a mix of office based, remote-first and hybrid, the same can be said for networking.

Another positive shift worth noting is that there are a growing number of networking groups focused on community, inclusion and driving change. One thing is clear: creative people need each other.  And they will always gravitate towards finding support and connection.

Career Academy is brought to you by the founders of Moxie and Mettle  – [email protected] – 0117 301 8223.

What is the current landscape for Freelancers in the UK creative industries?

As recruitment and training experts, we work with lots of freelancers and people considering self-employment. But with the impact of an unstable economy, Covid-19, and more economic uncertainty to come – what is the current landscape for freelancers in the UK creative industries?

How many freelancers are currently working in the UK creative industries?

Freelancers currently make up around a third of creative industries (32%), according to The Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). Film, TV, and Theatre production have always heavily relied on freelancers.

But the creative industries are growing and include everything from marketing and social media to podcasting and client services and project management. In fact, the UK now has the second-fastest growing freelance market. However, it’s important to remember that some people do freelance work part-time, alongside staff jobs.

What are the core disciplines for freelancers in the creative sectors?

A large portion of the freelance workforce in the creative sector work in entertainment and the arts in TV, film, and theatre roles. But the creative industries extend beyond entertainment into PR, branding and social media, digital, editorial, and tech. And within those sub-sectors, there are plenty of technical, support and non-creative freelance roles too.

According to the research by Hiscox, the top 5 most searched for freelance roles within the UK are:

What are the day rates for different freelance jobs?

Day rates are usually determined by experience level, specialism, and discipline. Some creatives are hired as a team, most commonly a copywriter and graphic designer or copywriter and art director. This is usually the case in advertising and creative agencies. Agencies tend to be hierarchical and will advertise for junior, mid-weight or senior positions or teams. It’s less common with non-agency clients.

If you’re looking for a particular job role or discipline, professional organisations like The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), and Pro Copywriters are good resources for average day rates.

But let’s look at the bigger picture. Data from the 2022 YunoJuno Freelancer Rates Report gives a good overview of day rates across different disciplines. YunoJuno is a platform and community for freelance contracts across 16 disciplines including client services, UX, digital, content and photography.

The good news is that day rates began to increase across the board in 2021, after taking a hit in 2020 due to the biggest impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the report, these are the average day rates for freelance by discipline and category:

Creatives (including copywriters, directors, strategists, and creative directors):

Client Services (including account directors, business directors, account managers and client services directors

Designers (including 3D artists, storyboard artists, graphic designer, illustrators, and branding designers)

Data (including business analysts, data scientists, and data architects)

What are the current day rates across Marketing, PR, and Social:

The Major Players Salary Survey 2022 shows current data for marketing, PR, and social day rates. Overall, there are fewer freelancers in these disciplines than in content, editorial or creative roles. According to the report, most of the marketing, PR & comms (89%) and social (89%) respondents were also permanent staff.

Rates in Marketing:

Marketing Assistant

Marketing Manager/Campaign Manager:

Head of Marketing:

PR & Comms:

Press Officer / Comms Executive:

Senior PR / Comms Manager

Head of PR / Head of Media Relations

Rates in Social Media:

Social Media Manager

Social Media Strategist

Head of Social

Why are so many people going freelance vs working in house?

People go freelance for all sorts of reasons. But agency culture and production work often mean long hours. That’s not to say you won’t ever work longer hours on any given freelance project in other disciplines. And chances are you’ll have more autonomy over what you take on.

But it’s not just agency workers who have made the switch to self-employment. According to recent figures from IPSE, people currently employed in media, marketing, PR, and sales are likely to consider going freelance.

According to research by IPSE and The Work Crowd some of the most common reasons why more people are choosing freelancing over salaried positions include:

As well as:

For many, the rewards outweigh the risks. And it’s worth remembering that freelancing itself comes in different forms. You’re no less of a freelancer if you take an interim job covering sick leave or maternity leave at a PR firm or have a bill-paying admin job one or two days a week, especially in the early days.

Clients also benefit from working with good freelancers, with 66% of respondents to the IPSE freelance landscape report stating that freelancers bring specialised talent to their business. Many also reported that freelancers provide fresh ideas and perspectives and help take the pressure off their in-house talent during busy periods.

What kind of protections are there for freelancers? 

Even if you work mostly solo, you never have to go it alone. In fact, succeeding as a freelancer relies on building up contacts and having a supportive network. As part of Career Academy, we run an opportunities and networking Facebook group for creative and marketing professionals, many of whom are freelance.

But who do you turn to for advice over late payment, contractual disputes, or other workplaces issues when you don’t have an HR department to ask? Well, on a practical level unless you’re freelancing via PAYE, you’ll need to have professional indemnity insurance and potentially public liability too (if you’re working on site or with the public).

It’s not just about making sure you have adequate cover, there are plenty of organisations including unions and professional membership organisations who are advocating for better support for freelancers including ISPE (quick definition here) and BECTU, a union that represents over 40,000 staff, contract and freelance workers in media and entertainment.

What does the future of freelancing in the creative sectors look like?

For all the flexibility that freelancing brings, it also comes with challenges including a lack of security and protections against discrimination, unfair treatment, and late payment. We can’t make any big predictions for the next few years. But one thing is clear – collective action and collaboration will drive better conditions for freelancers in the creative industries.

In summer 2022, a freelance-led network including Freelancers Make Theatre Word, Inc Arts, and Migrants in Culture came together to launch the FREELANCE: FUTURES event aimed at building more equitable conditions for freelancers in the culture sector. Larger organisations are doing work in this area too. At the time of writing, independent network Creative UK is commissioning the UK’s largest freelance survey to drive change, the survey results of Redesigning Freelancing should be published in 2023.

At Career Academy, we know that access to training, coaching and careers advice are also essential to freelancers, whether you’re a PR interested in adding copywriting to your skill set, an associate creative director looking to move up, or you want help finding new clients. Which is part of why we set up Career Academy, to help keep freelancers and staff candidates’ skills up to date. And most importantly, to keep their careers flourishing.

Career Academy offers resources, advice, and support in your creative career – click here for more information.

Career Academy is brought to you by the founders of Moxie and Mettle  – [email protected] – 0117 301 8223.

What should I include in my CV? How long should it be? How can I make it look better to land the job?

We’ve all had these daunting questions when trying to put together a good CV. And with all that information out there, it can be even tougher to find credible facts.

So, we thought it might be a good idea to share some useful tips and tricks to help you avoid the most common CV mistakes. Also, as a bonus, we’ll make it relevant to the creative industry. And those looking for a job in PR, Comms, Marketing, Digital, and Design!

Firstly, let’s start with the correct term – is it a CV or a Resume?

The term ‘CV’ is predominantly used across the UK and is an abbreviation of the Latin ‘Curriculum Vitae’ meaning “story of (one’s) life”. The word ‘resume’ derives from the French ‘résumer’. It means “to summarise” and is a more common term in Europe. Sounds simple enough, but which one should you use?

Liz Gadd: “We’ve noticed that the term candidates mainly use is ‘CV’. And while this is the accepted norm within the UK, we believe that both terms can be used. I should also note that the content of the CV or Resume is much more important than the term you choose to use”.

So then, what exactly is a CV, and what should I include in mine?

A CV is a short, written summary of your professional experience. Your CV should be relevant to the job you are applying for, drawing on your key achievements and demonstrating you are prepared to do the job. It should also be clear and concise, with essential information structured and formatted plainly.

Starting from your contact details (full name, address (or at least town/city), phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile). You should also include your work history, qualifications, accomplishments, and education.

And while there’s no right or wrong way to structure your CV, it is always best to start with your most recent work experience. Follow a reverse chronological order and list your full working history.

“Regardless of the industry you are trying to enter and the job you are trying to land, your CV should always include detailed work history. List your most recent employment and any previous, relevant experiences.

“Your CV should also embody an education and profile summary. Add relevant links to previous work, and certificates or qualifications you have obtained”, explained Liz Gadd, founder of Moxie and Mettle.

What should I not include on my CV?

“There is a recurring trend in creative, PR, and digital CVs we constantly see – the most dreaded ‘references upon request’ sentence. It’s obvious that you have references on request, but you don’t need to state it. Although it’s always a benefit that you have people who can endorse you and your skills, you should remember to mention your referees by name, their relationship with you, and their contact details. Ask for permission from your referees, of course.

“This will create value in the eyes of the hiring manager or recruitment consultant. It will also mean that your references can be contacted quickly and easily.  Of course, you should state any that are NOT to be contacted until after you have accepted a new role. Or don’t provide your current employer’s details until after your new role is secured”, Liz Gadd mentioned.

How long should a CV be?

Again, there is no right or wrong answer – it really depends on the quality of your CV and your writing. While some career sites and industry experts will tell you CVs should not be longer than one page, we believe in quality AND quantity. If your CV is interesting, contains enviable information, and has your working experience, then in all cases, it should be longer!

According to Liz: “Anything between two and four pages is acceptable. More than that, your CV can quickly become redundant. At the same time, if you are applying for a design role and have various examples of your work included in your resume, then you shouldn’t worry as this only proves your extensive experience!”

Should I include any special designs and fonts?

Our friend and copywriter Katie Palmer once said that you should make your CV stand out from the crowd. But does that mean including any special design features? The truth is you should keep your CV simple and easy to read. Likewise, if the company you apply for is using an Applicant Tracking System or ATS software to navigate the high number of candidates, including such special designs and graphics can result in never being seen by the employer. Keywords may not be recognised by the software.

But if you have been successful in passing through the ATS software, it is also important to mention that contrary to popular belief that recruiters spend 7.4 seconds on resumes, most resumes are explored thoroughly.

Liz explained: “I’ve been in recruitment for the past 30 years, and so I’ve learned that if you want to get the information you need, you actually need to spend some time looking at the CV. We always make sure to read through all your applicable employment history. And take into consideration your skills and achievements and match them to our jobs.”

What about the tone of voice and accidental typos? Surely, these won’t get noticed…

Having typos or spelling mistakes is a big NO, especially if you’re applying for a role in the creative industry. You should always ensure to proofread your CV. In fact, one too many candidates have been turned away by our clients for spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. This is especially true for candidates applying for marketing, communications, and PR roles, where grammar and punctuation should be perfect.

“You should strive to write your CV in an active and energetic tone of voice. An employer will almost always reach out if you’ve included action verbs and phrases. Take a look at the action verbs list for your resume from Harvard University and pick the ones that align with your duties”, Liz Gadd added.

Is there anything else I should consider for my CV?

An application with a cover letter is always stronger than one without. Write a personalised cover letter addressed to the interviewer or hiring manager. Keep a lookout for our cover letter checklist for the perfect cover letter.

How about getting additional help with my CV?

You can also make sure to check these CV templates that are simple yet creative:

Simple CV from Canva  

Minimalist CV from Canva

Geometric CV from Word

What’s next? 

You have put together the perfect CV and Cover Letter, and with a bit of luck, you have scheduled your first interview. Now it’s time to do your research and prepare your answers. All so that you can land a job in the creative industry. But if you don’t know where to start, we have put together a list of useful interview tips and advice to help you ace the job interview!

Career Academy is brought to you by the founders of Moxie and Mettle  – [email protected] – 0117 301 8223.

You’ve written and proofread your CV, and now it’s time to write a personal cover letter that gets the hiring manager’s attention.

A cover letter, covering letter, or even covering email is a document that goes along your CV and forms part of your job application. But why is it so important? Writing a personalised cover letter gives you the chance to introduce yourself to the hiring manager and make them think about your application. In fact, an application with a cover letter is always stronger than one without. This is especially true for jobs in the creative industry, where promoting yourself is everything. So, we decided to put together this cover letter checklist to guide you and help you check all the cover letter requirements.

Make sure you include:

Your personal details: your cover letter should contain your full name, address, phone number, email address, and useful links (e.g., LinkedIn profile, portfolio). Your details must be consistent with your CV and follow similar formatting, font and style.

Hiring Manager’s details: you should always address the Hiring Manager by name, if it’s not provided, make a call and find out who it is. It adds a personal touch and can make the difference between being called for an interview or being declined right there and then. So next time, address your cover to the right person.

Job title and reference number if there is one: make sure to include the job title and, if applicable, the job reference. The company you’re applying to might be advertising various roles at various levels, so it is always important to distinguish between the jobs.

Opening sentence: include a brief opening sentence to introduce yourself. Capture the reader’s attention by adding a powerful opening statement. This will highlight your expertise and why are you a great fit for the position.

Company research: show that you’ve done your homework. Include short information about your reasons for applying with THIS company and for THIS position. You can consider things like company values, work culture, clients, and company statistics or results. Or simply explaining it has always been your dream to work with them.

Your experience: include details of your most relevant experiences. Read the job description again and identify some of the key skills the company’s looking for. Demonstrate you are a strong match by incorporating those key skills. Mention how they relate to your previous work experiences. Give clear examples – do not simply repeat your CV.

Specific questions: answer the Hiring Manager’s questions. If the job description asks you to answer any specific questions such as “how would you deal with this situation?” make sure to include your answers in the cover letter.

Structure your answers: use the STAR method to provide examples. The STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method allows you to highlight particular skills and qualities clearly and concisely. But you should also remember to show your personality.

Include your personality: show who you are. While it’s important to use the company’s tone of voice when writing your answers, make sure to be yourself. With this in mind, you will stand out from the competition and make a positive impression.

Use bullet points: break the text down. Break your answers down to deliver your message to the reader quickly. If you have one long block of text, include a couple of bullet points to make it more interactive and interesting. After all, you want to catch your reader’s attention…

Closing paragraph: thank the reader and reiterate your interest. Thank the Hiring Manager for taking the time to read through your cover letter. It shows appreciation. Make sure to also express your interest in the role again and demonstrate you are eager to start.

Identify the next steps: follow up with the employer. Explain how you can be best reached and when you can follow up for a possible interview.

Sign off: add your signature. End the cover letter with a formal closing. Use ‘yours sincerely’ or “best wishes” when you have addressed the hiring manager by their name. And ‘your sfaithfully’ when you did not know their name (but this should be avoided, find out their name!)

Other things to consider:

Formatting: be consistent. Consistency is key when you are applying for a job in the creative industry. Try and match your CV format, including any special fonts, colours, and designs. This will show that you are conscious of your representation and that you can adhere to brand guidelines (even if they are your own).

Length: pay attention to it. Ideally, your cover letter should not be over one A4 page long or between 350-400 words. If you have gone over that – try to paraphrase and use some bullet points to cut back on the length.

Spacing up your cover letter: it depends. Your cover letter should not be double-spaced. Keep it tight and single-space your letter. Of course, if you have used a special design in your CV, then your cover letter should match that formatting. It should be consistent with your CV, even if it means not single-spacing it.

Spelling and grammatical errors: proofread it! From the moment the Hiring Manager opens that cover letter to the first time they meet you, you’ll be assessed. Make a positive impression and proofread your cover letter. You can also ask a friend or a family member. Roles in the creative industry needsgreat spelling, grammar and punctuation, fact!

Action words: be the storyteller that you are. Describe your experience as you would tell a story. You are entering a creative profession, so that would be expected of you. Use action verbs and words to highlight your accomplishments within your previous role(s).

But also:

Don’t assume: say it as it is. Don’t assume the reader knows all abbreviations related to your field. Explain technical language or language used in your previous role that might not be clear to all. Use abbreviations only when you have explained the meaning of the word.

Numbers and statistics: visualise your competencies. Did you manage the marketing budget in your previous role, or did you increase the marketing ROI by 25% in just two months? See the difference? Mentioning numbers and statistics in your cover letter will present tangible results to the Hiring Manager.

File format: choose between a PDF or a DOCX file. The most accessible file formats by employers are PDFs and DOCXs. Alternatively, you can also write a covering email, in which case you do not need to save your file. Add a subject line, preferably with your full name, the job title of the role, and the reference number.

You are now completely ready to send in your application and start preparing for your interview! Check out our list of useful tips and advice that will help you land your next job.

Career Academy is brought to you by the founders of Moxie and Mettle  – [email protected] – 0117 301 8223.

You’ve got to the interview stage, and now you need some really good tips and advice on how to have the best interview ever!

To have the best interview experience, it’s super important that you are well-prepared, have done your research, and are ready to make the best out of the opportunity. There is so much to prepare and here follows some great tips and advice for you. Getting to interview is such a great and positive part of the job application process, you really must make sure you are ready to truly demonstrate that you are the right person for the role.

You’ve already done a great job in demonstrating through your brilliant CV and covering letter that you are very worthy of consideration for the role, now it’s time to demonstrate that in person (even if the first interview is via video link).  Whether you are at entry-level or in a senior leadership role, the same advice applies every time.  Turning up for an interview without extensive preparation is frankly, just a waste of time (yours and the potential employers).

Interviews should be an enjoyable and informative experience on both sides and your efforts in preparation will definitely put you in a much stronger position after the interview, and you will feel 100% more confident during the meeting.

Tip 1: Do your research!

This is probably the most important tip – prior to the interview research the company in depth. Start by looking through their website and understanding the company. Pay close attention to the products or services they provide. Record everything you research and find such as the company’s revenues, annual data reports, target audience, competitors, new product releases, role in the industry, and all recent news coverage. Ensure you fully understand the requirements for the jobs you are applying to. Read the job description thoroughly and ensure you have referenced it back to your CV on all the key points.  Always look through their social media presence, and understand the platforms they use the most.

Tip 2: Leverage your experience

Before the interview, refresh your memory with your own professional experiences. Every interview should be an opportunity to leverage your experience in the context of the PR, communications, digital marketing jobs, or marketing jobs you are applying for. Go through your CV and list out the projects you have spearheaded, the times your innovative idea was successful, and when you’ve needed to problem solve. Reflect on these experiences and think about how they added value to the company. An easy way to do this is by prepping a specific experience to talk about for each requirement of the position. This shows that you understand the position fully and that you have got the experience for the position.

Tip 3: Measure your success

Turn all your past experiences and successes into a brand and add value to yourself. Stories are great, but numbers stand out more, particularly for digital marketing jobs. Back up your success and experience with data and metrics. For example, tell the interviewer how much profit or sales you’ve generated in your current role, explain how many advertisement clicks were generated from your ad campaigns, and how many followers you gained on the social channels you managed.  From this, you are proving the value you will bring to the company and that you understand that activity needs to lead to results.

Tip 4: Use the STAR method

To help with tip three, use the star method to ensure you convey your answers in a structured way. The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result (this is where you can quantify your success). Here is some information and examples of STAR. This method can help you prepare some answers that highlight your particular skills and qualities in a structured way and always come across as meticulous and organised.

Tip 5: Prove your worth

Along with leveraging your experience and quantifying your success, prove to the interviewer that you will be an asset to their company. A great way to do this is by explaining to employers how you see yourself helping the company in the first three months, and offering them a proposal based on your employment. Highlight how you will be an asset in their upcoming projects, your ideas for improvement or growth, and how you see yourself fitting into this marketing job and their team.

Tip 6: Be creative

When you are interviewing for a marketing position, show your creative side. If you’re a copywriter, bring some writing samples or special ads with you. If you are managing an account, show how you’ve sold to clients. Instead of saying what you can do for their brand, prove it with examples. Along with this, have a list of references printed out and ready to show the employer.

Tip 7: Prepare your questions

Remember an interview is a dialogue, not a monologue. You can size up the company as well as the other way round. Prior to the interview, during your research, make a list of thoughtful questions that highlight your understanding of the company. Your questions should also showcase your interest in the role and demonstrate your relevant expertise. Asking questions about their market and growth plans demonstrates your interest in the company and shows you have researched them. Make sure you have at least five questions, so you are always ready. Take your notebook, that’s fine too!

Tip 8: Look the part

When you show up to the interview, dress as though you’re ready for the job.  If the company is a little more fashion-forward, show that in your outfit during your interview. Similarly, if you are interviewing at a professional business, dress professionally. No matter if your interview is via Zoom or in-person, dress for the position.  Along with wearing a professional outfit, ensure your background is prepped for virtual interviews. That means a plain background, a quiet area, and a fully charged computer with good Wi-Fi. Top tip; ask!  Your consultant will be able to help you with what the dress code is at the company, or ask directly from your HR or recruitment contact – it’s okay to ask!

Tip 9: Check your social media, the potential employer will!

93% of employers use social media to screen interview candidates before or after their interviews. This is a crucial place to underscore the expertise you’d bring to digital marketing jobs and showcase how you market yourself. Start to brand yourself now if you haven’t already started to. If you can’t show that you can market yourself, it’ll be difficult to show a personal brand that you can market their brand. Promote your skills and develop a following on popular social networks like LinkedIn. Ensure your social media platforms highlight your experience and work in a positive light.  Interesting article here, from HR Magazine, discussing this exact point!

Tip 10: Show confidence

Any candidate who wants to land the job should show an appropriate level of confidence. Get some ideas about how to help you build your confidence prior to the interview. You are the expert on your own experiences and strengths, so show that with confidence. Employers want to hire marketers, for example, who can confidently lead their next marketing campaign, so it’s important to bring this energy to your interview.

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