Falling Up
Posted by ablack on Mar. 1, 2016 / Subscribe 0
You could ask almost any A/E/C marketer what it was that brought them into this industry and most will have their own unique tale of how they “fell” into it. But I can’t help feeling like there is a negative connotation associated with “falling” into this industry…or any industry, for that matter. Perhaps it’s because the wording subtly implies that what you’re doing now is not exactly what you had envisioned for yourself as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed high school graduate excited by the notion of the rest of your life. Or maybe you were already a seasoned professional but needed any job you could get just to make ends meet. Or maybe, just maybe, you were already in A/E/C but marketing just became your job one day because no one else wanted to do it. Thanks for the promotion! I think…
Whatever the case may be for us A/E/C marketers, I am left with a single recurring thought. It’s more of a question really, which I now submit to you. Is falling really so bad? For better or for worse, “falling” into A/E/C marketing changed my life. It marked the beginning of a whole new chapter for me, as I’m sure it did for many of you. But we will all have to come to our own conclusions about the impact of those changes and our perceptions of the paths that we have traveled since.
The Fall (for me)
I graduated from ASU with a Journalism degree a handful of years ago. Of course, I didn’t take the typical journalism route with Print or Broadcast. No, I choose the more ambiguous career path of Public Relations. This was right in the middle of the recession, too, when recovery was nowhere in sight. Picture this: a super-green graduate who didn’t really know exactly what she wanted to do except that she was interested in PR. That was me! Imagine my surprise when I started looking for entry-level PR jobs and found myself vying for those positions alongside experienced professionals. I think it goes without saying that my prospects were dismal. This predicament led me to something I knew how to do well but wasn’t exactly exhilarated by – a Receptionist position.
I had worked for this firm throughout my college career as a part-time Receptionist and they were looking for someone to go full-time just about the same time that I finished my degree. Although I felt somewhat deflated by the status of the position, I was feeling the need to be financially free, and it was the best offer that I had to date. At the time, it seemed like a temporary solution but little did I know where it would actually lead me.
Surprisingly, it felt pretty good going back to my old job and it was indeed comforting to have a job considering the job market was extremely slim. However, my enthusiasm only lasted six months…which in retrospect wasn’t that surprising at all. When low and behold, just when I thought all hope was lost, my Marketing Messiah strolled right through those lobby doors and introduced herself as the new Marketing Manager. As she settled in and I started to see what marketing entailed, it dawned on me that Marketing and PR weren’t all that different after all. I thought to myself, “Hey, maybe I could do marketing, too!”
I got to work on establishing a dialogue of sorts, casually slipping in hints that I had actual marketing skills and that Icould in fact help make her life easier. These conversations were the beginning of a relationship that led to a year of learning, growing, and even the production of marketing materials by “yours truly.” It was beyond EXCITING! Sadly, my marketing efforts weren’t going to lead to a real marketing position…at least not for a while. It just wasn’t in the cards for the company to add another marketing person at that particular point in time.
Despite my bruised ego and brewing frustrations, I felt deep down that this couldn’t just be IT for me. Was I really destined to be a Receptionist for the rest of my life? Not that there’s anything wrong with being a Receptionist, but I couldn’t accept “yes” as the answer to that question. I realized then that I had learned enough to market myself as a Marketing/PR professional. That year of training hadn’t left me empty handed; it was time to take this show out on the road!
Within the first month of my job search, a Marketing Coordinator position was revealed to me like a sign from God. Before I knew it, I had an interview scheduled and two days later an offer letter waiting in my inbox. I have come to the conclusion now that this opportunity was a God thing, like divine intervention. But it actually started out as an SMPS thing. My Marketing Messiah had encouraged my involvement in SMPS, and I had been extremely diligent in meeting as many people as I could. I just wanted to absorb all the awesome experience of the professionals around me, which led me to an introduction with my would-be recruiter and my future boss. Behold, a miracle! I had stumbled across a marketing position by way of my old college job, and had allowed myself to “fall” through the barrier that had been Reception…landing pleasantly in A/E/C marketing.
The Landing
I think the notion of “falling” into marketing for A/E/C is all in your perspective. For me, it was more like “falling up.” I didn’t scrape my knees on the way down. It was more like taking advantage of an opportunity to challenge myself, utilize my strengths, and grow as a professional. The “fall” gave me a path when I thought I didn’t have one. It paved the way towards excellent mentors, colleagues and even friends all of whom I am forever grateful for. Three years later, I’m still “falling” and loving every minute it of it.
How to “Fall Up”
What is my advice to all my fellow A/E/C administrators and receptionists out there who want to “fall up” into marketing?
- Find a marketing mentor. Reach out to the Marketing Manager/Coordinator at your company and find out more about their marketing needs. I bet you a pretty penny that they have a lot on their plate and would love to share the load. They may even be seeking another marketing person and may be having trouble making leadership understand their need. If you could help in marketing and get promoted from within, it would be win-win situation for the both of you. No Marketing people at your company? Come to SMPS and get connected with those that can help you explore opportunities within the industry. Hey, you can even call me (seriously, my contact info is on the “Contact Us” page of SMPS AZ’s website) and I will help get you moving in the right direction.
- Harness your inner Marketer! Do you have a secret obsession with graphic design? Maybe you’re a former English major who’s chomping at the bit to get your “write on.” Whatever your passion may be, take note of your skills and evaluate how they might be useful to the marketing department. The next step is beyond easy. Let it be known that you have marketing skills to offer and ask how you can help. When I was first learning about A/E/C marketing, I realized that a lot of my PR skills were comparable and all I needed was the opportunity to put them to good use. Plus, who doesn’t love someone who helps lighten their load?
- Network, Network, Network. For goodness sakes, get yourself to an SMPS meeting ASAP. SMPS has so many options like Marketing Council (only $15 bucks), Leverage Your Beverage (networking central) and our Monthly Programs (an education in A/E/C happenings) to choose from. This is not just a shameless plug for the organization; I can honestly say that without SMPS, I wouldn’t be here today. I will be forever thankful that my marketing mentor dragged me to all those SMPS events, just so that I could get some exposure to the organization and the cool people within the SMPS network.
I hope that all of you out there mulling over the thought of a career path in A/E/C marketing are able to eventually take a leap of faith and embrace the chance to “fall up.” Hey, if it could happen for me, there’s no reason it can’t happen for you!
About the Blogger: Roxy Kinsinger is the Marketing Coordinator at Pulice Construction, Inc. and serves as the 2015-2016 Publicity Director for SMPS Arizona. When she’s not sharpening her marketing skills, Roxy spends her weekends dabbling in an assortment of hobbies. Lately, she has been experimenting with essentials oils, taking a stab at gardening, and now blogging. Roxy does have a few staple hobbies that never lose their luster including baking, musicals, and hiking with her husband.
0 Comments