Beat the Algo: Stand Out and Get Hired

Unlock the tips and tricks to succeed in the fast-paced world of marketing, with insights from Sian Mitchell, Strategic Marketing Specialist at Canadian Tire. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of having Sian come to my Digital Media Marketing Seminar lecture to talk about her experience in the marketing field and her journey to getting where she is now. Join me as I share the invaluable advice she shared, including strategies for effective networking and navigating the job search.

Sian’s Role as Strategic Marketing Specialist

As a Strategic Marketing Specialist at Canadian Tire, Sian focuses on integrated marketing strategies, in particular on the upper level (awareness and consideration) of the marketing funnel. Sian oversees paid campaigns across diverse channels such as TV, radio, OOH, print, social, website, and email, and collaborates with creative advertising and media buying agencies to create multi-channel advertising. Some of these agencies include Leo Burnett, Publicis, and Touché. Finally, Sian works with various internal cross-functional departments to create marketing campaigns that support business objectives.

It was really interesting to hear Sian talk about her experience and what that specific role entails, and it left me feeling surprised by Sian’s list of daily tasks. Sian does everything from administrative tasks to competitive analyses to campaign execution to social media. It seems a little bit daunting to think about how a singular job can entail so much but I imagine that Sian is now well versed in many aspects of marketing.?

I think that to navigate a successful career in marketing strategy there are a few steps that I could take. For example, doing a lot of reading and research on different parts of strategic marketing to keep up with the ever-changing field. Furthermore, there are a lot of short courses online that can be done to develop the skills and experiences that I may need. Finally, I think that strategic marketing is a role where a lot of the learning is done as you go. Reaching out to experts in the field can also be a good idea to gain some experience and insights to have a successful career. This brings me to the next important piece of advice Sian gave, the importance of networking.

The Importance of Networking

During the lecture, Sian shared several tips for networking. The two tactics that made the most sense to me are to network widely, as you never know where it will lead and to try to be as specific with our goals and interests. Networking widely is so important as you never know who you will eventually get in contact with. This also relates to another point Sian made, which is to ask if the person you are networking with has anyone else they can connect you with. This is how you create relationships with various people, one of which may lead you to exactly where you are looking to go.?

Regarding Sian’s point about being specific with our goals and interests, it’s important to know what you are looking for and try to network with people who are more likely to get you there. Networking is a skill that has been mentioned in almost every Digital Marketing Seminar guest lecture so far and I am beginning to understand the importance of it. Applying for jobs is sadly a numbers game, but when you know people who can vouch for you it starts becoming more about your skills, behaviours, and personality. Employers want to hire people who would fit in with the company and who they would enjoy working with.

Any Experience can be Turned into a Relevant Experience

The last thing Sian talked about was that while building a resume, every experience you have, whether it be work, school, or volunteering, can be turned into a relevant experience. As someone who has no experience in the marketing field, this intrigued me. One experience I do have is as a food and beverage server. In this role, I have learned many transferable skills such as working in a fast-paced environment, problem-solving, taking initiative, and communicating clearly and effectively. This role has taught me how to interact with various types of people which will be useful both with employers and clients. These are life skills that will be useful in any position I may have in the future.?

In conclusion, I enjoyed hearing Sian talk about her experience and will eagerly put the tips she talked about to the test. As Sian was a George Brown College graduate not too long ago, she has experience and advice that will help me in my job search and future career.