Keep opening doors until you find yours

I recall that having finished University, I sent out multiple job application letters and funny enough I thought that with my qualification, I could land a nice fancy job. After all, I had a degree and so the world must want me!!!!!

I may have sent out letters to every single corporate entity in Jamaica and in those days it wasn't as easy as just hitting send on an email. After sending out the letters, each day I would check to see if I got any calls, but instead I would see the companies responding and their letters saying ... “sorry, we have no suitable roles at this time.” Name a large Jamaican company, and I am sure I applied there.

Alas, someone recommended that I apply to an advertising agency - which no longer operates in Jamaica - and that is how I started my sojourn into the real world of marketing. 

Even though I was excited to get the job, when I received the offer, I was shocked ... I thought to myself, "it would be better I stayed home" as the salary was not at all attractive. But NO, I thought to myself, why not use this as my starting line. And so, I took the job and I built from there knowing where I wanted to go even though at that stage I had no clue how. I had not yet figured out how I was going to get to my goal. 

And so my journey began! I started to read about top marketing companies in Jamaica and internally, searching to find out how those successful marketers made it. After about 10 months, I started to plan my next move. Having identified the companies I wanted to work with, I started applying for jobs again. Within a few months, having spent a year at the agency, I used the agency as my springboard and moved on. I saw a job advertised and I applied and was successful.

So why am I sharing all of this? There are two things I want you to walk away with:

1. You have to start somewhere - sometimes it doesn't matter where, but start.

As nicely said by Mark Twain, “The secret to getting ahead is getting started." Sometimes we limit ourselves and make excuses to justify what we do. So we will say, "maybe this is not for me" or "I am too qualified for that" and so on. But knowing what to do and doing it are two completely different things.

By the way, I am happy to tell you that an agency is a great place to start your marketing career. The rigor with which you have to work builds muscle and because of their limited resources you end up working on many projects resulting in you learning a lot. Another great thing about agencies, is that you work with multiple parts of the marketing ecosystem, and so you learn so much and develop skill you never even learnt in school - you interact with designers, media houses, clients, analysts and more.

In no time, I learnt that the real world and the classroom are two different games. The agency taught me how to use problem solving, relationship management and analytical skills to play well.

2. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. You may not have all the information, but use what you have to drive forward, even knowing it may not work. The tough part is that you may never know, but guess what it could be your only shot. Trust your gut and move forward to achieving your goals. Sometimes the only person standing in between you and your dream is YOU. As the old adage says, until you spread your wings, you don't know how far you can fly.

Just remember, the true lesson here is that you may not get the first or even twentieth job you apply for. However, use other doors to find the door you are looking for. Experience matters and you have to find creative ways to get the right experience that will set you on the path to your dream.