Let's talk about applying for jobs

Happy Wednesday everyone, I hope you’ve had a lovely week so far!

I hope 2025 has been amazing for you so far!! Did you set any New Year resolutions? I have a few goals that I would LOVE to achieve this year ??

Today we’re talking about creator partnerships, applying for roles you don't feel qualified for and building new habits!

Let’s get started!!??

Today I want to talk about a genius move from Jacquemus??

In 2024 we saw a lot of brands transitioning to using UGC and using creators that aren’t as well known.

To increase awareness of their store opening Jacquemus created a video with Bemi Orojuogun, a creator whose bus videos have gone TikTok viral.

This video received almost 600k likes and over 50k shares which is significantly higher than their usual engagement.

Can we expect to see more brands collaborating with up-and-coming creators this year?

I’m excited to welcome today’s guest, meet Hannah Tayler ! She is sharing her insights on putting yourself forward for opportunities??

"Hi,?Diary of a Young Marketer?readers!

I’m Hannah, a 24-year-old Senior Marketing and Partnerships Executive from Brighton, and today I want to talk about the importance of applying for jobs you don’t feel ‘qualified’ for.

I put ‘qualified’ in quotation marks because the term can hold so much power. It can either push us forward or stop us in our tracks. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to tick every box on a job description to go after an opportunity. Let’s challenge that belief…

A Quick Disclaimer

Before we dive in, let’s get one thing straight: some roles absolutely require specific qualifications. If you’re applying to be a heart surgeon with no medical training, this advice probably isn’t for you! But when it comes to fields like marketing, there’s more room to learn and grow outside traditional paths. While degrees are important and valuable, the essence of learning is about continuous development—and many skills can be acquired outside a classroom.

My Journey: “Not Qualified” but Determined

From the start of my career, I’ve rarely met all the qualifications listed for the jobs I applied for. Whether it was needing 3+ years of experience, a degree in a specific field, or expertise in specialist software, my CV often fell short on paper.

When I first set my sights on marketing (you can read my full story?here), I felt completely out of my depth. The job descriptions made me question my aspirations. I didn’t have a full-time marketing role under my belt, just related projects and experiences.

Instead of giving up, I dissected the job descriptions, pinpointed where my skills were lacking, and worked to bridge those gaps. I identified transferable skills from previous roles and sought out free or accessible resources to build my knowledge.

In the end, I applied—and got the job. But it wasn’t an overnight success. Before that win came hundreds of rejection emails starting with, “Unfortunately, you were not successful at this time…”

Putting yourself out there takes guts. Rejection can be disheartening, but every ‘no’ teaches you something new about yourself, the job market, and how to refine your approach.

Is It Luck or Something Else?

One question I often get is: “Was luck a factor in your journey?” It’s a fair question, and one I’ve asked myself. Here’s what I’ve concluded:

Luck, by definition, is ‘success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions.’

On the surface, it’s true. I happened to be in the right place at the right time, and the opportunity aligned perfectly. But that’s not the whole story. It took effort, persistence, and readiness—both mentally and practically—to embrace the opportunity when it arrived.

Applying for a job you’re not ‘qualified’ for might involve an element of chance, but having the courage to take that first step isn’t about luck. That’s entirely on you.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I want you to take away, it’s this: don’t let a job description intimidate you. Focus on what you bring to the table, identify the gaps, and work on closing them where possible.

You don’t need to tick every box to prove you’re capable. Sometimes, it’s your determination, willingness to learn, and ability to adapt that truly set you apart. So, go ahead—apply for that job you don’t feel ‘qualified’ for. You might just surprise yourself.

Keep learning, keep growing, and most importantly, keep applying."

I LOVE this advice!! We all have to start somewhere and often it's easier to doubt yourself than believe in yourself. If you apply for a job or put yourself forward for an amazing opportunity the worst thing someone can say is no. No one likes rejection, but you have to take a chance to finally get your yes!

Today’s advice is to start building a new habit.

Whether it’s reading, meditating or learning something new take some time today to create a new habit.

I am trying to read more this year and be present in moments offline.

How about you???

Today my post prompt is to share something that you’ve learnt recently ??

This could be a trick that makes your job easier or a career lesson that you wish you’d known years ago.

Tell the story to your audience and encourage them to share their stories in the comments below!

I look forward to seeing yours, please use #DiaryOfAYoungMarketer so I can come and show your post some support.

Have a lovely rest of the day??

Speak soon!

Imogen xx