Marketing’s a great career. I know, because I’ve done it… and you can too. I find that many sources of advice (with some notable exceptions) are pretty feeble at telling you about marketing, what it is, and how to get into it. In my opinion, most of our trade bodies (again with a couple of exceptions) aren’t too good at getting you interested and started. So I’ve put this short guide together to tell it like it is.

I started my first company in my late twenties, though I’m much older now. But my fellow directors are in their thirties – a bunch of marvellous go-getters, all of them owners (equity holders). You can do this too, if you want, and if you’re prepared to put in the graft and brainpower. But you could also have a great marketing career in an internal marketing department too. An in-house career path in marketing can lead to being the boss of a business unit or even a whole company.

By the way, I have found marketing to be a rather egalitarian world. The gender balance tends to be good – with women highly represented in many parts of the industry, including at the senior level. You also often find yourself working alongside people of all ages, beliefs and religions, orientations, nationalities, ethnicities, abilities – all being defined solely by their merit and professional capability.

You can also enter the marketing profession at any age and stage, out of school, out of university or changing from another (or no) profession. The marketing ‘family’ is an all embracing one, welcoming anyone who can do the job!

Logical business thinking, a love of language and a way with words, hunger for understanding of subjects and industries, and dedication to hard work are the qualities you need to get into marketing.
This short booklet is designed to give you some useful insights into the opportunities and roles available, along with actionable tips about what to do next.

I hope it works for you.