Career development isn't a straight line

Nudging your way to a career you enjoy

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Like anyone reading this, I was asked it a lot when I was younger.

I’m also guilty of randomly asking my two boys it too, even though I know better and probably shouldn’t.

However, they have answered it so I’ll reveal their current answers at the end!

We go through school thinking we need to get good grades > to get into a good uni > to get a good degree > to graduate straight into a good job.

Sounds… good.

Of course, it seems like a logical, clearly defined path toward personal success, but for the majority of us, reality isn’t that logical.

I also don’t think schools help with this mentality as there’s far more to the quality of your education than your results, and that’s something I want to discuss in a future blog. I have a lot of thoughts on the subject, particularly after chatting to younger relatives about GCSE and A-level life today.

Now as for my path to ‘success’… my final school grades were average, I was disappointed with my degree (reading ‘2:2’ at Birmingham Airport was not the ideal start to a holiday), and I graduated without a job.

Sounds… not good.

Not terrible of course, but not where I thought I might end up at 22.

However, I’ve managed to nudge myself and be nudged (read: occasionally kicked), in the direction of a career I’m proud of, and enjoyed.

And, most importantly, continue to enjoy.

There were bumps and setbacks along the way – and, yes they can still happen years into your career – but ultimately, I know that marketing is where my career will be for the rest of my life.

I might flex in and out of different areas within it, but I’m comfortable knowing that if I only ever work in one discipline for the rest of my life, this is *it*.

However, even now, the specifics of what that looks like are never really set in stone, but I’m now ok with that because I know I’m in the right ballpark, and that’s enough for me.

As the penultimate ending to this blog (yes, my kids’ answers to that question are still coming), here’s a snapshot of what I wanted to do before I started my career, and how it’s developed over the years.

Warning: it’s not a straight line!

• 16 and under – “I dunno, a footballer?” Who honestly knows. It didn’t matter in the long run, but I remember looking at some schoolmates who knew they wanted to be doctors from 11 and I was sat there thinking, “How the hell do you know?!”

• 17 to 22 – “Something in business.” The only real idea I had when choosing my degree, or when I failed to land a placement without direct parental help or approached the end of my final year of uni still with no clue. Not ideal!

• 22 and a bit – “Marketing… I think.” An extended work experience opened my eyes to the potential for life in marketing, despite me hating the module at uni.

• 23… for six months – “Oh actually, research.” In the middle of 2010 I thought I wanted to work in market research – turns out I just liked knowing stuff. I would end up using this thinking to give myself a ‘brand trait’ of inquisitiveness.

• 23 to 27 – “Account management is life.” Agency life, clients, long hours, trips to various airports (for work), working with good people, proving myself, and learning a lot!

• 28… for six months – “In-house marketing.” Jumping to a role that didn’t suit anyone and realising I needed to start again…

• 28 to 31 – “Start again. Digital. Mainly social.” Using the account management skills in a digital setting, getting properly into social and making friends for life.

• 31 and change – “Maybe I want to get links?” Two promotions later, kickstarting digital PR, with a little less focus on social. Wondering if this was the new bit of marketing for me?

• 33 and a bit – “Pondering.” One more promotion later and enjoying a varied role, but thinking “maybe there’s something more?”.

• 34 – “Social and content… in-house.” A big, brave move to go in-house and work with an incredible team, doing incredible work for some of the very best people in society. Realising my strengths lie in creativity, bravery, and seeing the bigger picture.

• 37+ – “Time to find out.”

As for my kids’ answer to the question from the beginning – what do you want to be when you grow up…

Eldest child, eight. “A footballer”.

Youngest child, four. “An airport man who drives the tug.”

Go and smash it boys!