Mystery Woman

Tell us more for better jobs, advice
and connections

YOUR GROUPS

Discover and join groups with like-minded women who share your interests, profession, and lifestyle.

COMPANIES YOU FOLLOW

Get alerted when there are new employee reviews.

YOUR JOB ALERTS

Get notified when new jobs are posted.

Your post is published!

Anonymous

10/24/19 at 3:39PM UTC

Career

SOS

I recently began a new job in a field that is drastically different from my education and background. I have a degree in Marketing/Communications, but wound up working in Insurance, as my position as a marketing coordinator was cut with my last company. I started with the insurance company about a month ago as an Executive Assistant- I feel disappointed that I am off track with my career, and am finding myself to be very bored, and do not foresee myself continuing in the Insurance field to get my license etc. Going from having a position in my desired field, to being an assistant in a world I am not necessarily interested in has taken a toll on my confidence and motivation. Although I am just about 25, I feel a TON of pressure to "get it together." I want to build a strong career and foundation and know that I have the ability and passion to do so, but I am stuck. What advice would you give... Stick it out? Or move on? SOS!

Join the conversation...

LEANNE TOBIAS

4.05k

Investment real estate/sustainability

10/31/19 at 1:43AM UTC

You have a number of good options available, which are not necessarily mutually exclusive: 1)Apply for marketing/communications jobs based on your degree and previous marketing work. Do you have a colleague at your prior job who will be a reference? 2) Do your best at your current job, and see if there are any roles that you can take on that have a marketing dimension. Insurance relies on sales, which in turn can benefit from marketing. Can you help the brokers in your office develop marketing events or materials that would increase sales? Can you develop a blog, website content, an online newsletter or a communications strategy for your office? Would senior managers appreciate help with presentations or press releases? You can list your marketing functions at your insurance job at the top of your CV. 3) If the above approaches are not possible, you still have options to develop your marketing/ communications skills: -Take more classes and consider additional certification/s or a master’s degree. Put your education at the top of your resume and list your class work and class projects to demonstrate your skills. -Volunteer your marketing and communications skills (ideally for pay, but for free is fine, too, outside business hours) to local small businesses, non-profits, community groups, or a local political campaign so that you can build your experience and portfolio. Use colleagues at these organizations as references. You can list these jobs/assignments at the top of your resume show that you are still engaged in marketing and communications. If you have done work for more than one company, you can call yourself a Marketing/Communications Consultant or give yourself a business name (Jane Doe Marketing and Communications) and list this and your assignments at the top of your resume. You are still at the beginning of your career. Don’t let the elimination of a single job prevent you from following your dreams of working in marketing and communications.

Kaleana

152

Wellbeing Director @ Sequoia

10/29/19 at 7:02PM UTC

I work in Insurance too! My biggest advice would be - network internally as much as you can, and be a go-getter! We had an EA who really wow'ed everyone she worked with on the leadership team with her organization, powerpoint skills, and hard work ethic. She didn't do her job - she went above and beyond. She took a real interest in particular topics the executives she helped, and after earning their trust, moving into an Account Management role. We have another EA who was helping with a lot of projects for the CEO during an office build out. She put in the hours, researched and brought new ideas to the table, provided input with an educated explanation for each thing - and went on to run facilities and events! Whatever you're passionate about - make those skills shine! If it's marketing/comms you want to get back into, don't just show those skills by writing good emails, offer to help write great articles for their blog/website, see opportunities where communication isn't efficient at the company, put together a cool marketing poster for an internal event, etc. Good luck!

Anonymous

10/24/19 at 11:11PM UTC

Also agreeing with Stephanie! There are things to be learned from every job - do what you can while you're there and look for opportunities elsewhere. You got this! 25 is still so young! The world is your oyster :)

Ann Schulte

186

Strategy Consultant | Team Leader | Mentor

10/24/19 at 4:13PM UTC

Your EA role may provide you with a lot of networking opportunities; go over and above, showcase your talents to the executives around you. Insurance companies do a lot of marketing, and being someone they know with potential and drive makes you a great candidate. Case in point: I know someone who started as "Assistant to the CEO" of a small company in 2008, at about your age. The company was acquired, he played a key role in the integration (he knew everyone and where everything was) and is now a VP of the acquiring company.

Stephanie Koehler

291

Data loving storyteller

10/24/19 at 3:49PM UTC (Edited)

Lift your head up and look for opportunities to develop skills in the position you have now. Take a look at roles in Marketing/Communication that interest you and note the required skills. Is there a way you can build/get credit for those skills in your current role? Can you pitch an internal email newsletter and write/produce it? Can you share ideas for social media? Bring your communications skill set to work everyday and put it to use. Even if you don't love insurance, you can always work on learning skills, expanding your impact and growing your responsibilities. And that is a big part of having it together.