Getting a job in marketing?

[WhoreLex]

In my current role as a web developer, I work alongside our marketing team on various email campaigns etc, and I am coming to the realisation that what they do is more fun.

I also feel that my people skills aren't really being utilised in my current role.

So, I want to change careers and get into something more people orientated.

Any ideas where to start?

[Andrew[MG]]

What kind of stuff are you looking to do? I'm guessing online SEO/PPC??

[ShadownINja]

Been there, done that. Since you're "in IT", learn about data protection WRT direct mail and stuff like suppression files. Can you write SQL? Could be useful if you're doing that sort of thing, querying customer databases and removing people who've asked not to be contacted etc. Getting it right can save a company money, time and embarrassment.

[WhoreLex]

yeah sql is all good

Generally I want to move first into a more graphic design role and then progress from there.

[ShadownINja]

Ah, that's different, then. What are your design skills like? Are you a "developer" web designer or a "designer" web designer, IYSWIM? I have no idea of your background but if you want to design for print, there's a lot more to it than just putting elements where you want "because I like it how it is" or "because it looks pretty". Might be worthwhile getting on a couple of courses covering the likes of graphic design and typography.

I came from a technical background but was fortunate enough to get friendly with a creative web designer who showed me that design was as much a science as writing server side code.

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 16th December 00:48