Discussion
Hi all,
I posted a while back about my son and a career in motoring but not mechanics. You were really great and forthcoming with advice. We've narrowed it down to motoring events and PR. I know this is pretty broad but I know it's something he's really interested in. If anyone knows anyone in this industry, or works in the industry, would you be able to share your route in? He's just doing GCSEs so we're looking ahead to next September and the courses we should be looking at. Ideally not A Levels.
Thanks in advance!
I posted a while back about my son and a career in motoring but not mechanics. You were really great and forthcoming with advice. We've narrowed it down to motoring events and PR. I know this is pretty broad but I know it's something he's really interested in. If anyone knows anyone in this industry, or works in the industry, would you be able to share your route in? He's just doing GCSEs so we're looking ahead to next September and the courses we should be looking at. Ideally not A Levels.
Thanks in advance!
I don't work in that area myself, but I work for the national sales company of a large car manufacturer.
If I look at the people who work in our PR departments, there seems to be two main routes in. They've either come from an automotive journalism background, or they've come from a marketing background.
Automotive journalism is difficult to get into simply because there's not that many jobs out there, and the ability to write creatively seems to be more highly valued than any technical knowledge.
Automotive marketing is an easier route in - many of the OEMs take cohorts of graduates and apprentices in annually. A background in business/marketing qualifications is an advantage, but not necessarily required. The ability to process large amounts of information and crunch numbers quickly is valued, as is a creative background. Events tend to be the preserve of the marketing departments rather than the PR departments too.
In short, at this stage concentrate on the basics (English, Maths), but also study business/finance/economics if it's an option together with a creative subject such as art or music. It leaves your routes quite open then.
If I look at the people who work in our PR departments, there seems to be two main routes in. They've either come from an automotive journalism background, or they've come from a marketing background.
Automotive journalism is difficult to get into simply because there's not that many jobs out there, and the ability to write creatively seems to be more highly valued than any technical knowledge.
Automotive marketing is an easier route in - many of the OEMs take cohorts of graduates and apprentices in annually. A background in business/marketing qualifications is an advantage, but not necessarily required. The ability to process large amounts of information and crunch numbers quickly is valued, as is a creative background. Events tend to be the preserve of the marketing departments rather than the PR departments too.
In short, at this stage concentrate on the basics (English, Maths), but also study business/finance/economics if it's an option together with a creative subject such as art or music. It leaves your routes quite open then.
legless said:
I don't work in that area myself, but I work for the national sales company of a large car manufacturer.
If I look at the people who work in our PR departments, there seems to be two main routes in. They've either come from an automotive journalism background, or they've come from a marketing background.
Automotive journalism is difficult to get into simply because there's not that many jobs out there, and the ability to write creatively seems to be more highly valued than any technical knowledge.
Automotive marketing is an easier route in - many of the OEMs take cohorts of graduates and apprentices in annually. A background in business/marketing qualifications is an advantage, but not necessarily required. The ability to process large amounts of information and crunch numbers quickly is valued, as is a creative background. Events tend to be the preserve of the marketing departments rather than the PR departments too.
In short, at this stage concentrate on the basics (English, Maths), but also study business/finance/economics if it's an option together with a creative subject such as art or music. It leaves your routes quite open then.
I'd echo all of this.If I look at the people who work in our PR departments, there seems to be two main routes in. They've either come from an automotive journalism background, or they've come from a marketing background.
Automotive journalism is difficult to get into simply because there's not that many jobs out there, and the ability to write creatively seems to be more highly valued than any technical knowledge.
Automotive marketing is an easier route in - many of the OEMs take cohorts of graduates and apprentices in annually. A background in business/marketing qualifications is an advantage, but not necessarily required. The ability to process large amounts of information and crunch numbers quickly is valued, as is a creative background. Events tend to be the preserve of the marketing departments rather than the PR departments too.
In short, at this stage concentrate on the basics (English, Maths), but also study business/finance/economics if it's an option together with a creative subject such as art or music. It leaves your routes quite open then.
If A-Levels and Uni isn't an option, the Chartered Institute of Marketing's Diploma in Marketing can be obtained later on. In the absence of a degree they will require five years work experience in a related field. Either a Degree and / or the Diploma will be of great benefit to him.
A lot of the delivery aspects of events/PR/marketing is undertaken nit by the car companies but specialist agencies. Whilst some specialises in certain fields, most will have a broad spectrum of client types. So the advice I'd add is to push the 'car' thing to one side initially and focus on the functions rather than subject.
Is he much of a self starter? Only thing I'd add to the excellent post above is going it alone to create something themselves.
PR agency, Automotive Youtube, Automotive TikTok etc..
Plenty of people started from nothing, gained even a mediocre following and they get contacts and relationships with the PR teams.
Solid relationships seems to trump qualifications in this space and it costs nothing to get started.
PR agency, Automotive Youtube, Automotive TikTok etc..
Plenty of people started from nothing, gained even a mediocre following and they get contacts and relationships with the PR teams.
Solid relationships seems to trump qualifications in this space and it costs nothing to get started.
Tbh i would echo the A Levels can be a waste of time unless needed to get on to a university course.
OP - if you do a search on google or Linkedin you may be able to find out some people who work in Automotive as in PR, Marketing, Events and you might be able to see the career path they took to get to where they are now.
Work experience - write / call into the mags and ask for 1 weeks work experience. He should do this himself instead of the parents ideally as it would look better for him. This way can give him a flavour of automotive journalism. Likewise in automotive PR, Marketing, Events - see if can get some work experience for next summer.
Qualifications - im not sure i feel like he could either follow path how ppl who are already there did it OR do DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP or some kind of apprenticeship and they probably teach you on the job and you get some kind of qualification.
I have very little knowledge of the industry in this field but this is potential options.
OP - if you do a search on google or Linkedin you may be able to find out some people who work in Automotive as in PR, Marketing, Events and you might be able to see the career path they took to get to where they are now.
Work experience - write / call into the mags and ask for 1 weeks work experience. He should do this himself instead of the parents ideally as it would look better for him. This way can give him a flavour of automotive journalism. Likewise in automotive PR, Marketing, Events - see if can get some work experience for next summer.
Qualifications - im not sure i feel like he could either follow path how ppl who are already there did it OR do DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP or some kind of apprenticeship and they probably teach you on the job and you get some kind of qualification.
I have very little knowledge of the industry in this field but this is potential options.
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