Career Change - Advice appreciated!
Discussion
I have recently left my role working for my family business (estate agency) and am considering my options moving forward. My original intention was to launch an agency, but there are personal conflicts within the family that make that an impossibility at the moment.
The company I worked for was a small agency and I oversaw the day to day operations of the office while also acting as a sales manager. Everything from supplier agreements, process change, IT, marketing, branding, sponsorships/agreements through to the general role of an estate agent. The only thing I didn't oversee or have heavy involvement in were the financials.
At 32 years old, I am effectively free as a bird with no commitments and am looking at other career paths. I went into estate agency as it was a family business and don't particularly want to go down that route again.
My qualifications are an IT and Business degree from Surrey Uni some 12 years ago.
Moving forwards, I would like a creative role as opposed to a sales role that I am accusotmed too. Whenever I have been asked what my dream job is, I have always said a political speechwriter. I realise I don't have any qualifications or experience in this field and that will make it a struggle. But, I am hoping to hear from any wiser heads who can suggest a course of action (2 year plan?) to achieve a job in a related creative field.
So far I have thought of a couple of roles which I would enjoy -
Journalist - Possibly in property to start as I have a background and understanding of the market.
Marketing Exectuive - meeting clients/brands and understanding what they want to achieve and then liasing with creatives to deliver rebrands, product launches etc. I am not sure what the correct job title is for that role!
I am not overly concerned about my ability to learn new skills, adapt to a new industry or be succesfull at whatever I end up doing. But, I am a little lost in how to get a foot on a ladder in an indsutry that I have no experience of.
Any realistic suggestions?
As a caveat, I do need to earn to live and could survive on £25k a year while taking a evening/weekend classes if I had to. I would move to London as that is where most opportunity seems to be.
Sorry for the long post!
The company I worked for was a small agency and I oversaw the day to day operations of the office while also acting as a sales manager. Everything from supplier agreements, process change, IT, marketing, branding, sponsorships/agreements through to the general role of an estate agent. The only thing I didn't oversee or have heavy involvement in were the financials.
At 32 years old, I am effectively free as a bird with no commitments and am looking at other career paths. I went into estate agency as it was a family business and don't particularly want to go down that route again.
My qualifications are an IT and Business degree from Surrey Uni some 12 years ago.
Moving forwards, I would like a creative role as opposed to a sales role that I am accusotmed too. Whenever I have been asked what my dream job is, I have always said a political speechwriter. I realise I don't have any qualifications or experience in this field and that will make it a struggle. But, I am hoping to hear from any wiser heads who can suggest a course of action (2 year plan?) to achieve a job in a related creative field.
So far I have thought of a couple of roles which I would enjoy -
Journalist - Possibly in property to start as I have a background and understanding of the market.
Marketing Exectuive - meeting clients/brands and understanding what they want to achieve and then liasing with creatives to deliver rebrands, product launches etc. I am not sure what the correct job title is for that role!
I am not overly concerned about my ability to learn new skills, adapt to a new industry or be succesfull at whatever I end up doing. But, I am a little lost in how to get a foot on a ladder in an indsutry that I have no experience of.
Any realistic suggestions?
As a caveat, I do need to earn to live and could survive on £25k a year while taking a evening/weekend classes if I had to. I would move to London as that is where most opportunity seems to be.
Sorry for the long post!
A lot of what you have listed in your second paragraph would fit under a Marketing based role. You just need to write your CV in such a way/
What about doing this on a project/consultancy basis, perhaps as your own business, for other SMEs? Can you link or demonstrate any impact of those activities? More viewings, more footfall, higher fees, increased revenues etc?
What about doing this on a project/consultancy basis, perhaps as your own business, for other SMEs? Can you link or demonstrate any impact of those activities? More viewings, more footfall, higher fees, increased revenues etc?
It’s a small company with no room for progression. I would’ve sat at the same desk for the next 30 years.
The owners, my family, showed no signs of being willing to change or adapt in a threatened industry and my view is that small high street agencies that don’t adapt will be extinct in the not too distant future.
If I stayed, I think there is a very real chance that in 5 years my family sell the business or it is under serious threat which would leave me in a very difficult position.
The owners, my family, showed no signs of being willing to change or adapt in a threatened industry and my view is that small high street agencies that don’t adapt will be extinct in the not too distant future.
If I stayed, I think there is a very real chance that in 5 years my family sell the business or it is under serious threat which would leave me in a very difficult position.
Hi OP,
I was in a similar situation a few years ago when i left my family business. I knew sales was what i wanted to do so i went and CV dropped all the local Car Dealerships. Got a Job with Toyota and Audi within a local motor group, I eventually moved into Estate Agency as you was doing and now into IT Hardware sales.
My advice, look locally at marketing firms or even larger firms who have specified divisions for this. Advertising/Consumer Good's Companies/Car Dealership groups head quarters etc. they will all have marketing divisions and are likely offer good training.
LinkedIn is a good way to look as well. you can get company names/head of departments/recruitment (people you need to speak to to get your foot in the door)
Good Luck
I was in a similar situation a few years ago when i left my family business. I knew sales was what i wanted to do so i went and CV dropped all the local Car Dealerships. Got a Job with Toyota and Audi within a local motor group, I eventually moved into Estate Agency as you was doing and now into IT Hardware sales.
My advice, look locally at marketing firms or even larger firms who have specified divisions for this. Advertising/Consumer Good's Companies/Car Dealership groups head quarters etc. they will all have marketing divisions and are likely offer good training.
LinkedIn is a good way to look as well. you can get company names/head of departments/recruitment (people you need to speak to to get your foot in the door)
Good Luck
edc said:
A lot of what you have listed in your second paragraph would fit under a Marketing based role. You just need to write your CV in such a way/
What about doing this on a project/consultancy basis, perhaps as your own business, for other SMEs? Can you link or demonstrate any impact of those activities? More viewings, more footfall, higher fees, increased revenues etc?
I could certainly demonstrate that the changes in process, suppliers and marketing led to increased market share. We had 5 years of growth in my first 5 years and levelled out in the last 2 years - more market conditions than strategy over those last couple of years that led to consolidation! What about doing this on a project/consultancy basis, perhaps as your own business, for other SMEs? Can you link or demonstrate any impact of those activities? More viewings, more footfall, higher fees, increased revenues etc?
What was implemented and the changes I made weren’t groundbreaking. It was more catching up with competition and then making sure our processes and marketing made us a slicker operation.
I think at this time I’d look to take a job rather than go it alone.
nealeh1875 said:
Hi OP,
I was in a similar situation a few years ago when i left my family business. I knew sales was what i wanted to do so i went and CV dropped all the local Car Dealerships. Got a Job with Toyota and Audi within a local motor group, I eventually moved into Estate Agency as you was doing and now into IT Hardware sales.
My advice, look locally at marketing firms or even larger firms who have specified divisions for this. Advertising/Consumer Good's Companies/Car Dealership groups head quarters etc. they will all have marketing divisions and are likely offer good training.
LinkedIn is a good way to look as well. you can get company names/head of departments/recruitment (people you need to speak to to get your foot in the door)
Good Luck
I think LinkedIn is a good idea. I need to get across to people that although not qualified in a field, I am a competent individual with all round experience of growing a business in a very competitive environment. It’s a varied skillset! I was in a similar situation a few years ago when i left my family business. I knew sales was what i wanted to do so i went and CV dropped all the local Car Dealerships. Got a Job with Toyota and Audi within a local motor group, I eventually moved into Estate Agency as you was doing and now into IT Hardware sales.
My advice, look locally at marketing firms or even larger firms who have specified divisions for this. Advertising/Consumer Good's Companies/Car Dealership groups head quarters etc. they will all have marketing divisions and are likely offer good training.
LinkedIn is a good way to look as well. you can get company names/head of departments/recruitment (people you need to speak to to get your foot in the door)
Good Luck
Also, I probably need to go through my phone book and meet as many people as I can.
It’s not what you know...
FrankAbagnale said:
I have recently left my role working for my family business (estate agency) and am considering my options moving forward. My original intention was to launch an agency, but there are personal conflicts within the family that make that an impossibility at the moment.
The company I worked for was a small agency and I oversaw the day to day operations of the office while also acting as a sales manager. Everything from supplier agreements, process change, IT, marketing, branding, sponsorships/agreements through to the general role of an estate agent. The only thing I didn't oversee or have heavy involvement in were the financials.
At 32 years old, I am effectively free as a bird with no commitments and am looking at other career paths. I went into estate agency as it was a family business and don't particularly want to go down that route again.
My qualifications are an IT and Business degree from Surrey Uni some 12 years ago.
Moving forwards, I would like a creative role as opposed to a sales role that I am accusotmed too. Whenever I have been asked what my dream job is, I have always said a political speechwriter. I realise I don't have any qualifications or experience in this field and that will make it a struggle. But, I am hoping to hear from any wiser heads who can suggest a course of action (2 year plan?) to achieve a job in a related creative field.
So far I have thought of a couple of roles which I would enjoy -
Journalist - Possibly in property to start as I have a background and understanding of the market.
Marketing Exectuive - meeting clients/brands and understanding what they want to achieve and then liasing with creatives to deliver rebrands, product launches etc. I am not sure what the correct job title is for that role!
I am not overly concerned about my ability to learn new skills, adapt to a new industry or be succesfull at whatever I end up doing. But, I am a little lost in how to get a foot on a ladder in an indsutry that I have no experience of.
Any realistic suggestions?
As a caveat, I do need to earn to live and could survive on £25k a year while taking a evening/weekend classes if I had to. I would move to London as that is where most opportunity seems to be.
Sorry for the long post!
I have PM'd you. Please call me to discuss this opportunity for you.The company I worked for was a small agency and I oversaw the day to day operations of the office while also acting as a sales manager. Everything from supplier agreements, process change, IT, marketing, branding, sponsorships/agreements through to the general role of an estate agent. The only thing I didn't oversee or have heavy involvement in were the financials.
At 32 years old, I am effectively free as a bird with no commitments and am looking at other career paths. I went into estate agency as it was a family business and don't particularly want to go down that route again.
My qualifications are an IT and Business degree from Surrey Uni some 12 years ago.
Moving forwards, I would like a creative role as opposed to a sales role that I am accusotmed too. Whenever I have been asked what my dream job is, I have always said a political speechwriter. I realise I don't have any qualifications or experience in this field and that will make it a struggle. But, I am hoping to hear from any wiser heads who can suggest a course of action (2 year plan?) to achieve a job in a related creative field.
So far I have thought of a couple of roles which I would enjoy -
Journalist - Possibly in property to start as I have a background and understanding of the market.
Marketing Exectuive - meeting clients/brands and understanding what they want to achieve and then liasing with creatives to deliver rebrands, product launches etc. I am not sure what the correct job title is for that role!
I am not overly concerned about my ability to learn new skills, adapt to a new industry or be succesfull at whatever I end up doing. But, I am a little lost in how to get a foot on a ladder in an indsutry that I have no experience of.
Any realistic suggestions?
As a caveat, I do need to earn to live and could survive on £25k a year while taking a evening/weekend classes if I had to. I would move to London as that is where most opportunity seems to be.
Sorry for the long post!
JM
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