60 Second Interview: Marketing specialist

Joanne works as a marketing specialist in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency. She shares her advice for breaking into marketing.

Name: Joanne Goldy

Company: CoinCorner 

Industry: Cryptocurrency and marketing

Job role: Marketing specialist

Length of time in role: Just over a year

Education

BA Hons in English Literature with Creative Writing from the University of Chester

A-levels: English literature, history, religious studies, health and social care

1. What was your very first job?

My first real job was as a medical counter assistant at a local pharmacy. When I joined I knew nothing about pharmacy jobs and had very little customer service experience. It was a fun, interesting first job which helped me to see that I could join any industry, even if I didn’t know anything about it, and learn as I go.

2. What did you want to do when you were at school?

I loved watching crime shows when I was younger (I still do!) and this led me to have a big interest in pathology. For a while I wanted to be a forensic pathologist (a person who investigates crime scenes and deaths), but in the end decided to focus on my creative writing interests instead.

3. How did you find out about the industry?

As it often happens, I already knew someone who worked in the cryptocurrency industry. My friend and now colleague, Molly Spiers, had worked at CoinCorner for a few years and introduced me to the founders. They happened to have an amazing marketing opportunity available at a time when I was looking to change jobs!

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4. How did you get to where you are today?

Over the years I’ve had a few work experience opportunities and can’t recommend doing work experience and internships strongly enough. It really helps you to see what kind of roles and industries are out there.

When I was at university I got the chance to spend a summer working in marketing at a local law firm and loved it. A few years later, this led to an unexpected job offer from the same law firm. I took it and worked there full-time for two years in marketing until I moved to CoinCorner earlier this year.

5. What is a typical day like?

There are no typical days at CoinCorner or in the cryptocurrency industry. Although our marketing team has ongoing tasks and projects to work on, every day is genuinely different as the industry changes so much.

In general, I help to promote the company and could be working on anything from writing comments for journalists to planning a marketing campaign or contacting someone for information. It’s a very varied and fun area to work in.

6. What’s the best thing about your job?

Aside from the awesome people that I work with, the best thing about my job has to be that I am working in a new, crazy and developing industry.

Cryptocurrency is at the cutting edge of technology and is something that could have a positive impact on people’s lives around the world. It’s rewarding to be involved at the early stages.

7. What is the most challenging thing about your job?

Of course, as the industry is still very new, it’s fast-paced and constantly changing. This can make things challenging for us in marketing as we aren’t able to properly plan more than three months in advance (typically marketers will plan on a yearly basis).

It’s no longer a shock when a plan falls through or has to change at the last minute. Although this is a challenge, it’s actually been a good one as it’s helped me to become more flexible in how I work.

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8. What advice do you have for people who want to do what you do?

My advice would be to take your time figuring out what area of marketing you want to be in. Don’t rush into anything and take on junior marketing roles to build your skill level up.

It’s also worth mentioning that I didn’t study marketing until I got my first job as a marketing assistant. This was after I’d graduated with an English degree, spent a year abroad in the USA and worked a temporary job at a local hospital. Luckily, you can very easily learn marketing theory while working (I study with the Chartered Institute of Marketing).

9. What things do you wish you’d known before starting your career?

I wish I’d known that no one really knows what they’re doing in business! Before I started working in marketing, I was under the impression that business people were experts and always knew exactly what to do and when to do it.

Since starting my career, I’ve realised that no one has all the answers. A lot of working in business involves trial and error, including taking risks and going against the norm to be noticed in what is a very busy world.

10. Where would you like to be in 5 years?

I’d like to be wherever my decisions take me! I’m no longer a fan of looking too far in the future and hoping to be at a certain place in life as it takes me out of living in the moment.

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Main image via Pexels