How I'm Trying to Break Into Marketing Communications In 2019: An Update

I know, I know...

I told you in my blog description that this wasn't going to be just another blog with useless content. Hopefully, this update isn't interpreted as such to you.

But I felt that I owed it to myself, the prospective employers who visit this website that I've worked so hard to create, and to those who might be in the same shoes that I'm in at this time, to finally post an update on my personal journey towards employment in marketing communications.

At the risk of sounding like a stereotypical millennial, the struggle is real.

It's not for a lack of work ethic that I haven't been able to break into the industry yet:

I still wake up at the crack of dawn daily to browse the myriad of job boards on the Internet, craft new messages to networking contacts and recruiters alike, and engage in online learning content to sharpen my skills.

Since my first post, I've also completed two "learning paths" on LinkedIn titled "Become a Public Relations Specialist" and "Become a Content Marketer".

Together, these learning paths comprise of 19 hours and 47 minutes of course content that, for me -- served as a refresher on the basics of PR and content marketing. They feature seasoned industry professionals like Deirdre Breakenridge, Andrea Holland, Martin Waxman, Drew Boyd, and Brad Batesole.

In addition to these refreshers, I've put myself through a good half of another learning path called "Become an AMA Professional Certified Marketer in Digital Marketing".

This learning path, which has more than 36 hours of content -- educates professionals on the more intermediate skills of Google Analytics, Google AdWords (rebranded as Google Ads in July 2018), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Facebook ads, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), web design, email marketing, monetizing a Youtube channel, employer branding, and more.

Upon completion of this intensive learning path, I'll have gained a fundamental skill set and knowledge base that I can rely on towards passing an exam that earns me the industry-recognized Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) in Digital Marketing designation.

Once I have this designation, my plan towards breaking into the communications industry includes freelance work and continued learning related to project management -- specifically, agile strategy.

To that end, I've already identified Marty Neumeier's "Scramble" as reading material on how to use agile to quickly build a brand. Neumeier is an acclaimed author and thought leader -- he has been trusted by millions on the subject of branding through some of his published work, including "The Brand Gap" and "The Brand Flip". A LinkedIn slideshare for "The Brand Gap" has also been viewed almost 24 million times.

Additionally, I plan to continue posting on this blog to document my journey. Hopefully, this documentation can serve as a testament to the hard work that I'm putting in, and maybe help other professionals on their own career journeys, whether they're also looking to break into communications or not.

Onwards and upwards!