Jo

Events and experiential marketing

I’ve been working in events and experiential marketing for about 7 years. I love it! There is always a real sense of achievement when you attend a live activity that you have planned.  A lot of people wonder what the definition of experiential is as it’s a relatively new phrase – essentially it’s any marketing that is a brand live experience – often involving product trial or promotion (think that cool pop up at a festival you attended or getting a freebie at your local train station). 

I did Management Studies at the University of Nottingham, and while they tried to be helpful with your next steps in terms of career – there was a real focus on graduate schemes from the big 5. I found the process of applying for positions that had hundreds of people interested (not to mentioned that your application might not even be looked at) pretty unmotivating. At that point I didn’t even know what I’m doing now existed as a job.

After graduating, doing a failed stint in recruitment and feeling a little lost, I spent some time in Australia doing ‘promotional’ work. I discovered experiential marketing, and decided I wanted to work for an agency in their head office on my return to London. I’ve not looked back since! It’s creative, fast paced and sociable – appealing to my organisational, multi-tasking strengths. I’ve mostly worked in account management – owning various FMCG clients or brand accounts and being the main contact who briefs the rest of the agency on what’s needed to be delivered – it’s very similar to project management and focuses on delivering campaigns or events seamlessly on time and in budget.

What I can help you with:

• Finding out what you want to do

• Working in Account Management, Experiential marketing or Events

• How to get started in Experiential Marketing

• What to put on your CV