The goal -- to return to work full time within two years. The dilemma -- what to do, specifically, and what skills I need to gain in the meantime now that the world has gone digital yet my qualifications were gained pre-internet.
After a positive week which involved emerging from behind the computer screen (where the majority of my day is spent editing Word documents, writing web content and generally cursing all things Microsoft), and meeting a fabulous group of bloggers, I am more motivated and determined than ever, and my focus is now on work.
However, my drive and determination is slowly turning into stress and frustration as I've realised that my skills are outdated, the world has moved on and gone digital and, to an extent, I have been left behind. I have a great deal of catching up to do.
I also want to achieve everything now which of course is not possible, yet I am impatient and want to make up for lost time.
I'm half way through a marketing course which I'll complete by the end of the year. Aware that the business degree I gained in the 1990s needed updating, I chose an area that particularly interested me. However, marketing is too general; I need to specialise further.
So the dilemma is where to go now considering that so much these days is online rather than off. There are numerous areas that interest me -- marketing communications, journalism, writing, editing, copywriting, PR, social media ... but my concern is that time is not on my side. I turn 37 next week. There is so much that I need to learn; I am unsure where to start.
My week has been spent looking at various courses, considering childcare options and weighing up finances. There is so much information out there to help me develop some sense of direction, possibly too much. And now I'm wondering if I now need a Mac.
I think my head may explode.
So the idea of returning to full-time work now that IJ is approaching an age when she relies on me less is very exciting, it is also very overwhelming and the world of work I once knew no longer exists.
We are off tomorrow to the press day at Drayton Manor where I may be found swinging from the monkey bars talking rather incoherently about search engine optimisation, website design and target markets.
If, by then, I have not gone completely mad!
My advice, for what it's worth is that marketing, copywriting, corporate comms, PR and even journalism to an extent are moving in the same direction - online.
I think anyone with a good working knowledge of SEO and SEM is at an advantage in any of those markets, the same applies to a simple web app like Dreamweaver and knowing the basics of HTML. Even if you end up only commissioning people to do those things, the knowledge makes you a better commissioner. And don't dismiss anything because of your age - technical knowledge is easily acquired but years of experience are more difficult to come by!
Posted by: Sally Whittle | April 10, 2010 at 12:23 PM
Thank you, Sally. That is very helpful indeed. It seems sensible, then, for me to look further into the areas of SEO, SEM and web design tools rather than focusing on one long course that just covers just one area, such as PR. That certainly focuses my efforts at bit more. There are lots of short courses out there which cover these areas. I shall go off and investigate them (and stop worrying about my age!).
Posted by: Rosie Scribble | April 10, 2010 at 01:11 PM
I agree with Sally. I'm having to make a similar leap - at 43 after years of working one way or another in print. Experience and clarity of communication will never go out of fashion and the rest can be picked up on the way. In fact, it makes our child-juggling lives easier. Enjoy it, it seems more fun to me than it did when I started.
Posted by: Ellen Arnison | April 10, 2010 at 01:24 PM
With SEO etc. and your skills you can write a business blog for a company, that's a huge part of marketing these days. I suggest you look at Seth Godin's blog and also Hubspot. Good luck, you can do it Rosie!
Posted by: Susanna | April 10, 2010 at 04:05 PM
Thanks, Ellen. I will try and enjoy it rather than feeling over-whelmed by it all. I agree -- it does make working and child-jugging a lot easier now that there are options of working online from home at a time that suits us.
Posted by: Rosie Scribble | April 10, 2010 at 07:20 PM
Thank you, Susanna. The idea of writing a business blog for a company had not occurred to me but it does open new options. The sites you have mentioned look excellent and full of information. I will get reading! Thanks for your encouragement.
Posted by: Rosie Scribble | April 10, 2010 at 07:21 PM
Everyone needs a mac Rosie.....regardless of whether they work or not ;)
In terms of your dilemma, although things have undoubtedly changed, the basics of how to deal with people, build client relationships and make a business successful won't have changed fundamentally.
I've worked in Marcomms & PR, mainly for B2B clients, for 12 years or so and I agree with Sally that there is a definite trend to online. But, it's not the be all and end all, and personally I think we'll reach a plateau.
If you've got a well rounded skillset, some technical understanding and confidence in what you do, you'll be fine. I'm 37 and, although I've kept things ticking over for the last few years, I'm only really now returning to working earnestly for a living. I'm finding that clients are still a long way from understanding social media and seo, but they're also no better at communicating internally or externally, maintaining their brand integrity or understanding the basics of PR & Marketing. There's loads of opportunity out there and you'll be fine!
If you ever want to chat through any thoughts/nerves/anything really, feel free to give me a shout... paula(at)battleplancreative.com
Good luck,Pxx
Posted by: Peabee72 | April 10, 2010 at 07:56 PM
How ironic, I work full-time in marketing and would love to be a part-time freelance writer. Maybe we could swap??
On a more serious note, I agree with a lot of the previous comments. Experience and a rounded skill set are priceless, but what would give you an advantage in today's market is online skills. Loads of companies who previously had minimal online presence are waking up to the fact that they need to join the 21st century and are desperate to develop some social media stuff - blogs, twitter and even facebook as well as email marketing and websites. SEO is still a big mystery to many and has become a kind of holy grail. If you can do that kind of thing (or even, as Sally suggested, just commission/manage it with knowledge and confidence) you just might give yourself the edge.
Good luck!
Posted by: Serenity | April 10, 2010 at 09:43 PM
I totally hear where you're coming from re needing to learn new skills, and I would concur with everyone else in terms of learning a little SEO / SEM (and perhaps a little web design) would definitely be a benefit.
However, I'd also like to highlight how much you already know:
- You understand blogging, the importance of creating a human voice etc
- You understand how to create fabulous online content
- You understand how online communities work
- You already use and understand social media (and how to engage with others)
I'm guessing you already know a lot more than you realise. Good luck with everything :)
Posted by: Lucy Quick | April 11, 2010 at 07:11 PM
Thanks, Paula. That very supportive. I have kept my hand in for the last few years but I'm also looking for a change of direction which is why I'm studying marketing. I'm also interested in social media too and some online skills will certainly be helpful by the sounds of things. However, I think I've realised the importance of a more rounded skill set, as you say, so I'll cast my net a little wider and won't focus just on technical computer skills but on many of the fundamental business skills which I suspect I already have, but have not been used for some time. Thanks again x
Posted by: Rosie Scribble | April 12, 2010 at 02:22 PM
Many thanks, Serenity. Part-time writing would be lovely but I need to earn a full-time wage, so I'll take your job and you can have mine ;)
It has become very clear that online skills are a necessity so I'll look at the social media aspects. In fact I've found some resources on SEO already. How things have changed. Terms like that were unheard of when I studied business in 1996! Seems like a very long time ago now.
Posted by: Rosie Scribble | April 12, 2010 at 02:29 PM
Lucy, what a lovely comment, thank you very much! I guess I do know more about social media and creating online content than I realise. Your comment has been very encouraging. Like the previous comments, it does seem a very good idea to learn a bit more about SEO, SEM and a little web design so I feel a lot more focussed now. Thank again!
Posted by: Rosie Scribble | April 12, 2010 at 02:42 PM
I wouldn't worry - I don't think it has moved on all that much, we're masses more digital at home than work is and its taking its time to trickle through
Posted by: Muddling Along Mummy | April 15, 2010 at 03:46 PM