My name is Ruby, I am a second year student at Cardiff Metropolitan University studying Brand and Marketing Management. I love to travel, experience new cultures and meet new people. Over the past 8 weeks, I have had the opportunity to dive headfirst into the fast-paced and constantly evolving sector of marketing. From constructing creative social posts to updating the upcoming events, each day brought new experiences and challenges. In this blog, I will use this opportunity to reflect on my experience, including the skills I have developed and how they will impact my career goals for the future!
Week 1: Diving into the Deep End💁♀️
On my first day, I was thrown into the deep end of marketing as I familiarised myself with the ins and outs of the company’s brand identity. Meeting new colleagues and learning about the company’s operations was nerve-wracking, yet exciting! The Marketing Manager, Patrick, signed me into all of the marketing channels, calendars, and chats, this enabled me to dive into Welsh ICE and learn more about them as a company. By studying the brand guidelines and understanding the target audience, I gained valuable insights into their marketing style and habits.
Weeks 2-3: Being Creative 🎨
With a solid understanding of the brand, it was time to get creative! Over the next two weeks, I created and scheduled social media content for multiple channels using Canva and Meta Business Suite. The content included posts for networking events, the 5-9 Club, and the ‘Neckties and Nikes’ blog written by Tom. I also created a calendar to schedule upcoming content and outline any events that were coming up (e.g., International Women’s Day). These tasks allowed me to develop my content creation and organisational skills, and plan content for the upcoming weeks. I found that every task and interaction contributed to my professional and personal growth. Complex projects and unexpected obstacles tested my resilience, however, each challenge presented an opportunity to problem-solve and enhance my skill set.
Weeks 4-7: Becoming More Confident ✨
I was asked by Patrick to attend a session of the 5-9 Club (an 8-week program designed to help business owners develop the necessary skills required to create a successful business). I attended week 7-which was the penultimate session, in which the attendees (both virtual and in-person) were learning the essential skills for ‘The Pitch’, in preparation for their final session in week 8. This was led by Samantha, a small business owner herself. During this session, I created social content whilst learning about presenting a pitch from Samantha, I also chipped into the workshop and showcased my knowledge to help some of the attendees with the marketing for their businesses. Meeting and engaging with more new people helped me gain confidence in myself and my skills as I was trusted to create content for this event.
Week 8: Bye ICE, Hello Future Marketing Manager 👋
In my last few days at Welsh ICE, I found myself reflecting on the past couple of weeks, I realised the impact it had on my personal and professional development, as well as the development of my skills. In addition to developing my technical skills, I have improved other skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management. I have gained more of an understanding of the marketing industry as well as the coworking sector while being at Welsh ICE. This placement journey has combined theoretical knowledge with practical application. The connections I have made at Welsh ICE will remain valuable and real to me throughout the future. In the future, I hope to be a marketing manager working for a fashion, magazine or beauty brand focussing on social media, influencer marketing and public relations!
To follow my journey into the future, you can connect with me on LinkedIn using this link: www.linkedin.com/in/ruby-dark6