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Author: Jackie Cook

Our Managing Director’s Career Story

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At 16 Jackie did not want to stay on for A levels and to go to university like most of her classmates she wanted to be a PA/Secretary and so left school after her GCSE’s to go to Chesterfield College to study for London Chamber of Commerce (LCCI) Private Secretary’s Certificate, during the year’s course she also took a number of other secretarial qualifications inc. RSA Typing, Audio Typing, Word Processing and Teeline Shorthand.

 

After college Jackie started work at 17 as an Office Junior with Fibermesh Synthetic Industries Europe Ltd (try saying that quickly!), an American owned company based on the Sheepbridge Industrial Estate in Chesterfield.  Jackie gained a range of office experience including reception and secretarial duties.

 

After a year she was approached about a job at a larger company, The Beverage Company Ltd, based in Clay Cross, Chesterfield.  Jackie joined as Junior Secretary/Receptionist but her usual willingness to help and learn meant that by the time she left she could cover 5 different office admin roles with duties including: reception, secretarial, sales order processing, material requirements planning, human resources administration.

 

In 1999, Jackie was made redundant and luckily after only a week unemployed was offered the job of Secretary and HR Assistant at PKF accountants and business advisors, in their Sheffield office.  It was whilst in this role that Jackie started helping out in Marketing with updating the database (as anyone that’s ever done this knows a never ending job!), doing mailshots for seminars and helping with event organisation.  This was intertwined with her other secretarial duties for 4 departments and HR Assistant doing some of the confidential admin, setting up a personnel database, collecting articles for and putting together the in house newsletter for the Sheffield and Doncaster offices.

 

Then in 2000 PKF created the role of Marketing Assistant in the Sheffield office for which Jackie was then perfectly placed and led to her career change.  Recognising the change of career path and wanting to learn more to support her new role Jackie started evening classes to studying for first of all the Certificate and then Advanced Certificate in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).   Jackie, pictured, at her graduation in 2003 at Chesterfield College.

 

In 2003 Jackie gained promotion to Marketing Executive.  Having settled into the role Jackie wanted to start studying again but at that time no-one in the Sheffield area was running the Post-graduate Diploma in Marketing so not to be deterred she contacted Sheffield Hallam University to see what courses they offered and this is how she came to start in 2005 studying again, this time for her MSc in Marketing Management.

 

Throughout studying for her Marketing qualifications Jackie has worked full-time and studied in the evenings and on weekends, added to the hours required in the job this led to some long hours particularly just before assignment deadlines!  Even using holiday particularly when completing her dissertation in 2007.  Jackie is pictured outside Sheffield City Hall for her MSc graduation a proud day for her family and friends.

 

In 2008, after 5 years as Marketing Executive in PKF (UK) LLP’s Sheffield office Jackie was looking for a new challenge when the opportunity arose to make a change from professional services to heavy engineering with the international company DavyMarkham Limited based in Darnall, Sheffield.  Whilst this was a very different role it was still business to business (B2B) and services marketing.  Although presenting a whole new set of challenges as the company had not already got a marketing department so Jackie was presented with an empty desk apart from a computer and a phone!  Various other people within the company were already looking after elements of marketing but it needed pulling together to create a cohesive brand image.

 

At the same time as leaving PKF in 2008, Jackie set up CQ Marketing Services as she had a number of enquiries for help from former colleagues from issuing a press release about joining a new company to promoting a range of specialist seminars.  To ensure she had the right knowledge to go about this Jackie went on a number of Business Link workshops including business planning, bookeeping, taxation

 

Following a number of changes in 2010 where Jackie moved back to Sheffield and  DavyMarkham was sold to Indian ownership.  Jackie decided that after nearly 4 years at DavyMarkham to move to one of the world’s largest international valve manufacturing groups AVK UK Ltd as Marketing Manager for the UK and Ireland.

 

Jackie played a key role in ensuring improved internal communication of the marketing activity utilising the company’s intranet, and attending monthly sales meetings to ensure the external based teams were kept informed.  Another key area was developing a social media presence on LinkedIn taking over the company profile and encouraging staff to develop their individual profiles.  In addition to maintaining a high standard of brand image across all materials inc. website, banner stands, advertising, and detailed technical brochures across the full range of products available for sale in the UK.

 

Back in April 2010 whilst Jackie worked at DavyMarkham, the then MD, Kevin Parkin and Alan Lyons from Creative Sheffield set up The Lyons Den, a LinkedIn based networking group.  Due to repeated ‘can you do…’ questions Jackie became the Head Lioness endeavouring to keep the pair in check!  Generally providing support in terms of behind the scenes administration, event and website support.  This led to at the Christmas ‘Awards’ event in 2011 (and again in 2012) her being presented with the ‘Best Supporting Lioness’ award!

 

All of this experience gives Jackie an all round knowledge of business and the systems and processes required to run an efficient business.

Marketing careers – types and routes into

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There are many different routes into a marketing career and many different specialisms within the industry but for a general marketing management role I’ve showcased the difference above in going down the university route vs into employment and studying part-time doing your CIM alongside this.

 

There are many different marketing specialisms and just as many types of marketing agency that cover all different aspects.  For many working in industry you become an generalist that has some knowledge of all of these aspects:

  • Marketing strategy and planning
  • Business development inc. tender or bid management, networking
  • Graphic design
  • Digital marketing inc. Website design, Social media, E-shot campaigns, Search engine optimisation or SEO
  • Content marketing inc. copywriting
  • Public relations or PR
  • Advertising
  • International marketing
  • Event management
  • Product marketing
  • Services marketing
  • Business to Consumer (B2C)
  • Business to Business (B2B)

 

 

Rotherham College Student – my work experience

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My name is Charlie Creed, I am 19 years old, and I’m currently studying level 3 business at Rotherham College of Arts & Technology. I have come on work experience with Jackie Cook who is the owner CQ Strategic Marketing so that I can gain some knowledge and have the feel of what it is like in the world of work and in a work place environment. I expected work experience to be boring just like those other times my teachers sent me out on placement but this time it was actually fun, exciting and learnt a lot from it.

This week on work experience had been great. I got to visit manufacturing companies such as Rollem, LBBC Technologies, Red Dog Linings, Newburgh Precision which are CQ’s clients and learnt about what they manufacture, how each of the businesses operates differently to each other. I also got to meet some of the Managing Director’s that told me their story about how they got to where they are today and I now know that with hard work that it is possible to become a business owner.

Jackie took me to University of Huddersfield to a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) event about business, the speakers taught me about how they got into starting up their own business, CIM qualifications and gave me advice on how to make a CV that stands out to get the employer to notice you.

Before I finish college, I wasn’t sure what I was going to be doing next year and at first I thought spending the week on work experience was a waste because how was that going to help me decide what I was going to do next year. But spending the week on work experience with Jackie had opened my eyes up to the real world. That there are so many opportunities and that there aren’t just one but many other routes such as CIM to take me down my career path into business.

She had also taught me what it’s like to operate in a working environment and that it takes time, dedication, confidence and hard work. I learnt very valuable skills and knowledge which gave me a better understanding of business which I probably wouldn’t have learnt in college. This week was worth it because of how much knowledge I gained but it also gave me a lot to think about and helped me to decide what I am wanting to do next year.

Marketing yourself

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In an increasingly competitive job market how do you make yourself stand out to your future employer?

There are several marketing techniques that you can apply just as equally to marketing a company or a product that can be used to promote you and your skills.

A few thoughts on researching your chosen career:

  • Read books on theory and practice to top up your knowledge or research a change of role
  • Look at relevant professional bodies, membership of a professional body shows commitment to your career and continuous professional development, they also hold a lot of information to help you in your career and hold regular networking events
  • Find out what are the recognised qualifications for that job role
  • Get a subscription to online and print trade magazines so you are up to date with what is happening
  • Book to go to networking events that the types of businesses you want to work for will be attending
  • Research job vacancies, look at job specs what are employers looking for in skills and qualifications, identify the gaps in your knowledge and work out how you can fill them
  • Think about volunteering, committees for relevant charities/organisations to gain experience

Showcasing your talent, making yourself stand out:

  • CV, bring your relevant experience and qualifications to the front
  • CV, format of the document, make it easy to read but maybe style the document to suit your ideal job so event programme for event management, set of accounts for accountant, marketing brochure, legal document, engineering drawing etc
  • Testimonials and references from former employers and colleagues to highlight the skills needed in that job role, get a to whom it may concern letter so you have it to show your future employer or client
  • Develop a portfolio of examples of work that you have done, to write case studies remember what was the problem, how did you solve it, what was the outcome, quote from the person you did the work for, pictures to break up the text
  • Use of video, particularly for more creative careers or where people skills and personality is important make a little video to use on your LinkedIn profile or send a dvd/usb stick to your prospective employer with your cv and portfolio

For further information or advice please contact [email protected] or 01709 430491

CQ Strategic Marketing hosts Cutlers’ Ambassador on work experience

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During August 2017, William Allender, 15, from Bradfield School completed six days of work with CQ Strategic Marketing. William’s work experience was part of the Cutlers’ Ambassadors programme run by The work-wise Foundation, which gives 13-16 year olds work experience during the summer holidays. William accompanied Jackie Cook to four client premises including Rollem in Tankersley, Barnsley, LBBC Group of companies in Stanningley, Leeds, Red Dog Lining in Barnsley and Newburgh Precision in Rotherham.

Whilst working with CQ Strategic Marketing, William has been involved in scheduling regular social media content for various clients. He has also worked on three news articles where he has written about his experience with the Cutlers’ Ambassadors and Summer Academy programme and the skills he has learnt on work experience. He has then worked on the work-wise website where he edited the page and inserted his two articles under the news category. He has the worked with Red Dog Linings, helping conduct market research to identify the correct contact with the target organisation.

William said  “I’ve understood what is takes to manage and grow your own business and learnt many valuable skills which will be useful in later life. This experience has opened my eyes to what it is like to operate in a working environment and has given me a wider understanding of the marketing sector. This experience was extremely beneficial and will be most helpful in preparing me for the world of work.”

Jackie Cook, Managing Director said “William has assisted in updating client social media accounts, updated ours and a clients’ website with additional content. He has assisted in preparing press releases for Summer Academy and work experience programs and has undertaken market research for one of the clients.  He has attended and contributed to business meetings in a professional, respectful and appropriate manner. William has shown initiative, good timekeeping skills and has followed instructions extremely well, picking things up quickly and asking questions where appropriate. He has got on well in our small team and with our clients and contacts.”