Feeling Frustrated About Job Hunting? This Special Episode Is for You
Because You've Been Trying, Hoping, and Still Hearing Nothing
Dear Marketers Job Hunting,
I see you.
Yes, you — refreshing your inbox for that one email that says, “We’d love to interview you.”
You — rewriting the same CV for the 27th time.
You — smiling in interviews, while behind the scenes, you're grappling with imposter syndrome and burnout.
You — who once had dreams of doing creative, strategic, impactful work… and now wonders if you’ll ever get the chance.
I see you.
I’ve been you.
Many of us have.
There’s something deeply humbling about job hunting , especially in marketing. It's not just about applying for jobs.
It's putting your worth on the line over and over again.
It’s being ghosted by companies you poured your heart into researching.
It’s being told “we’ve decided to go with someone more experienced” when the job was labeled entry-level.
It's navigating job descriptions that ask for everything under the sun, pay you in exposure, and treat your passion like it's disposable.
Let’s just say it:
The job market can feel brutal, disheartening, and even disrespectful.
But here’s the thing I want you to hear loud and clear…
You are not your rejection letters.
You are not your current unemployed status.
You are not “lacking” because you don’t have 3 years of experience yet.
You are not behind.
You are becoming.
You’ve probably upskilled.
Taken unpaid internships.
Helped friends' businesses.
Managed a community.
Started a newsletter or a passion project.
Contributed to a brand's visibility in ways that don’t always make it onto a portfolio.
That is work. That is marketing. That is proof.
So if you're in the job-hunting trenches, battling rejection, confusion, comparison, or despair, I want to remind you:
This process does not define your value.
You’re allowed to feel tired, discouraged, or even angry.
But you’re also allowed to keep going.
There’s a reason so many job descriptions feel misaligned. Many businesses don’t know what they want, or they want the world in one role. They confuse marketing with sales, customer service, content creation, video editing, PR, and sometimes even HR. They slap the word “rockstar” or “ninja” on a post and expect to pay peanuts.
And that’s why I need you to listen to this part carefully:
Do not settle.
Even if your rent is due.
Even if you’ve applied for 100 roles.
Even if it seems like everyone else is “winning” on LinkedIn.
Please don’t shrink yourself into a poorly defined role that will only burn you out and undervalue your brilliance.
Don’t accept a job that says:
❌ “We want someone who does EVERYTHING, but it’s just one role.”
❌ “We expect you to drive 10k in revenue by yourself, but we won’t give you budget or autonomy.”
❌ “You’ll get exposure, not a proper salary.”
❌ “This role pays in ‘experience’.”
You deserve better.
And hear me: your dream role is not a myth.
It may not look like a shiny title. It may be in a company you haven’t heard of yet.
But it does exist. And it wants what you bring to the table; your empathy, your ideas, your curiosity, your creative muscle, your marketing brain.
Reframe the Wait
Use this time to audit your skills. Revisit your wins. Write a case study on that campaign you ran. Start a blog. Mentor someone newer than you. Create content that builds your brand. This waiting season can be a building season.
Tailor Smartly, Not Desperately
Stop rewriting your entire CV for every role. Instead, get clear on your own story, what you bring, what you’re looking for, what you won’t accept. This clarity will save you time and heartbreak.
Say No to Trash Offers
Yes, even if you're desperate. The emotional and mental toll of working in a toxic, undefined, low-paid marketing job is not worth it. You’ll spend more time recovering from that than you would finding something aligned.
Ask Better Questions in Interviews
You are not just there to be chosen, you are choosing too. Ask them:
What does success look like in this role in 90 days?
Do you have a marketing budget?
What happened to the last person in this role?
How is performance reviewed?
Their answers will tell you everything you need to know.
Lean Into Community
You are not alone. Connect with other marketers. Share your experience. There is power in peer support, emotionally, strategically, and in referrals.
This letter is more than encouragement. It’s a call to courage.
The world of marketing is wide and weird and wonderful and there is a seat for you at the table. Not because you begged for it, but because you earned it.
Don’t let a few rejections rewrite your narrative.
Don’t let market chaos make you forget your worth.
Don’t give up because of “no.”
Keep moving toward your “yes.”
And when that job finally comes, the one that values your brain, your time, and your creativity, I hope you remember how far you’ve come. I hope you look in the mirror and say:
“I didn’t just get this job. I grew into it.”
With all my heart and all my hope,
— Success 💛
Give someone job hunting a virtual hug in the comments:
Someone in your circle needs this too. Don’t keep it to yourself. Share with them!
Meme of The Week
Book Excerpt For The Week
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion - Robert Cialdini
“Opportunities seem more valuable to us when their availability is limited. The feeling of being in competition for scarce resources has powerfully motivating properties.”
— Robert Cialdini, Chapter 6: Scarcity, Page 238 (Revised Edition)
This quote dives deep into the psychology of FOMO (the Fear of Missing Out). Cialdini explores how scarcity, whether in the form of time, quantity, or access, intensifies our desire. Simply put: when something becomes less available, we want it more, not always because of its actual value, but because of the perception that we might miss out on it.
The excerpt explains why limited-time offers, countdown timers, and phrases like “Only 2 left!” work so effectively. Scarcity triggers urgency, and urgency drives action. This principle is rooted in survival instinct; if resources are disappearing, we’re biologically wired to secure them quickly.
Cialdini references the “Worchel Cookie Jar Study,” where participants rated cookies as more desirable when fewer were available, even though all cookies were identical. This shows how our perception of value changes when something feels exclusive or restricted.
How marketers can leverage this:
Create Time-Limited Campaigns: Use countdowns, flash sales, and early-bird deadlines to prompt quick action from your audience.
Show Stock or Access Limitations: Communicate scarcity clearly: “Only 5 spots remaining”, “Limited access”, or “Offer ends in 12 hours.”
Use Exclusive Offers Strategically: Build VIP lists, offer beta access, or run limited drops that make your audience feel like they’re part of something special.
Highlight Demand as a Signal: Phrases like “Selling out fast”, “High demand”, or “Join 3,000 others who’ve signed up” can combine social proof and scarcity for greater impact.
Be Honest, Not Manipulative: Scarcity works best when it’s authentic. Don’t create fake urgency, audiences are smart and will lose trust if your “limited offer” never ends.
Can You Keep A Secret?
🤫 Shhh - Jess Cook, Head of Marketing at Vector will be on Dear Digital Marketing Newbie in May!
Who is Jess?
Jess Cook is a seasoned content marketing leader with over 15 years of experience turning brand stories into viral, scalable campaigns. Formerly the Head of Content at Island and Director of Content Marketing at Marpipe, she’s crafted content strategies for household names like McDonald’s, Kellogg, and Cottonelle. Jess is passionate about the science behind shareability and demand-gen storytelling that resonates.
In this edition, she unpacks “The Science of Virality: What Makes Content Shareable at Scale?”, and why your next big hit might just be a strategy shift away.
I have had the interview and it’s really taking every self control in me to not share it before me.
I’ve already had the interview and... it’s taking every ounce of self-control not to spill it all before May. 👀 Stay tuned!
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See You Next Thursday at 13:00 WAT
Best,
Success Lawal
Your Marketing Buddy.