Are you a new parent, or is there a new baby on the way? This could be the perfect time to arm yourself for a fresh career, or update your current skills. Social Media Marketing jobs are high in demand and qualified digital marketers can look forward to a well-paying career. As most businesses have moved online during the pandemic, the need for qualified digital professionals has grown. According to the Digital Store New Zealand Salary Survey 2019 & 2020, the average annual salary of a Social Media Specialist is $75,000, going up to $120,000. Their average hourly rates start from $50 and go up to $140, depending on their expertise and experience.
Kez and her partner shifted to the South Island in January 2020 from a busy sales career as a Territory Manager, managing accounts worth $4.3million for an Auckland company, for a more relaxed lifestyle for their wee family. “In April 2020 we welcomed out first daughter. I absolutely love mum-life but needed some more stimulation. As you can imagine, it was a big shift from an Auckland sales career to South Island mum-life”, confesses Kez.
“I have always been eager to understand digital marketing. At my previous work, I found myself signing off on marketing campaigns (mainly traditional) without a real understanding. So, when I found a professional digital marketing course that I could pursue entirely online from anywhere in the country, it was no-brainer. By October 2020, I had enrolled with NZIE.”
So how did she manage? We chat with Kez:
How was your experience juggling a small child, pregnancy and the course?
My goodness, it was an adventure to say the least! When I first started the course, I had a little six-month-old who was only just mobile and things were “easy”. Fast forward to December we fell pregnant with baby number two, which also came with Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), an extreme form of morning sickness. I still powered on through the course, handed in my assessments and attended online lectures.
As each month went by, I got more and more pregnant, and my toddler became more and more active. Until finally, in the last term, we received due dates for our final assessments. As luck would have it both were due on the same date as my baby: 5thSeptember 2021. I emailed my concerns to the Programme Leader, Emily, who was very supportive. We informed the tutors and I handed in the assessments before my due date and passed with over 90% in the last papers.
None of this would have been possible without a supportive partner at home, coffee (and more coffee) and fantastic tutors.
How did you and your baby cope through the course?
When my daughter was around a year old, she would nap on me. So, every lunchtime tutorial, I had a baby napping on me during our zoom classes!
Also, tiredness mixed with baby-brain was a big challenge. I was able to power through as I had such an interest in the programme. The final subjects of the course: Social Media Marketing and Websites & E Commerce were very practical, which made it easier. Plus, having a tutor who had a new-born made life easier too, he empathised with my situation.
What are your goals for the future? How do you plan to use what you’ve learnt?
I am planning on starting an ecommerce niche store. Furthermore, once my kids are ready, I’ll return to the workforce in a similar position to my previous Auckland job,
“I have great confidence that having this qualification under my belt, will place me in a good position when applying for jobs. Especially since the world is now online.”
Would you recommend NZIE to a parent-to be, or a parent of young ones? Any advice for them?
Definitely. It was great to keep my brain active! I love having extra knowledge of how the online world works. Additionally, I’m really looking forward to putting it into practice in employment too.
For those, who may not have the time, or the bandwidth for a full-time Digital Marketing Programme, could consider a short course. For instance, the practical 7-week NZIE Social Media Short Course would be excellent for those running their own online business, or a Social Media specialist for other businesses.
