Imagine going to college and simultaneously majoring in every subject offered. In a way (a good way), that might be something like working at Mustang Marketing. As a full-service creative agency with a broad variety of clients, Mustang can easily be described as a “Jack of all trades.” And, in my role as an administrative assistant, which has made me a bit of a “Jack of all trades” myself, I have had the wonderful opportunity to learn about each of them.
Within the world of marketing alone, the necessary scope of knowledge and skill is impressive. There are limitless vehicles to understand, from traditional print advertising to social media to over-the-top promotional swag. And then, there is the matter of incorporating those vehicles into a successful overall campaign strategy, which—among many other things—requires constant monitoring of market trends, awareness of the differences between various demographics and the ability to allocate resources effectively.
But strategy itself is only the beginning. Once a campaign approach has been developed, its execution requires a host of tactical skills—from the visual creativity and Photoshop expertise of graphic designers to the eloquence and grammatical acuity of copywriters. There is also the networking and media knowledge public relations experts contribute and the coding talents of website designers. Not to mention the business savvy and communication skills account executives display when discussing the campaign with a client.
However, what truly makes working at Mustang similar to acquiring a few dozen academic degrees is the fact that, in addition to mastering our own expansive field, we also need to develop a thorough understanding of each of our clients’ industries. In my time at Mustang, I have learned about landscaping, wedding venues, flame-resistant clothing, politics, banking, Internet access gateways and satellite uplink trucks (to name just a few).
While the sheer vastness of the knowledge available can be intimidating at times, it is also incredibly exciting. In the seven short months I have been working at Mustang, my understanding of both marketing and the world in general has grown tenfold, yet it still feels like there’s so much more I can learn. And, I have a happy suspicion that in this world, that’s a feeling that never goes away.