In this episode of the Early Stage Marketer Podcast, host Speaker A asks guest Esther for advice to early‑stage marketers who feel stuck in a role that isn’t helping their growth. Esther emphasizes weighing options and prioritizing long‑term career development over short‑term company demands. She argues that if a first‑marketing hire or any early marketer isn’t learning, gaining exposure, or receiving mentorship, the role will lead to burnout and stalled growth. She recommends seeking positions that provide rapid skill acquisition, working under strong leaders, or even taking an internship to gain proper guidance. When a role fails to deliver these benefits, Esther advises quitting sooner rather than later to avoid wasting years. The conversation closes with a concise takeaway: assess whether you’re learning and getting exposure; if not, leave early for better career trajectory.
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So what if someone, um, comes to you and says, um, this is the reality right now, maybe I'm in a role I feel I shouldn't even have taken on in the first place. What's that one thing you tell them? So imagine this is 2025, or someone is in the same position as you are right there. So they may not even be working in an agency. It may even be that they are just the first marketing hire in a startup. But the only similarities is they feel overwhelmed and they feel like they don't know what they are doing. So what would you say to them if they're in a situation like that?
Like that. Okay. I think what I'm saying is, I mean, weigh the options, right? Um, because long run, your career is the most important thing. As, as much as you're trying to do the company or the job You also need to know that if I mean they're not making revenue, especially for for a marketing person, they will ask you to. So if yeah, on the job is not is stressing you out, you're not learning as much as you do, and it doesn't like in the next six years, six months, one year, you'll be able to hold up to something tangible. Like this is the result of me pulling this role. Then I think that person has. you know, being in that job. And there's a friend that recently said something that everybody should aim to work with the best people in their field so that you can get exposure.
Yeah.
So for you, as a— as whether the person is a first marketer in a startup, right, what is important is that your job brings you the kind of speed exposure that you need to accelerate your career. If the job is not bringing you that, you're burning out, you're doing multiple jobs, right, in one, and the growth is just stunted. I think it's just best to quit and move to another thing, or maybe go and take up an intern where you can learn better under leadership. Always good. I wish I started under somebody's leadership, right? Somebody that I could learn, I could shadow, you know, to have an idea what it looks like to actually do marketing I have to learn the job. I'll say I learned practically, like, on the job, right? From my career even to this point, like, I learned on the job. And thankfully, right, I also have like a CEO that has some, you know, experience in some of these things that makes the work, you know, at least, you know, uh, how do I say now, at least—
Yeah.
Good to do. I mean, to wake up every morning, you know, that there's somebody that can critique your work That can say, okay, okay, you know, that kind of thing. So if you don't have that kind of direction or that kind of guidance, and in— I think it is best to, to call it quits. Don't waste the years.
I like that. Don't waste the years. Yeah, the earlier the better, right? Okay, thank you so much, Esther. I mean, we've come to the end. I told you this was going to be the last question. So your advice for anyone in this situation is The earlier the better. Just look at it in terms of, am I learning? Am I getting the exposure I need? If none of these are happening, then the earlier the better. The earlier you leave, the better for you. Thank you so much, Esther. This has been such— yeah, it's been such an eye-opening conversation. And thank you for listening to the Early Stage Marketer Podcast. I hope today's story gave you something to reflect on. Or even something to try in your own work. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who might find this helpful. See you next time!
