Personal Reflections on Landing a Marketing Job in the UK
👩🏻💻 Background:
At the end of last year, I quit my job and came to the UK with my partner on an HPI visa to experience a new life. I had 3 years of brand experience in the medical device industry in China, but my interest in the field was average, so I wanted to switch industries. My previous company didn’t have strong international recognition, and my skills weren’t highly technical or specialized, which made cross-industry marketing job hunting quite challenging.
⏰ Job search timeline:
January – Mostly just submitting applications with little response. Only one recruiter call, but the role was in Liverpool, which was too far.
February – Two recruiters reached out, for roles at Aon and Harrods. Passed online tests and phone interviews.
March – Formal video interviews:
Aon (40 mins) – rejected after the first round
Harrods (1 hr 15 mins) – reached the final round but no offer
During this time, I also interviewed with QA: two online rounds (45 mins each) and one in-person round (1 hour). Both sides had a good impression. At the end of March, I received a verbal offer.
April – Signed the contract at the beginning of the month and started at the end. The company culture is great: 1–2 office days per week, and everyone is encouraged to finish at 4 pm on Fridays.
🤔 Some thoughts:
1. It’s really hard to switch industries in the UK with a non-technical background.
Most rejections happen at the CV screening stage. I submitted 300+ applications and only had real conversations with three mid-sized companies. Persistence is crucial. Don’t let recruiters’ sales tactics, social media narratives, or even well-meaning concern from friends and family disrupt your pace. I’m grateful my family didn’t pressure me. Compared to my partner (a programmer), the difference in interview volume and job search speed was huge. His constant encouragement helped me stay calm and confident in the limited interviews I had.
2. Mindset matters.
My Aon interview had the simplest questions and I had prepared for all of them, but trying too hard to give “perfect answers” made me sound unnatural. Of course, you should organize your past experiences for behavioral questions, prepare general examples, and research the company and role. Cherish every interview, but don’t over-prepare. During the interview, just be yourself and be confident.
3. Luck plays a big role.
Job hunting is about timing and fit—it’s a two-way selection process. The market isn’t great right now. If you can reach final rounds and perform steadily, your abilities are already proven. But companies often shortlist 3–5 final candidates and choose the best fit. Sometimes headcount gets cut unexpectedly or management approval falls through. The corporate world can be messy. Don’t doubt yourself or dwell too long on rejection—the next opportunity may be better.
Finally, I hope everyone job hunting in the UK gets a bit of good luck 🍀 and lands the offer they want.
Good luck!