Achieving Success Through Imperfect Action: Starting a Career in Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing Careers Arooj Prem — Social Media Strategist Arooj Prem looking toward a ring light against an eclipse. Image created in Canva by Kisha Velazquez.

This post is inspired by the first episode of the Acadium Plus Coffee Chat podcast. In this episode, co-hosts Alex Vega, Kisha Velazquez, Henry Silva, and Simon Bunyi sit down with Arooj Prem to discuss her journey into digital marketing and her valuable insights on overcoming perfectionism to achieve success.

Listen to the full Episode

From Graphic Design to Digital Marketing

Much like my unconventional career in content marketing, Arooj's journey into digital marketing wasn't a straight path. With a degree in computer arts, she initially started her career as a graphic designer with a minor in videography. Her passion for content creation gradually led her to pivot toward digital marketing and social media.

"I was really interested in creating content because my minor was videography and photography. That is when I very gradually pivoted to digital marketing and social media. Content creation was basically my hook," Arooj explains.

Finding Acadium After Moving to a New Country

When Arooj moved to Canada in 2018, she faced the common challenge many immigrants encounter: the need for "Canadian experience" to land a job in her field. Her search for opportunities led her to Acadium Plus, which offered apprenticeships with local businesses to gain valuable marketing experience.

"I didn't know anybody here, and I was told that to get a job in the Canadian market, you need to have Canadian experience," Arooj shares. "When I started searching, I came across Acadium, and they were offering apprenticeships and working with local businesses to gain experience in marketing."

Arooj completed several apprenticeships, working with mentors she describes as "amazing." These experiences not only helped her build her portfolio but also highlighted gaps in her knowledge about the North American market—a significant difference from her experience in Pakistan.

"In Canada, you've got an 83% penetration rate of internet; in Pakistan, it's 20%. So the market here is very different," she notes.

The Perfectionism Trap

One of the most significant challenges Arooj faced was her struggle with perfectionism—a common obstacle for many marketers. She found herself constantly feeling overwhelmed by the belief that she needed to know everything perfectly before moving forward.

"I was being held back by this knowledge that whatever I have is not enough. I have to do more, maybe do a diploma, maybe do a certificate, and then I have to perfect myself," Arooj admits. "It was just getting very overwhelming for me."

This perfectionism was hindering her job search. When looking at job postings, she would focus on the 20% of requirements she didn't feel confident about, despite being qualified for 80% of the position.

Watch the full interview

Breaking Free from the Need to Be Perfect

Working with Acadium Plus and mentor Erik Harbison helped Arooj shift her perspective. She learned an important lesson: you don't need to be perfect at everything in a job description.

"Erik told me, 'Listen, as long as you can do 80% of that job, it's good. You should go ahead with that,'" she recalls. "If you can do 100% of the job, there will be nothing to learn, so you would need to have a job where you can learn and grow."

A significant turning point came when Arooj read Seth Godin's advice: "The most important thing is that you have to ship whatever you are doing rather than just working on it and keep on working on it as time passes."

Practical Strategies for Overcoming Perfectionism

Arooj shared several practical strategies she's implemented to overcome her perfectionism:

Do the easiest tasks first: "I do the easiest task first, something that I can do quickly within five minutes. That gives me encouragement."
Break down larger tasks: "I try to divide those bigger tasks into smaller pieces."
Set time limits: "Now I allocate myself time. If I have to do a website, I'll just do one section within an hour. After that hour, no matter what, I'll stop."
Celebrate small wins: "I give myself time to celebrate that win. I will give myself that validation, and that helps me immensely because I want to go back and get that validation again."

These strategies have helped her not only in her professional life but also in personal projects—she proudly mentions planning her wedding in just two weeks using these techniques!

Advice for Aspiring Digital Marketers

When asked for one piece of advice for listeners, Arooj emphasizes the importance of perseverance.

"Hard work always beats talent. If you work at something, you will achieve it, but you have to persevere to gain it, and you really have to want to do it," she asserts.

For those looking to break into digital marketing or change careers, Arooj also recommends being open-minded:

"A lot of times, what you think when you look at social media from outside, 'Oh, I like this thing a lot'—by all means, go ahead and try that out, but be open-minded towards other areas as well. You do not know what you will like more."

Key Takeaways for New Digital Marketers

As career-changers and graduates of the Acadium Plus Digital Marketing program, Arooj and the hosts shared advice for new marketers:

Kisha: "Don't be afraid to put your work out there. The worst thing you could do is not even try."
Henry: "It's okay not to be perfect. It's okay that you don't fit the description 100%. Be yourself."
Simon: "Having a sense of foundation and support is important. You're never alone."
Arooj: "Be open-minded. By tasting every bit of social media, you will learn a lot, and that is going to help you long-term in your career."

The Power of Community and Mentorship

At the end of chat, Arooj emphasizes how crucial mentorship and community support have been in her journey. Having someone like Erik from Acadium Plus to guide her through challenges and provide practical advice made a significant difference in her career growth.

This blog post is based on an episode of Acadium Plus Coffee Chat, a podcast for entry-level marketers and mid-career changers trying to break into digital marketing. For more information, visit acadium.com/plus.