Before joining CJC for my work experience placement, recommended by someone in the market data industry, I had never worked in an office environment or gained practical marketing experience. Most of what I knew had come from studying marketing at sixth form, so the placement allowed me to see how those ideas are used in a real business. During my time with CJC’s marketing team, I worked on several practical tasks, including writing content, researching industry events, learning about customer prospecting and helping to prepare a recorded interview.

Experiencing B2B Marketing

One of the most interesting things I learned was how business-to-business (B2B) marketing differs from business-to-consumer (B2C) marketing. We focused on B2C marketing in school, which usually targets a large audience through social media and entertaining content.

At CJC, the B2B audience is much more specialised. The company communicates with professionals in the market data industry, so the marketing needs to be more targeted, informative, and relevant, as the buying process in B2B firms is longer and several people may be involved in the decision.

I also researched the World Financial Information Conference, known as WFIC. I was surprised by the size of the event, its international reach and the number of major companies involved. It showed me how important events can be for networking, building relationships and meeting potential customers.

Developing Practical Marketing Skills

One of my main tasks was writing a press release.

I learned how important it is to create an engaging headline, make the opening clear and include the most important information early in the article. Writing my own draft helped me understand how businesses communicate news professionally and interestingly.

I also researched an upcoming SIPUG event and drafted content for CJC’s website. This involved clearly organising the information and including important details, such as the event agenda.

Another task I enjoyed was helping to prepare a recorded interview. I learned that there are many things to consider before filming, including camera angles, lighting, positioning and whether the company logo is visible. This showed me that marketing is not only about writing. It also involves preparation, video production, design and presentation.

Connecting Marketing with Data

Before the placement, I hadn’t realised how closely marketing is linked to data.

I learned about performance marketing and how companies measure results through clicks, website visits, dwell time, enquiries and sales. These figures help marketers understand whether a campaign has been successful and what could be improved in the future.

I also learned how certain tools can be used to identify potential customers before contacting them through targeted messaging. In a specialist B2B market, it is not about reaching the largest possible audience. It is about finding the right people and sending them specific information that is relevant to their roles.

The placement also helped me understand several marketing models I had previously studied, like AIDA, SOSTAC, the 7Ps and PAS. I found it useful to think of SOSTAC as the plan, the seven Ps as the offer and PAS as the message.

Reflections on My Placement

My work experience at CJC gave me a much better understanding of what a career in marketing could involve.

At the beginning of the placement, I had no previous office experience and only a classroom understanding of marketing. By the end, I had drafted a press release, researched industry events, produced website content, helped prepare a recorded interview and learned how marketing performance is measured.

I also became more confident asking questions, sharing ideas and taking responsibility for my own work.

The placement showed me that marketing combines creativity, communication, research and data. It also helped me see how the theories I studied can be applied in a professional environment.

I am grateful to everyone at CJC who supported me during the placement and allowed me to learn more about B2B marketing, office life and the market data industry.