1: Quickly building a diverse portfolio

Interim marketing positions give you access to a wide range of projects, brands and industries in a short period of time. Whereas in a permanent position you often need years to gain experience with different campaigns or marketing strategies, as an interim you can gain experience within a few years across a variety of industries.
A diverse portfolio makes your resume more attractive to future employers. Research shows that marketing professionals with experience in different industries advance to senior positions 20% faster on average. This diversity of projects demonstrates your ability to adapt quickly to new environments and challenges.
Therefore, start building your portfolio deliberately: choose projects that complement each other and that together demonstrate a broad spectrum of marketing skills. Document achieved results with concrete numbers to make your contribution measurable.

2: Broadening your marketing skills

Each new interim assignment forces you to quickly learn new skills and apply existing knowledge in different contexts. This leads to a broader and stronger skillset than you would normally develop in a permanent position.
Marketing is constantly changing, and interim professionals often stay more in tune with this. Almost 70% of marketing professionals who regularly change assignments say that this keeps them more up-to-date with the latest developments and techniques. You are forced, so to speak, to keep learning and continuously develop yourself.
Keep track of what new skills you have acquired with each new assignment. This not only gives you a good idea of your own growth, but also helps you identify knowledge gaps you still want to fill.

3: Access to different corporate cultures

As an interim marketer, you work in a short period of time with a variety of organizations, each with its own culture, way of working and challenges. This exposure helps you develop your adaptability and gives you valuable insights into how different companies operate.
Experiencing diverse corporate cultures enriches your perspective and makes you more versatile as a marketing professional. Research shows that professionals who have functioned in different organizational structures become better problem solvers. They can approach situations from multiple perspectives.

What makes an interim marketer successful with different corporate cultures?

• Quickly adapt to new teams and ways of working
• Being open to alternative ways of working
• Be able to properly observe how decision making takes place
• Be able to communicate effectively with different stakeholders

4: Expanding your professional network

By changing assignments regularly, you build an extensive network of relevant contacts in the marketing world in a short period of time. Each new company means new colleagues, partners and clients that expand your professional circle.
A strong network is indispensable for a successful marketing career. Figures show that more than 60% of new assignments for interim marketing professionals come from existing network contacts. So each interim assignment is not only valuable for your knowledge and experience, but also increases your chances of future opportunities.
Actively invest in maintaining your network by keeping in touch with former clients and colleagues. Online platforms like LinkedIn are useful, but face-to-face meetings at industry meetings or informal coffee dates are often even more effective.

5: Experiment with different marketing roles

Interim positions offer you the freedom to explore different roles within marketing without long-term commitments. Today you work on a content marketing strategy, tomorrow on marketing automation or performance marketing.
This opportunity to experiment with different specializations is valuable for your personal development. Research among marketing professionals shows that 45% found their ideal specialization only after trying out different roles. An interim marketing position gives you the flexibility to discover where your talents and interests really lie.
How can you make the most of this? Start with a broad orientation and then focus more and more on the areas that appeal to you most. This way you combine breadth with depth in your profile.

6: Strengthen your agility and adaptive capacity

The constant change that comes with interim work forces you to be flexible and switch quickly between different contexts. These traits are increasingly important for marketing professionals in a rapidly changing digital environment.
Organizations greatly value this agility. A recent survey found that 78% of employers consider adaptability one of the most important traits when hiring marketing professionals. By changing work environments regularly, as an interim marketer you are constantly training your ability to quickly add value in new situations.
You can strengthen your adaptive ability by consciously reflecting on how you adapted and what you learned from each new assignment. This skill will not only make you successful as an interim professional, but will also be valuable in the event you return to a permanent position.

7: Increase your market value through specialization

By taking on targeted interim assignments, you can deliberately build expertise in specific marketing niches. This significantly increases your market value, especially in specialist areas where experienced professionals are in demand.
Marketing professionals who specialize in, for example, marketing automation, data analytics or e-commerce strategies can often charge 15-25% higher rates than generalists. By consciously choosing assignments that contribute to your specialization, you strengthen your position as an expert in a specific area.
To deepen your specialization, combine gaining practical experience with targeted continuing education and certifications. This way, you not only build up practical experience, but also have the papers that confirm your expertise.

8: Work-life balance on your terms

Interim work gives you more control over your work schedule and the ability to alternate periods of intense work with time for personal development or rest. This is in contrast to permanent positions where you often have less flexibility.
The self-determination that comes with interim marketing positions is appreciated by many professionals. Research shows that 65% of interim marketers experience greater satisfaction with their work-life balance than when they were in permanent positions. The ability to control when and how much you work contributes significantly to your job happiness.
How do you monitor this balance? Deliberately plan periods of rest between intense projects. Also consider setting limits on your availability during assignments to leave enough time for personal activities and recovery.

9: Make an immediate impact and show results

As an interim marketer, you are often hired to solve specific problems or achieve goals. This gives you the opportunity to make an immediate impact and add concrete results to your resume.
Working on clearly defined projects with measurable goals makes your contribution visible. Research shows that interim professionals who can properly quantify their results are on average 30% more likely to receive follow-up assignments. The ability to deliver demonstrable value within a limited time frame is a distinguishing quality.
Be sure to document the results achieved for each assignment with concrete numbers and examples. Together, these results provide powerful evidence of your added value as a marketing professional.

Your next step to a dynamic marketing career

Interim marketing positions offer a world of opportunities to jumpstart your career. Whether you want to expand your portfolio, develop new skills or expand your network, temporary roles can help you achieve these goals.
Start by exploring opportunities within interim marketing by engaging in conversations with professionals who are already going down this path. Research what skills are useful for interim marketers and invest in developing them. Also build a professional network that can help you find interesting assignments.
At WerfSelect, we help marketing professionals find challenging interim assignments that match their ambitions and expertise on a daily basis. We see that professionals who choose an interim career often grow faster than their permanent colleagues. Feel free to contact us if you would like to know more about the opportunities interim marketing can offer you.