Back in May of 2020, I was in the middle of my last ever uni assignment of my PPE course and slightly dreading the end of it. My post-uni life was not yet sorted out and the pandemic had only made the prospect of getting a job even more difficult. But then one of my classmates posted on our course’s group chat about a job in Marketing at a tech company I hadn’t heard about before – VTEX.

VTEX is an e-commerce platform. In other words, it offers the necessary infrastructure and tools for retailers to sell products or services online so that you, the end-consumer, can in turn buy and enjoy them. I always knew I wanted to go into Marketing and learn more about branding and content strategy, as they had been fascinating me for a few years, but I was also painfully aware that I did not have any formal qualifications in the field. Moreover, I had no in-depth knowledge about e-commerce, nor was I capable of any intricate software programming. Thus, I thought the odds of me securing this role would be rather low, but I applied nonetheless – no harm in trying, after all. 

To my surprise, I was shortlisted. I had five interviews (including one with the Co-CEO), one psychometric test, and a couple of writing tasks, all whilst wrapping up my academic responsibilities. 

Throughout the process, I never once felt disadvantaged because of my formal background. The firm was more interested in establishing my genuine interest in learning more about e-commerce and marketing, rather than dismissing me for not being an expert already. And while I might have considered myself “subpar” for the role, VTEX did not: it saw my curiosity and dedication as assets that will undoubtedly bring value to the company with the right guidance and training. That confidence was made official when they finally extended a job offer.

While this openness might be atypical for most hiring companies, it will become the new normal soon enough – especially for tech-related firms. The world is changing so rapidly that what you learned yesterday might already be obsolete by tomorrow. It’s not knowledge per se that matters now, but the ability and willingness to adapt and learn as you go – without a finish line in sight. 

Thankfully, King’s has more than prepared me and the other seven King’s Alumni in the London VTEX team for this future-proof career. Regardless of whether we finished PPE, Business, or Marketing, we’re not afraid of asking questions; we engage in critical thinking and lots of self-studying, we are both autonomous and team players, and we are top performers. That’s what allows us to successfully write stories about our customers and products, interview C-level executives, provide analyses and advice – and help the company grow. 

So next time you’re on LinkedIn browsing job opportunities, don’t shy away from tech firms. They’ll be lucky to have you considering them.