Let's Chat!

Sharing our Top 13 Career Tips for Scottish Careers Week 2025

Top 13 Career Tips

Scottish Careers Week, a Skills Development Scotland campaign runs from the 11th – 15th November and is a brilliant opportunity to highlight the range of career support that is available to everyone across Scotland.

The Prospect 13 team is passionate about improving future outlooks and this includes supporting the next generation across Northeast Scotland to build successful careers and a future they are excited about. By collaborating with various youth career organisations, high schools and universities, we actively advocate future marketing talent and always encourage learning and growth. Because, we’ve all been there.

So, to get involved this week, we asked our team to share 13 things they wish they’d known when they began their careers. Here’s what they had to say…

1. Embrace curiosity

Ask every question that comes to mind. It’s how you learn, so don’t hold back on your curiosity.

Cerri McDonald, Founder & CEO, 23 years experience

2. Remember, we’re all just people

Colleagues, no matter how experienced, are just people doing their jobs. Approach them, learn from them, and don’t be intimidated.

Cerri McDonald, Founder & CEO, 23 years experience

3. Get comfy with the uncomfortable

Stepping out of your comfort zone is where the growth happens. You’ll be surprised at what you can achieve.

Ashleigh Walker, Marketing Manager, 13 years experience

4. Show up authentically

If you feel like you’re putting on a mask at work, it’s time to rethink. Being yourself is a strength.

Lesley Eaton, PR Consultant, 26 years experience

5. Never too old to learn

The world of marketing, and most fields is always changing. Staying curious and adaptable will keep you ahead.

Lisa Simpson, Design Manager, 24 years experience

6. Network early

Even if you’re shy, take time to meet people. Building relationships early on is invaluable.

Lisa Simpson, Design Manager, 24 years experience

7. Don’t be afraid of change

Change is often the best way to develop both professionally and personally. It’s part of your journey.

Cara Macintosh, Graphic Design, 2 years experience

8. Try new things

Be open to unexpected opportunities. You never know where a new experience might lead.

Boryana Chobanova, Marketing & Communications Enthusiast, 3 years experience

9. Trust your instincts

Your gut feelings are there for a reason. Trust them, they are usually right.

Ash Buchan, Digital Marketing Expert, 15 years experience

10. Communicate openly

You can never communicate too much. Building connections starts with positive, open communication.

Jennifer Taylor, Communications Manager, 25 years experience

11. Believe in yourself

Don’t let self-doubt hold you back. Trust your abilities and bring your value to the table.

Jennifer Taylor, Communications Manager, 25 years experience

12. Take constructive criticism gracefully

Feedback can be tough, but it’s also where growth happens. Embrace it without taking it personally.

Annie Buchan, Digital Marketing & Events Enthusiast, 2 years experience

13. Do what you love

Doing what you genuinely enjoy changes everything. Passion isn’t something you can fake.

Lesley Eaton, PR Consultant, 26 years experience

Scottish Careers Week is a reminder of how powerful it can be to give back to the younger generation. We’re proud to share our team’s personal reflections and tips from their early career experiences – hopefully they resonate, inspire and support those just starting out.

We’re all about real relationships, lifelong learning, and lifting each other up. Here’s to the next generation, and if you want to learn more about what we’re all about, then let’s chat!

Related Posts

Let's Chat!

COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT

LESLEY EATON

At P13, Lesley brings over 35 years of media and communications experience, with a background spanning journalism, editing and PR consultancy.

After graduating from the University of Aberdeen with an MA (Hons.) in Celtic & English, she started out as a reporter before becoming Editor of a weekly local newspaper in Aberdeenshire.

She later moved into PR as the communications lead at Scotland’s largest farmer-owned group of companies, a role that became the perfect stepping stone into freelance consultancy and writing.

Since 2008, Lesley has operated as a freelance PR consultant, successfully juggling projects, deadlines and engaging copy for a wide range of clients.

Organised, experienced and calm under pressure, she knows exactly how to turn words into results.

FOUNDER & CEO

CERRI MCDONALD

Cerri is the Aberdeen quine behind Prospect 13, with a 25-year career in marketing and communications. Before launching P13, she built her career across the energy and tech sectors before climbing to Director level. Then redundancy hit, but instead of crying, Cerri took it as a sign. Very Cerri.

In 2018, she launched Prospect 13 on the belief that SMEs deserved access to strategic marketing expertise without the big agency price tag or corporate bullsh*t. What started as a one-woman mission quickly grew into a team of straight-talking marketers. Now, Cerri leads with strategy, data and insight, with a real passion for getting under the skin of what makes organisations grow.

Outside work, Cerri is mum to Becky and Katy, married to childhood sweetheart Graeme, and happiest eating, drinking, cooking, exercising or planning the next holiday.

Holiday snob? Guilty.

She’s also gone from ‘not the hiking type’ to climbing Kilimanjaro after a knee-jerk decision. Now she’s hooked on Munros and hiking gear. A total foodie, fitness convert, tarot reader, horror fan and crime doc obsessive… and then there is Ness, Cerri’s 3rd baby girl.

DESIGN MANAGER

LISA SIMPSON

Lisa runs Whitespace Studio, a creative studio in Aberdeen specialising in photography and graphic design for brands tired of blending in.

As a Design Manager at Prospect 13 since the beginning, Lisa’s worked across everything from logo design and website builds to marketing campaigns and commercial shoots, helping businesses show up looking sharp.

She’s all about clean design, strong visuals and making the process feel easy, 
no fluff, just good work that delivers results.

Outside of work, she’s usually at the gym or playing taxi driver for her two kids around Aberdeen.

A big fan of a cold sea dip (the colder the better), usually followed by a hot sauna at Aberdeen beach.

Runs almost entirely on tea – and it has to be Tetley. No exceptions.

DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

HANNAH LOBOCKI

Hannah started her career agency-side as an SEO Executive, building a solid understanding of how people search, what makes content rank and what drives traffic.

After moving in-house into broader marketing roles, she joined Prospect 13 as a Digital Marketing Specialist, bringing a well-rounded, data-led approach to everything she does.

Happiest when digging into user behaviour insights, Hannah is driven by understanding why people do what they do, and how that shows up in the way they move through websites and the wider digital landscape.

Outside of work, she’s into CrossFit, where no two workouts are ever the same.

When she’s not in the gym, she’s out exploring, usually in search of the best oat latte (non-negotiable).

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

CARA MACINTOSH

Cara studied Communication Design at Gray’s School of Art for four years, where her love for graphic design really took shape.

She thrives in creative, collaborative environments and enjoys getting properly stuck into a new project – bringing ideas to life and making them look as good as they should.

Cara joined Prospect 13 in August 2024 after a year at DZD… which has now come full circle, as they’ve since become one of our clients.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find her with her dog Obi, out for a walk or enjoying a bit of downtime.

When she’s not doing that, she’s likely planning, or daydreaming about her next trip to Walt Disney World.

Family life is everything, and she’s happiest spending time with the people closest to her.

CREATIVE CONTENT SPECIALIST

BORYANA CHOBANOVA

At P13, Boryana builds and delivers content strategies that get results. Whether is social media, blogs, case studies, abstracts, campaigns or more, she creates engaging content with high performance. She tracks what’s landing, refines what isn’t and keeps it aligned to drive results.

Boryana works closely with clients and the wider team to keep the marketing strategies moving in line with the deadline, contributing ideas from early planning through to delivery

Outside of work, you can catch her with a book in her hand, at the gym or tuned into a health and wellbeing podcast.

When not tracking client performance, she’s analysing her sleep, running pace, and her ever-growing Duolingo Spanish streak.

Safe to say, she’s always optimising something.

MARKETING MANAGER

ASHLEIGH WALKER

Ashleigh has spent over a decade building a career that blends creativity with commercial thinking. Starting out in graphic design, she later swapped Scotland for Sydney, where she took on a mix of roles and widened her experience.

Back on home soil, she worked with global corporate names including Lockton and Cushman & Wakefield in London before joining Prospect 13 in 2024.

Now, she plays a key role in leading the team and shaping client strategies, bringing creative thinking, direction and commercial awareness, which is a pretty handy mix.

Drawn to Aberdeen by the promise of the quiet life and cheaper booze, Ashleigh quickly found her place in the north-east.

Outside work, you’ll usually find her with Mochi, her wee cocker spaniel, exploring Aberdeenshire… and sipping on a wine.

DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

ANNIE BUCHAN

Annie is a Digital Marketing Specialist with three years’ experience at P13, starting out as an intern and working part-time while studying for four years at RGU, where she achieved her BA (Hons) in Digital Marketing.

Now full-time, she’s naturally curious (a bit nosey) and loves that digital never stands still, whether it’s analytics, web builds, or fixing problems that seriously test your patience.

Annie loves a good fantasy romance book, going to the gym, and spending time with her friends and family. She’s a big foodie and, in her own words,

“I wake up thinking about fit I’m gan to eat and go to sleep the same why.”

She loves a holiday, snowboarding, partying in Ibiza, or fantasising over Eeyore and Tigger in Disney.

She’s also currently getting ready to welcome her own wee mini me, roll on July!