From Pharma to IT: A Graduate's Practical Path into the Channel

What does it take to move from pharmaceutical marketing into the IT Channel with no connections and little experience? For Naomi, the answer was resilience - and the right mentor at the right time.

Three weeks into her role as Partner Marketing Executive at Softcat, Naomi is finding exactly what she hoped for: plenty of room for creativity while supporting vendors with different marketing initiatives.

Getting here wasn’t simple. It took nine months of job hunting, including seven months of rejections, before she found The Channel Community and the mentor who helped change her trajectory.

Starting Point: Pharmaceutical Marketing

After graduating from the University of Portsmouth with a degree in business and management, Naomi began as a Marketing Coordinator in the pharmaceutical sector whose code of practice restricted her opportunities to be creative.

When her 12-month contract ended, she knew she wanted to pivot into IT. The problem?

No contacts and job postings asking for years of experience she didn’t have.

The Job Search Reality

Seven months of applications brought the same result: rejection. Paid mentorship schemes were out of reach at £200+ a month, and without insider guidance the path forward remained unclear.

Finding Practical Support

Through The Channel Community, Naomi connected with Dean Wootton, a Marketing Director who agreed to mentor her. His advice was direct: research potential employers linked to her past experience, refine her CV, prepare thoroughly for interviews, and build knowledge of the sector. Regular check-ins gave her structure and accountability.

Learning from Setbacks

Reaching the final stage with a global distributor before being turned down was a low point. Dean helped her reframe the setback, keep perspective, and focus on the next opportunity. When a rejection came just before her Softcat interview, his encouragement kept her on track.

Two months after joining The Channel Community, Naomi secured the Softcat role - a stark contrast to the previous seven months.

Current Role and Ongoing Mentorship

Today, Naomi supports partner marketing initiatives across vendors. Her mentorship with Dean continues, guiding her development as she grows into the role.

Practical Advice for Others

Naomi rates the challenge of entering the industry a 7 out of 10: “This industry is somewhere where you need connections.”She admits the IT world can feel daunting at first: “You can often feel naive and feel dumb. But it’ll take time to learn - you have to be patient, confident and inquisitive. The more time spent learning, the more successful you’ll become, the more you’ll grow in career and character.”

The Value of Mentorship

What changed wasn’t just Naomi’s approach, but the support of someone who understood the Channel. “I think having a mentor was imperative,” she reflects, comparing her success with The Channel Community to previous failed attempts at finding guidance.

Moving Forward

Her story illustrates something many in the Channel already know: success rarely happens in isolation. The right mentor, the right community, and the right support system can transform months of closed doors into meaningful opportunities.

The Channel Community's buddy programme exists precisely for moments like these - connecting ambitious professionals with experienced mentors who understand both the challenges and the possibilities within the IT Channel.

Whether you're trying to break in from another industry or looking to accelerate your existing Channel career, sometimes the missing piece isn't just knowledge or experience - it's finding someone who believes in your potential and is willing to guide you forward.

After all, as this graduate's journey proves, the right mentor doesn't just open doors - they help you walk through them with confidence.