After 14 years as a dog trainer, Jonas Riise Johansen took an unexpected step into a completely new field. He started a one-year programme in Digital Marketing at Noroff in Bergen, and just a few months later he landed an internship at Redink, where he now works full time.
I find that the field allows for both creativity and structure, while also letting you meet many interesting people. You constantly have to apply your knowledge in new ways. Jonas Riise Johansen
An unexpected career shift
When he applied for education, he was still running his own dog training company. He had experience from both the private market and work with service dogs for research projects. The combination of rapid change and established methods in marketing appealed to Jonas. With digital marketing, he saw two options: either use the knowledge in his own business, or aim for a completely new career path.
A study life that mirrored the real world
His time in Bergen was characterised by practical assignments and a teaching approach that reflected the industry. Instead of getting ready-made answers, Jonas repeatedly had to find solutions to his own challenges.
At times this was challenging, but extremely useful in the transition to working life. The assignments made him familiar with both theory and the most important tools in the field-experience he took straight into his job.
Internship that led to a full-time position
Just three months into the programme, Jonas got an internship at Redink. He quickly became part of the team, first working on insight tasks, and later taking on responsibility for SEO consulting and managing Google Ads.
This combination of practical work and academic learning gave his studies an extra dimension. The parallels between coursework and real client projects provided a steep learning curve and paved the way for a permanent position at the company.
Back as a guest lecturer
Recently, Jonas had the opportunity to return to Noroff, this time as a guest lecturer. He held a workshop on SEO for Digital Marketing students in Bergen, which he considers the coolest topic in the field. He describes the experience as highly rewarding.
– It’s incredibly rewarding to share my experiences.
Photo: Private
Advice for new students
Looking back, there’s one thing Jonas highlights as particularly valuable: the ability to keep learning.
– If you don’t know something, figure it out or learn it. There are plenty of great resources on YouTube, Google, ChatGPT, etc.
He believes curiosity and the willingness to try, fail and try again are crucial in a constantly evolving industry. For those who want to enter the job market quickly, Jonas has clear advice:
– Don’t hesitate to try. The most important thing is to be proactive and send applications.
Do you also want to step into a digital career? Start online studies in Digital Marketing as early as October!
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