ZEIL THE DEAL: Q&A with Kevin Ford, ZEIL's Head Marketer
Caitlin Langlands
Customer Success Team Lead
19 September 2024
Welcome to ZEIL THE DEAL, where we celebrate the success stories of job seekers who have found their dream roles through ZEIL. Join us as we chat with Kevin Ford, Head of Marketing at ZEIL. Kevin shares his job search experiences, insights into our innovative approach, and how he found his role through ZEIL.
Q: Hi Kevin! Can you start by telling us about your current role?
Kevin: Sure! I’m Kevin, Head of Marketing here at ZEIL. I’ve been on board since August 2024, and I’m enjoying the challenge of scaling such an innovative platform. It’s been an exciting ride so far! Funny enough, I found this job through ZEIL! I had a conversation with Caitlin, Head of ZEIL’s Commercial team as well as Anna within the app's messaging. It was a fantastic experience and showed me the quality of opportunities ZEIL offers.
Q: What’s your favourite part about working at ZEIL, and what does a typical day look like for you?
Kevin: I love the dynamic nature of working in a startup. Every day brings new challenges, and I get to lead an incredibly talented team. There’s no typical day - it’s all about collaborating with different teams, whether it’s development, UI, sales, or marketing. Recently, we’ve been focusing on enhancing user acquisition and tracking to better understand and reach our audience. We’re also putting a lot of effort into retention strategies, ensuring that once we bring users in, they stay engaged and satisfied with their experience on ZEIL. It’s about creating a seamless journey from the first touchpoint to long-term use of the app (or until they find their dream role).
Q: What qualities do you think are crucial for someone in a role like yours?
Kevin: A can-do attitude is essential. Fast-growing innovative startups require you to be flexible and willing to ‘get your hands dirty’ and dive into any task are key. Cross-team collaboration is also key, and a clear understanding of short-term and long-term goals can really make a difference.
Q: What mistakes did you make early in your career, and what did you learn from them?
Kevin: I initially focused too narrowly on just one aspect of marketing. I quickly learned that understanding the full marketing funnel is crucial for marketing and business success.
Q: How do you maintain a work-life balance?
Kevin: I try to surf before work and play guitar in the evenings. These hobbies help me unwind and stay grounded. Finding what you’re passionate about outside of work is important for maintaining balance.
Q: Have you faced any career setbacks that ended up being advantageous?
Kevin: Not so many setbacks, but I’ve had to reassess my career path and have honest conversations about what I truly want to pursue. It’s okay to take risks and try new things, especially early in your career.
Q: What are your career goals, and where do you see yourself in five years?
Kevin: I’m focused on helping ZEIL become the top job marketplace in New Zealand and potentially expanding to other markets like the US and Australia. Our vision includes democratising innovation in the job marketplace industry and expanding our offerings across different channels and regions. Who knows, maybe a CMO role could be in my future!
Q: Any daily habits or practices that contribute to your success?
Kevin: I make a point to read non-fiction and history books from various cultures. My experiences living in China and learning Chinese have been invaluable. Setting personal goals and pursuing passions outside of work keeps me motivated.
Q: How does ZEIL support job seekers?
Kevin: ZEIL is designed to make job hunting as easy and effective as possible. Our intuitive CV builder helps you highlight your skills and experiences quickly, even if you’re just starting. The swipe function, similar to a ‘quick apply’ feature, simplifies the application process, and our creative job cards provide quick insights into roles and company cultures, making it easier to find a good fit.
