Contingent Workers: Jem
Jem Bahaijoub has worked in the field of communications for 20 years (when she’s not belly dancing or running). Jem started working in PR for the music industry, which evolved into social media marketing for small business owners. During the pandemic, Jem initially lost about 50% of her client base, but this soon picked up when her clients realised the importance of social media.
At a Glance:
On the web: www.jembahaijoub-consulting.com
Reading: Caitlin Moran's More Than a Woman
I can’t work without: Coffee and noise around me
Contingent Works: Tell us about what you're doing at the moment.
Jem Bahaijoub: Currently, I'm busy preparing to launch my online social media course for small business owners, which starts on the 13th of September. The course is in its third year. It aims to empower small business owners with a complete social media strategy alongside the knowledge, tools and systems to implement it successfully. I'm also working on the schedule for my one-off workshops coming up in the Autumn, including an Instagram For Business workshop, LinkedIn Fundamentals and Content Creation Masterclass.
CW: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
JB: The people! I love teaching people and strategising. It's hugely rewarding to empower business owners to market themselves effectively, translating into real business growth. I also love putting together bespoke marketing strategies for businesses and training team members to implement them.
CW: Why did you choose this career path and what advice would you give someone who's considering a similar role?
JB: My advice would be to understand your audience, know your worth, and clearly communicate your value proposition.
CW: How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your business?
JB: I had several clients in the arts and entertainment industry, so I initially lost about 50% of my client base. However, this soon picked up when businesses started to pivot their offering online and realised how important social media marketing was for them. There was also an influx of people wanting to upskill themselves, so 2020 ended up being a hectic year for me.
CW: What would an average day look like if that sort of thing even exists for you?
JB: My average day involves taking the kids to school, client meetings, content creation, writing strategy documents, marketing coaching calls, and training sessions. I try to fit in food, exercise and a dog walk in there too!
CW: What made you choose to work/run your business from a coworking space?
JB: I was a member of a co-working space when I lived and worked in Chicago. It was a fantastic experience, as I met many other entrepreneurs I ended up working or collaborating with. It helped me to grow my business in the USA and provided much-needed community!
CW: Why did you decide to join Contingent Works?
JB: It was the first time I had walked into a co-working space locally that felt as nice as a central London co-working space. It has a great atmosphere, a creative vibe, lovely areas to work, and the coffee is amazing!
CW: Outside of the co-working space, outside of work, is there anything you like to do when you go home to unwind?
JB: I love running, Pilates, and belly dancing. I try to move my body as much as possible as my job is so sedentary and screen-based.
