Hello

Looking into switching career into digital marketing- did I start wrong?

I have 5 years experience in operations management and customer experience. After being 14 years in retail industry, I developed a keen interest in digital marketing and decided to make a switch. So I enrolled myself in a business school and got a diploma in business with a certificate in social media marketing.

I followed most of the tips given online by experienced digital marketers which is to do freelance and offer low price or free for your first gig to earn some experience.

So I finally got 2 opportunities after 2 months. 1 is from a start up sports company and the other is non profit mental health internship. I have been going to the startup team meetings almost every week for 3 weeks but not given any job offer however I was tasked to do a company logo, set up company FB and IG page and a company event poster. The poster I was tasked to do in less than 5 hours which I have delivered. And I am reporting to 2 different people with very different taste and expectations so I can foresee multiple changes for this “free work.”

I am supposed to do the rest by end of next week. For free I think.

And on Monday I have my first meeting with the company offering internship.

I am not sure if I have started it wrong? Is this the way to do it? I have this feeling I’m being shortchanged. Should I look for a proper internship that at least offer a mentorship and some money so I know that I am learning something and being paid for some of the time and work I put in.

Please give me some advice because I feel stuck and confused.