u/Bloom_snowdrop

I have three books that I started around 8 months ago but never managed to finish:

- Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

- Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

I usually read psychological thrillers and absolutely love the genre, but I want to take a break and finally finish at least one self-help/reflective book.

One thing about me is that memorable quotes and thought-provoking lines really motivate me to keep reading. Based on that, which one would you recommend I pick up first, and why?

Also, if there's another book you think would be a better choice for someone trying to take a break from thrillers, please recommend it!

I think I've officially become a Freida McFadden addict. From January to June, I've read The Housemaid, The Housemaid's Secret, The Teacher, The Coworker, The Boyfriend, The Tenant, The Intruder, Dear Debbie, Never Lie, the divorce and The Locked Door.

I've also read books by Claire Douglas, B.A. Paris, Lisa Jewell, and Alex Michaelides (The Silent Patient, The Maidens, and The Fury).

I love psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, family secrets, mysteries, and books with a good twist.

Looking for 3–4 must-read recommendations for my July TBR, preferably by authors I haven't explored yet. No self-help, just addictive, unputdownable thrillers!

What should I read next?

It's been almost a month since I posted my first blog on Medium and reposted the same piece on Substack, but I didn't get much engagement on either platform. I'm currently working on my second blog, which is about imperfections and self-acceptance.

The issue is that I've included a personal experience in it. While it adds authenticity to the piece, I'm worried that if someone who knows me reads it, they'll learn things about me that I don't necessarily want to share publicly.

I'm really confused about whether I should keep that part in or remove it. Has anyone faced a similar dilemma? How do you decide how much of your personal life to include in your writing while still protecting your privacy?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I have a background in psychology and want to transition into marketing, particularly consumer behaviour and marketing psychology.

I want to learn consumer behaviour properly from the basics rather than just learning random marketing tactics. I'm considering:

- IIMBx Consumer Behaviour

- A Udemy Marketing Psychology & Consumer Behaviour course

Both are quite expensive for me, so I want to make sure they're worth the investment.

Has anyone taken either of these? Which one would you recommend for someone with a psychology background who wants a strong foundation in consumer behaviour for marketing?

Also, is there any way to get these courses for free, with financial aid, or at a significant discount while still receiving a certificate?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I've read a few Freida McFadden books already and want to pick up my next one. I'm torn between The Locked Door and Ward D.

I enjoy psychological thrillers and good twists. Which one would you recommend, and why? Please keep it spoiler-free!

Thanks

Hi everyone,

I started posting on Substack about a week ago and have been uploading consistently. I first republished a blog that I had originally posted on Medium, and since then I've been sharing short notes, on that I got only 2 likes.

However, I'm struggling with engagement. One note received 19 likes, but most of my other notes only get 1–2 likes, and I haven't gained many subscribers.

I know building an audience takes time, but I honestly don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if this is normal in the beginning.

For those who have grown on Substack:

- How did you get your first subscribers?

- Do Notes help more than regular posts?

- How often should I post?

- Is there anything you wish you had known when you first started?

I'd really appreciate any advice or experiences from other writers. Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I recently completed my Master's in Psychology and want to learn more about Consumer Psychology and Marketing. I don't have any formal background in consumer behaviour, branding, or marketing yet.

For those working in marketing or related fields:

- Is Consumer Psychology worth studying for a marketing career?

- Which online courses or certifications would you recommend?

- Have any courses genuinely helped you get internships or entry-level roles?

I'd appreciate any recommendations or personal experiences. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm interested in taking the Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate on Coursera.

I can see the "Enroll for Free" option, but it appears to be a 7-day free trial. I'm a bit confused about whether the full course can be completed for free or if a paid subscription is required after the trial.

I also wanted to know if Coursera still offers financial aid for this certificate. I can't seem to find a financial aid option on the course page.

Has anyone recently enrolled in this program? Were you able to get financial aid, a discount, or access it for free?

I'd appreciate any guidance or recent experiences. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I recently completed my Master's in Clinical Psychology and am exploring a transition into marketing.

One thing I'm struggling with is that marketing seems incredibly broad—brand marketing, consumer behavior, market research, content marketing, performance marketing, SEO, UX research, product marketing, and more. I'm not sure what I should learn first and in what order.

Since my background is in psychology, I'm particularly interested in areas where understanding human behavior is valuable, such as consumer psychology, brand strategy, marketing research, UX research, and customer insights. However, I'm open to learning marketing as a whole before specializing.

I'm looking for advice on:

1. A step-by-step roadmap for learning marketing from scratch.

2. Beginner-friendly courses (free or paid) that are actually worth taking.

3. Books, newsletters, YouTube channels, or other resources you would recommend.

4. How to build a portfolio without professional marketing experience.

I also want to learn by doing and build practical skills alongside my learning journey. Would it be a good idea to create portfolio projects while learning? If yes, what kind of projects should I start with, and how would you structure them step by step so that recruiters would actually value them?

Any guidance from marketers who started from a non-marketing background would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I recently completed my Master's in Clinical Psychology and am currently exploring career opportunities in marketing, consumer psychology, behavioral science, and UX research.

While looking through LinkedIn profiles, I noticed that several professionals in psychology-related fields are APA members, which made me curious about the value of membership beyond traditional clinical or academic careers.

For those who are APA members:

• What has your experience been like? • Has the membership been helpful for networking and professional development? • Are the resources, publications, and events genuinely useful? • Has it helped you stay updated with developments in psychology? • For those working in consumer psychology, behavioral science, UX research, or related fields, has APA membership been relevant to your work?

I'd love to hear about your experiences and whether you would recommend joining.

Thank you!

​

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Hi everyone,

I recently completed my Master's in Clinical Psychology and have a strong background in psychology. However, I never had Consumer Psychology as a subject during my studies.

Lately, I've become very interested in understanding consumer behavior, decision-making, buying psychology, branding, persuasion, and how psychological principles are applied in marketing and business settings.

I'm looking for a really good, structured Consumer Psychology course that can help me learn the subject properly from the ground up. I'd prefer something that is:

- Well-structured and comprehensive

- Suitable for someone with a psychology background

- Available online

- Preferably free (or free to audit)

I'm not just looking for random YouTube videos or short introductory courses. I'm looking for a course that genuinely teaches the subject in depth, with a clear curriculum, strong theoretical foundations, and practical applications. Ideally, I'd like something that could be comparable to a university-level course and help me build a solid understanding of Consumer Psychology.

If you've taken a course that you found particularly valuable, I'd love to hear your recommendations and why you would recommend it.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I'm feeling really confused and overwhelmed right now, and I could use some honest guidance.

I completed my Master's in Clinical Psychology almost 2 months ago, and since then I've basically done nothing. I know I want to start working, but the problem is that I'm not sure where or how to begin.

I've realized that I'm interested in fields like marketing, consumer behavior, and UX research rather than pursuing a traditional clinical psychology career. The thing is, I have absolutely no background in marketing. I don't even know the basics and would have to start from scratch.

To make things worse, I've never given a job interview before. I've never had an internship or a job, and I haven't applied for a single position yet. Every time I look at job postings, I feel underqualified and end up closing the tab.

I keep thinking:

- Should I learn marketing first?

- Should I start applying for internships immediately?

- How do I build a portfolio when I have no experience?

- What skills should I learn for UX research or marketing?

- Am I already too late compared to everyone else?

I feel stuck in a cycle of overthinking and not taking action. The longer I wait, the more anxious I become.

If anyone has switched careers, entered marketing/UX research from a psychology background, or started with zero experience, I'd really appreciate hearing your story and advice.

What would you do if you were in my position today?

Hi everyone,

I published my first blog on Substack recently. The article itself isn't new, I originally published it on Medium about 14 days ago and decided to repost it on Substack to start building an audience there.

The problem is that I have zero subscribers on Substack right now. I shared the post on my Instagram story, but as far as I can tell, nobody clicked or read it.

I'm feeling a bit discouraged because I spent time writing it and was excited to start on Substack.

For those who have grown a blog/newsletter from scratch:

How did you get your first readers?

Is it normal to get almost no views at the beginning?

Should I keep posting consistently even if nobody is reading yet?

Any tips for promoting a Substack without being overly spammy?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences.

Thanks!

I'm feeling pretty stuck and would appreciate some advice.

I come from a psychology background and want to move into marketing, but I haven't studied marketing formally and don't even know the basics very well. I've been looking for marketing internships and entry-level roles, but I haven't applied to any yet.

The main reason is that most of the companies I come across seem very random. I've never heard of them before, and their websites or social media don't make me feel confident about working there. I'd honestly be okay with getting paid very little if it meant working at a company that is well-known, creative, has a good reputation, and would actually look valuable on my resume.

At this point, I feel like I'm stuck in a loop of searching and rejecting opportunities without taking any action. I'm starting to wonder whether my expectations are unrealistic or if I'm looking in the wrong places.

For people who broke into marketing without a marketing degree:

- How did you find your first internship or job?

- Did you start at small unknown companies, or were you able to get into recognizable brands?

- What should I be doing right now if I have almost no marketing knowledge or experience?

Any advice would be appreciated.

I’m about 70 pages into Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, and for some reason I’m not feeling motivated to continue.

I’ve heard so many great things about this book, but it hasn’t clicked for me yet. For those who loved it, could you share some of your favorite spoiler-free quotes from the book?

Sometimes a single quote is enough to make me want to keep reading. I'd especially love quotes about life, anxiety, human nature, relationships, or self-discovery.

Please keep it spoiler-free. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

​

I really need some guidance.

I recently completed my Master's in Clinical Psychology. My academic background is Bachelor's in Psychology & HRM followed by a Master's in Clinical Psychology. While exploring career options, I've developed an interest in marketing, consumer psychology, and understanding consumer behavior.

Currently, I'm looking for either:

• A paid marketing internship, or

• An entry-level marketing role that provides training for the first few months and potentially leads to a PPO/full-time opportunity.

The challenge I'm facing is that there are so many openings on LinkedIn that I'm feeling overwhelmed. Since I don't have a formal marketing background, I'm not sure which companies I should be targeting first. I don't want to apply randomly everywhere. Ideally, I'd like to start with a reputable company where I can learn properly and build a strong foundation.

For someone with a psychology background and an interest in consumer behavior, market research, digital marketing, brand marketing, or consumer psychology, which companies would you recommend looking into?

If you know of companies that are currently hiring interns or freshers, or if you've made a similar career transition yourself, I'd really appreciate any leads, suggestions, or advice.

​

Thank you!

I am someone who likes reading thriller novels, but lately I want to try some other genre.

I got to know about Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, and the book sounds interesting. Has anyone here read it? Is it worth a read for someone who mostly reads thrillers?

No spoilers, please.

I've been trying to learn marketing online, but honestly, I'm feeling a bit lost.

I've searched for free marketing courses, watched YouTube videos, and browsed different websites, but nothing feels structured enough. Most resources either cover only one small topic or seem too random, and I end up not knowing what to learn next.

As someone with no formal background in marketing, I feel like I need a clear roadmap that starts from the basics and gradually moves to more advanced topics.

Has anyone here learned marketing online from scratch? Are there any free (or affordable) structured courses, certifications, or learning paths that you'd recommend?

I'd really appreciate any suggestions because right now I have no clue where to begin.

Hi everyone,

This might be a silly question, but I've been wondering about it.

I'm interested in exploring marketing and digital marketing as a career. However, I'm also a fairly private person. I don't post much on social media, don't share much about my personal life, and generally prefer to keep a low online presence.

Sometimes it feels like people in marketing are expected to constantly post on LinkedIn, build a personal brand, be active on multiple social media platforms, and share parts of their lives online.

Is it actually possible to build a successful career in marketing while keeping your personal life private? Do employers care if you're not very active on social media personally, as long as you can do the job well?

I'd love to hear from people working in marketing who prefer to stay private. How has that worked out for you?

Thanks!

It's been 10 days since I published my first Medium blog. The funny thing is, I actually wrote it around 5 months ago but never had the courage to publish it. I kept overthinking it, but eventually I decided to post it.

Now I'm facing a different problem: I don't know what to write next.

I do have an idea for another blog. It's about why we compare ourselves to others, and I've already written some thoughts on it. The issue is that it includes some personal experiences and feelings. If people who know me happen to read it, they'll probably learn things about me that I've never openly shared, and that makes me feel really embarrassed and vulnerable.

For those of you who write on Medium, how do you handle this? Do you publish personal pieces anyway, make them less personal, or save them for yourself? I'd love to hear how other writers deal with the fear of being seen too clearly through their writing.