There are a lot of people who would like to pursue a marketing career, whether they’re fresh out of college, or are already a professional and are looking to change paths. Marketing can be a competitive career path, so it can be tough to get your foot on the ladder. That’s why it’s essential to form a plan to get into the industry, rather than just hopefully sending out resumes to get your break. Here’s how you can get started in a marketing career.
Research marketing careers
Some people say they want to get into marketing but perhaps aren’t 100% sure what it involves. It’s worth reading up on the different careers within marketing, so you can see which one most closely matches your own skills and personality. There are all sorts of marketing careers to choose from, such as account management, content writing, and data analysis, all of which require different types of people to fill them. If you have a particular career in mind, you may want to see if you could shadow someone already in the role for a few days, so you can see what it really involves and whether it’s right for you.
Get a degree
Whether you get a specialized marketing degree or one in a related field such as communications or English, getting a bachelor’s degree is pretty much essential when it comes to getting into marketing. Around a third of Americans have a degree, so in competitive fields like marketing, it’s expected you’ll have one even to get into low-level roles.
If you don’t have a degree already, it’s worth looking into getting one. Those with a busy lifestyle could look at Emerson College, which offers online degrees and qualifications you can fit around your other commitments. If you want your resume to be particularly competitive, it’s worth considering graduate school too. An extra year of studying could see you gain a specialist MA, which will look impressive when you’re up for the top roles.
Find an internship
The next step most people take towards working in marketing is getting an internship. An internship can be a great way to launch your career because:
- It allows you to put the things you learned in college into practice
- It puts some practical experience on your resume
- You get to work with senior people in the marketing industry and learn how things really work
- You can work on meaningful projects and build up your portfolio
An increasing number of internships are paid, and the good news is that around 60% of graduates who complete an internship end up with a job offer at the end of it. Therefore, it can put you in a good position when entry-level jobs crop up at your firm.
Brush up on the most important skills
When you start looking for entry-level marketing jobs, there are specific skills that will make your resume stand out from the rest. Marketing is an ever-evolving industry, so you need to make sure your skills and knowledge are up to date. Some skills that are particularly in demand at the moment include:
- SEO – search engine optimization and SEM – search engine marketing
- Data analytics
- Content creation – including written and video content
- Social media
Even if you’ve only just graduated from your marketing degree, if you haven’t covered the above subjects, it’s worth doing your own research or taking some short courses to boost your resume and ensure it is attention-grabbing.
Network
Marketing is the sort of career that requires a lot of networking and getting to know others in the industry. If you’re still in college, look out for networking events on campus, which is often an excellent way to meet senior people in the industry. It’s also worth adding your classmates to your LinkedIn and staying in touch, as you never know which ones will become marketing professionals in the future.
There are several places you can network post-graduation. Many areas have a chamber of commerce that runs networking events, and there are a few associations for marketing professionals that you can join and find out about networking opportunities. Attending courses can also be an excellent way to network, as there are usually opportunities to chat with fellow attendees who’ll be from other marketing firms.
Work on your soft skills
Marketing professionals don’t just need to learn skills at college. There are several soft skills that you need in marketing to be successful in your career. As a marketer, you’ll need to be great at problem-solving and have excellent communication skills for starters. You will also need to be able to work as part of a team, as well as under your own initiative, and be creative. If you haven’t worked in a marketing role before, don’t worry. You’re likely to have picked up many of these skills in other areas, and you can then bring them into your application for your first marketing job.
Look into the local job market
If you’ve been trying to get into an entry-level marketing career and aren’t having much luck, it may be because of your location. Most marketing jobs can be found in cities, and although there are remote roles available at times, these are usually for more experienced professionals. It’s worth considering a move to one of the best cities for marketing jobs, which will give you a larger number of roles to apply for and make it more likely you’ll get your foot on the ladder.
Marketing can be a tough career to break into, but it’s an exciting, creative career path, so it’s worth pursuing if you can. Often, it’s a case of perseverance, working on your skills and networking, so when the right job opportunity comes along, you’re in the best possible position to apply for it. Once you take that first step on the ladder, there’s no telling where you might end up, as there are lots of potential paths you can follow.
