So you want to get into marketing. Maybe you majored in marketing in college and are prepared to use what you learned in the workplace. Or perhaps you studied something else but have been considering a career in marketing. Or perhaps you work in another field but yearn for the thrill and creativity that marketing offers.
The truth is that landing your first marketing job, or any job, can be a difficult task. I certainly felt that way when I first graduated from college. I had some knowledge but little practical experience, and I wasn’t sure how to transition from being a student to an employee.
These days, I’m running my own remote content marketing agency. As a result, the advice I’ll be giving you on how to enter the marketing industry is based on both my own early experiences and what I now look for when hiring new members of my own team.
Career Advice – 7 Steps To Prepare Yourself For A Career In Marketing | Marketing 360®
What do you need to start a marketing career?
There are specific requirements you typically need to start and succeed in a marketing position, depending on the role you pursue. Elements often needed in a marketing career include:
Skills
The following competencies are typically required for marketing careers:
Experience
Entry-level marketers can frequently begin a new position with little to no prior marketing experience. As many hiring managers look for passionate and dedicated employees who they can train to gain extensive knowledge about the company’s products and brand, these positions are typically simple for employees to advance in. These workers can eventually move up to senior roles to make strategic marketing decisions.
Internships are a great way to gain practical experience in the marketing industry and identify your areas of interest. The inclusion of internships on a resume is another way to stand out to potential employers.
Education
A bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, communications, or a closely related field is typically preferred by employers. Even those with a high school diploma and relevant experience are sometimes hired. Possessing a master’s degree in business or communications can make a resume stand out, but most employers don’t typically demand it.
Reasons to pursue a marketing career
Working in marketing is a fantastic way to put your creativity to use promoting a company’s brand and bringing in new customers. If you choose a career in marketing, you can collaborate with a team that creates novel solutions to issues facing the industry and thinks up original product campaigns. You should pursue a career in marketing for the following reasons, among others:
How to start a career in marketing
Getting the education and experience needed to advance in your marketing career will help you show employers your value. Follow these steps to effectively start a career in marketing:
1. Earn a high school diploma
Normally, all employers demand that applicants have a high school diploma. Employers may not require further education if you gain relevant marketing internships or other experience after high school, but it’s still best to pursue a bachelor’s degree, if possible. To demonstrate your capacity for leadership and teamwork, think about joining clubs in high school like student government or leadership committees. Having volunteer experience is advantageous for showcasing your aptitude for problem-solving and communication.
2. Receive your bachelors degree
To work in marketing, the majority of employers typically require at least a bachelor’s degree. Nearly all colleges and universities offer business or communication courses that teach the fundamentals of marketing. Depending on your interests, these programs typically offer a wide range of courses, including market research and analytics, public relations tactics, consumer behavior, and digital marketing.
3. Participate in a marketing internship
You have the option of pursuing a marketing internship while pursuing your bachelor’s degree or immediately following graduation. An excellent way to determine whether a particular area of marketing is right for you or if you enjoy working in a particular industry is to take part in an internship. They also allow you to build professional marketing connections. If a company is impressed with an intern’s performance, it might decide to hire them on as a full-time employee after the intern graduates from college.
4. Build your portfolio
You might complete marketing tasks like creating advertising campaigns, creating marketing copy, or creating logos during your internship and academic courses. These projects can be included in a portfolio that prospective employers can view. This is a fantastic way to demonstrate to hiring managers your creative abilities, which can help you stand out from other applicants. Consider creating a website where you can easily upload your projects for employers to view.
5. Create your resume and complete the interview process
Create your resume for hiring managers to review once you have earned your degree. It should highlight the pertinent marketing skills you’ve developed over time as a result of your education and internships. Include your participation in internships in the section of your resume devoted to work experience. List out the job duties youve completed for each internship. Create a skills resume that highlights your talents and skills you’ve acquired from your educational courses if you have little to no experience.
Detail the skills you’ve acquired from prior positions and how you’ve used them in those positions to add value to the company during your interview. Share pertinent anecdotes and examples to help potential employers better understand your performance Showcase how you can use these abilities to produce excellent work that will benefit the organization you are applying to.
Tips for starting your marketing career
If you concentrate on developing your abilities and contacts within the marketing community, it may be simple to launch your marketing career. Make use of the following advice to launch your marketing career with success:
Potential marketing roles to consider
After graduating from college, you can choose from a variety of entry-level marketing positions, depending on the field you want to work in. Click on the national average salary link for each job title below to access the most recent salary data from Indeed. Some potential marketing roles to consider include:
A marketing coordinator’s main responsibilities are to plan and carry out specifics for marketing campaigns. Their primary responsibilities include carrying out marketing and promotional campaigns, gathering market research on target audiences, and assessing current marketing trends in preparation for future campaigns.
The main responsibilities of graphic designers are to create engaging marketing materials for brands using design software tools. This can include logos, brochures, magazines or websites. Following the size, color, and style requirements of clients, corresponding with clients about designs and branding, and producing graphics for marketing campaigns are additional duties.
A content writer’s main responsibilities are to create educational or entertaining content to engage audiences. They will create content for various outlets, such as articles, white papers, eBooks, advertising copy, or product descriptions. Researching topics related to the industry, planning content releases using content calendars, and coming up with topic ideas by doing keyword research are additional duties.
The main responsibilities of marketing analysts are to gather data sets, interpret them, and provide marketing professionals with information on consumer behaviors or market conditions for campaigns. Other responsibilities include reporting data findings to leadership, keeping an eye on existing clientele, and creating market research for existing clients.
FAQ
How do I get started in marketing?
- Determine your area of focus. …
- Research. …
- Learn new skills. …
- Start a blog. …
- Look for freelance opportunities.
- Find and apply for marketing roles.
- Get creative on your resume. …
- Grow your professional network.
How can I get into marketing with no experience?
- Take the Google Analytics Certification Exam. These days, marketing positions require at least a basic understanding of analytics.
- Take the Adwords Certification Exam. …
- Develop Your Writing Skills. …
- Learn From Experts. …
- Make Your Own Content. …
- Get a Mentor. …
- Conclusion.
Is marketing a good career?
Because of its extreme adaptability and potential to lead to a number of high-paying, in-demand careers with excellent job satisfaction and opportunities for continuing education, marketing is a good major. Marketing majors may pull in $50k to $208k a year. The Top 10% of earners pulled in over $208,000!.
How do I choose a career in marketing?
- A career change begins with a question. …
- Make sure a marketing career path is right for you.
- Pinpoint your niche. …
- Plan how to become a T-shaped professional. …
- Find the right education. …
- Welcome to our robot overlords! …
- Practice is a differentiator. …
- Above all else, find your calling.
