A lot of people want to work in digital marketing and competition for jobs is pretty intense - and has become more intense since the start of the pandemic. It's not unusual for candidates to apply for dozens of jobs with no luck so it's time to give yourself a helping hand and make your own luck. Here are seven tips that'll give you a great start if you want to get into the world of digital marketing:
Decide what you want to specialise in. Marketing requires a wide range of skills but you don't want to be a jack-of-all-trades. It's useful to have a speciality. Areas you could consider specialising in are:
After deciding on your key skill, do lots of research. Research online, read books by subject experts, and attend specialist training courses.
Employers will expect you to have a portfolio. Even if you don't have much experience under your belt yet, create a portfolio for yourself. For example, if you're a copywriter, write five articles for reputable companies. If you're an email marketing specialist, write five email newsletters for selected companies. They don't have to have been commissioned by anyone, the idea is to showcase your skills. Why five? Well, research suggests that five pieces of work are the optimal number that an employer wants to see. You could of course write just two or three. The most important thing is the quality. Also, keep your portfolio up to date.
Showcase your strengths and make sure the examples of work you provide are business-related. Employers will only be interested in pieces of work that relate to their business. If you are looking for a position as a copywriter, for example, emphasise any relevant employment experience you have. You could for instance talk about your experiences working for a professional writing service and dealing with requests like I want to pay someone to write my essay, and provide (short!) examples of your work. Your application should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for.
Every individual should value their time and their work. Don't work for free! Show people that you are confident in your abilities. If you are paid for what you do, you'll be appreciated more by your employer. You'll also appreciate yourself more!
A personal brand helps you stand out from your competitors. If you create your own personal brand you will be more likely to be regarded as someone who is knowledgeable about your particular area of expertise. So how do you develop a personal brand? Start by creating an identity that reflects what you are interested in. Create a logo. Launch a website and fill it with your content and other content that compliments your interests. Fill your social media with the same content. Let the world know what you are interested in!
Research from the National Soft Skills Association shows that 85% of job success comes from having well-developed soft skills. Soft skills mean:
Some of these will probably come more naturally to you than others but all these skills will help you in the search for a job. If you have these skills and are good at these things, make sure any potential employer knows about it!
When hunting for work in digital marketing (or anything else) your network of contacts can be crucial. Make sure you have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile. Make sure prospective employers know you are looking for work - LinkedIn will help you do this. In the offline world, go to work-related events. Attend conferences if you can. Make yourself known. Many people have landed great jobs just by being in the right place at the right time…
So these are our seven tips for finding work in digital marketing. We hope you will find them useful. It's not easy getting into digital marketing but it's an exciting and fast-changing world to be part of. We think that if you apply these seven tips you will significantly boost your chances of success. Good luck!

by Katerina Urbanskaya | 27 Sep 23