GEORGE MANN – SENIOR RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT
CREATIVE DIVISION – JUICE RECRUITMENT
The world of marketing is diverse, exciting, and challenging. It is an industry where you can put your skills and talents to good use in just about any area you want. As a marketer, you’ll be able to experience working at the forefront of so many different industry sectors, ensuring your client or brand can experience the recognition they deserve.
Marketing is where brand and business meet. Whether it is a product or service, the main aim of marketing is to encourage customers to buy your brand and raise awareness. For people who want to combine their love of a particular industry, product or service, marketing is a career that can really make an impact and is the perfect choice. But how do you get started?
Get experience
The field of marketing can be tough when it comes to finding your dream job. Graduate-level roles in marketing are quite rare, so before you start your job search it’s imperative that you get some experience in your chosen industry sector, especially as any experience you might already have may not necessarily stand you in good stead in the world of marketing.
Whether this involves on the job training or applying for an apprenticeship, any industry experience and knowledge will be of benefit. You can also take a course in marketing if you really want to get ahead, though when choosing a course, you need to make sure you check what kind of links the course has to your chosen field and what types of people you can expect to meet.
Start networking
It’s never too early to start making relevant connections. Like so many other industries, marketing is a place where you’ll find it much easier to get a foot in the door if you have a contact you can call on for advice, or even for work experience. The more you develop contacts and your network, the more likely it’ll be that you find a job that suits you once you’re ready to start applying.
Another tip is to clear your diary and start looking for marketing industry networking events, meet-ups and mixers to attend. Once there, make the effort to accept business cards and remember names. This way you’ll be able to get in touch with them later on, when you need advice or help.
Find out what you want to do
As with many industries, marketing is hugely diverse. Comprising of digital marketing, PR, social media, brand communications and so much more, it can sometimes prove a headache for somebody starting out in their career. Tackle this right from the start by deciding which area in particular you would like to aim for, and then apply for those specific roles. Find out what you’re good at, or passionate about, and then look for roles that coincide with those interests. Not only will this mean you can tailor the experience you get to a specific job, but it will avoid any confusion and soul-searching on your part once the time comes to start applying.
Decide – industry or agency
Marketing is a global industry and the jobs that you can apply for are vast. You may want to work in an agency, working for many different brands from varying industry sectors. Alternatively, you may want to work in house as part of a marketing team where product launches, campaigns, PR and communication projects will all be part and partial of your everyday role.
Consequently, some roles will involve you working in one area of marketing and some will be more varied depending on the size of the organisation. It’s therefore important that you decide on how extensively you are looking to diversify and where your skill sets and strengths lie. This will allow you to tailor your job search accordingly.
Be digitally savvy
In today’s digital world, 60% of brands now have influencers as a marketing strategy. As a result, it’s clear to see just how important online presence is and that this is something you should bear in mind when it comes to your own social media profiles. Your personal ‘branding’ online is important, as it might be reviewed by employers both before and during your interview process. After all, marketing today very often includes social media responsibilities, so personal channels might be checked out as potential ‘portfolios’ without you even being aware of it. Don’t get caught out; cultivate your profiles by connecting with industry specialists and related news to show your genuine interest in the industry.
If you have the relevant experience and are seeking a new role in marketing, why not check out our current vacancies? If you would like to gain some marketing experience to boost your CV, perhaps temporary work could be the best way forward? Either way, please do not hesitate to get in contact: george@juicerecruitment.com. I’d love to hear from you.
