Whether you are fresh out of college or changing your career from a completely different industry, landing your first digital marketing job can feel near impossible.
The roles that are advertised typically require a couple of years of experience, and when you don’t have that, it can feel like the doors of the marketing field are firmly shut to you. So, how can you get your foot over the threshold?
The other
applicants that apply to these roles may be in a similar position as you, and
there will be some of who the prerequisite experience; however, that does not
mean that you can’t make yourself stand out from the crowd.
Be proactive and seek some advertising
experience
You can learn so
much from accessing online tutorials that are often free. If you know someone
who has a business, approach them and ask them if you can do some digital
advertising for them. It may cost you a small amount of money, but the
experience that you gain using Facebook advertising and Google AdWords will be a
valuable experience which you can
reference on your CV.
Get online and learn
Check out
YouTube, sign up for tutorials and learn as much as you can about digital
marketing. Marketing best practices are continually changing in response to the
regular updates that search engines make to the algorithms that use to rank
websites. You can refer to the courses and tutorials that you undertake in the
body of your CV; employers love to see that candidates have gone above and
beyond to further their knowledge.
You’ll also be
able to use the industry jargon that digital marketers use, so any specialist
PPC Agency will
note that you know what you are talking about, and be more inclined to take
your application seriously.
Start your own
blog
If you can demonstrate that you have mastered SEO, social media marketing and website design,
your potential employers have something tangible to review. Think of your blog as an online portfolio of your skills. You’ll be able to have
mock marketing campaigns that showcase what you are capable of.
You need to pay attention to your online presence and cultivate it to present you as a
professional. Key areas to address include:
Your e-mail address:
You may have had an e-mail address for years, but if it contains anything that could be deemed inappropriate, set a new one
up. Missbossyboots@XYZ, beerdrinker@XYZ will not give help your job search.
Your LinkedIn profile: You may not have a wealth of experience, but any that you do have
should be updated to support your job search. Adjust the focus on the
transferable skills that you have and adjust the headline to appeal to the
digital marketing industry. Again, your LinkedIn profile can be used to
showcase relevant skills.
Your social media accounts: Recruiters will search for you
on social media to get an understanding of your character. Change the settings
to private, so that your private life is kept very much separate from your
professional.
Entering any new
industry can feel like a tough nut to crack; however, if you take these steps,
you will find that you are a memorable candidate for all of the right reasons.
If you get an interview, be confident to demonstrate that you are willing to learn.
Good luck!
