What strategies won’t work to secure a digital marketing job?
- Don’t exaggerate or lie about your skills, experience or credentials; if you do land yourself a job and you’ve been untruthful, you won’t keep it for long.
- Don’t send out generic CVs or cover letters hoping to land yourself an entry-level digital marketing job or use AI to create one without adding a human touch – if you do, your application will be sent straight to the bottom of the digital slush pile.
- Don’t be complacent with your learning. Knowledge and consistency are two of the biggest drivers of success in digital marketing.
- Don’t give up as it can take time to find your first job. Keep positive, proactive and continue to learn.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for expert advice, assistance or mentorship if you feel you need it. Use a network like LinkedIn or consider investing in a course to earn a certification and collaborate with peers who may be in the same position as you or secured their first job.
“When you’re going in to see an employer, it’s not just talking about what you can bring to the job now, you’re also using some leadership and making it a bit more curious about what you can bring to their business in the future to elevate it,” advises Terry Payne.
What qualities should you highlight when looking for your first digital marketing job?
Since you have no or limited experience, it’s worth cultivating some skills and traits to stand out.
You should look to upskill in technical skills such as analytics or SEO or content marketing along with practical or soft skills. Let’s look at some of the most common and sought-after qualities by employers and recruiters.
Technical know-how
Don’t be afraid to use digital marketing jargon in your CV and also in your communication across your platforms, especially social media.
Passion
Employers want to know that you have a passion for the area and role, so convey how passionate you are by describing a project – unpaid or personal – that shows it.
Adaptability and flexibility
A digital marketing role can be demanding and require you to juggle multiple projects so it’s important to be adaptable and flexible.
Proactivity and engagement
Highlight your proactive approach to learning and professional development such as participating in relevant online communities or following industry leaders.
Social media competency
Even if you’re not looking for a social media role, it’s crucial to have some experience of social networks. Engage on social media platforms by sharing industry insights or connecting with other marketers.
Content creation
Content skills are crucial as a marketer so look to hone your writing skills (don’t be afraid to use a copywriting AI tool like ChatGPT) and use content creation platforms like Canva or Shutterstock to get some experience.
AI
Artificial intelligence is being used by marketing teams across industries to be more productive and efficient. Employers are looking for employees with AI know-how so take the time to try out some AI tools to learn how it can help with content creation, automation and personalization.
Honesty and integrity
Be truthful about your skills and don’t over-inflate your experience. It will become apparent quickly if you don’t know how to do something or have misrepresented yourself.
Leadership
Employers want employees that can take control and work on a project or campaign with minimal hand holding. They also want people who have good leadership skills so show off any you may have such as running a volunteer project or leading a team activity such as debating.
