So, you’ve decided you’d like to start a career in marketing? Unfortunately, the issue is that you don’t know too much about marketing. Bounce rates. Key performance indicators. Clickthrough rates. These words might look confusing and scary if you’re a beginner.

Starting a new career in an industry you have little experience in can be overwhelming and stressful. However, marketing is slightly different, as it doesn’t require a specific degree and you can get started using your own resources.

But where do you even start? Is marketing even the right career for you? What does it take to launch a new career in marketing? Well, luckily for you, we’ve been there and done it. This guide will cover all you need to know, giving you advice and tips to get you started.

What Is Marketing?

Marketing is the process of selling and promoting a service or product. Companies have marketing teams that all work together to try and enhance a campaign to sell more of their services and help to grow the business. Individual fields all combine to build the brand.

Why Do You Want A Career In Marketing?

In 2021, marketing is a very competitive industry. With more people looking to work remotely, many marketing roles offer the ability to work from home. This creates fierce competition, with lots of candidates having experience and studies to back up their applications.

You should do your research first and see what a marketing job exactly entails. There are also traditional marketing roles such as TV, radio and in newspapers, however, they are less popular in current times. Take some time to thoroughly view what roles are out there.

What Are Common Marketing Careers?

When it comes to job roles in marketing, the list can be extremely long. Many of these marketing careers require specific industry knowledge, including consumer behaviour, competitor analysis and others. Experience is also important, furthermore, some only hire people with degrees.

Below is a short list of some of the business marketing jobs, including a description of the role:

Social Media Manager	Social media managers control a business’s social media marketing campaign. The roles will involve making sure social media accounts are updated regularly to develop the brand, helping to generate leads and sales. It also will include engaging with social media followers, tracking trends and reporting feedback.
Web Content Writer	Web content writers create content for the business’s website. This includes writing blog posts and other various forms of content. Their goal is to increase the traffic through specific keywords that are related to the products or services their company offers.
Search Engine Optimisation Specialist	Search engine optimisation specialists improve the brand’s search engine ranking. This is through using appropriate keywords that they target to boost traffic. Specialists use different tactics such as writing keyword-centric content and maximising the potential of page titles and other details. Maintaining a good design of the website is also key to enhance the customer’s overall experience.
Product Manager	The product managers role is to oversee the development of a product. This is from the very beginning designs to the final product. Developing new ideas is a big part of this role, using experience and speaking with customers to see what they want. Responsibilities include ensuring the product is completed on time and within the budget.

So, maybe these roles look interesting and you’ve done a little bit of reading about marketing roles online. Great! What next?

Deciding Your Role

Think about your skills and strengths. Are you a creative individual? Maybe a more artistic career, such as social media, advertising, graphic design or copyrighting is for you.

Better with numeracy? Data roles may be more appealing. This is the time to think about what you love doing and what you enjoy. You will get the most out of a career that you are good at and are passionate about. It may take time, but marketing could work for you if you love it.

Take A Look At Job Requirements

Okay, you’ve decided marketing is for you. A good place for you next is to check job vacancies. You may not be ready to apply for a job yet, that is fine. Now is a good time to see what skills, education and experience are required for your chosen field.

Different companies may require various skills for their business. Write down common areas that companies are looking for and keep a file. Here, you will have a broad idea of what you may need to study, gain experience or if you’re already qualified for the position.

Build Your CV

You’ve got an idea of what the requirements are for your new role. Now it is time to showcase your talents to potential recruiters. A strong CV can go a long way in helping land that dream job.

Show employers initiative and what you can do to help improve their business. If you’re lacking in certain educational areas, some entry-level marketing courses are free. Also, you will want to make a LinkedIn account if you haven’t already. This is a great place to connect with people in the industry.

Voluntary Work

This is a fantastic way to build your portfolio and stand out from the crowd. It may be tough to land a job straight away, so doing voluntary work or just some free work can prove to potential employers you have what it takes, with proof of your great work.

Think about your close circle or companies in your area. Maybe a family member or friend knows someone who runs a business who could use some free marketing. This is an easy way toga experience and builds your portfolio.

Internships

Again, this may be unpaid, but it is the first step towards your bigger goals. Internships are a fantastic way to work with bigger brands and learn with hands-on experience. You never know, you may impress so much that you land a job there.

Create An Online Presence

When we mentioned LinkedIn earlier, this is what we meant. Posting your experience online and projects you are working on can be a simple tool to land yourself in front of people in your industry.

Just one share can change your life. Utilise social media and build networks in your niche. Talk to people who have been there and done it, soak up as much information as you can and impress them. One contact can lead you to your next role.

Continue To Learn

Digital marketing is changing constantly. New trends, new ideas, new platforms. Reading the latest blogs in the industry and taking online courses can be a great way to stay on top of the game. There is so much free information available online for you to utilise.

Try watching YouTube videos about your specific niche, or search for some podcasts that talk about what you want to do. You can pick up some useful tips and advice from people who have been there and done it. If you prefer reading blogs, here are some popular ones:

Finding Your Job

This will take time and without a plan or strategy, you will limit the chances of finding your marketing job. You want to make sure your CV is edited, up to date and tailored to the specific role you want.

Being creative with your CV can stand your profile out from the crowd, however, this works more with creative jobs such as graphic design. Some other tips include:

Take Time Each Day To Apply For Jobs	You won’t get the job if you don’t apply. It can be easy to forget, but if you schedule a certain time of the day to apply for jobs, you can be consistent and focused during that time to get closer to your dreams.
Apply For Jobs On The Company Website	By going directly to the company website, there is a chance you will stand out from your competitors. Instead of using the job boards, your application may be one of only a few that are done via the company website.
Try Speaking To Someone New Each Day	Take some time to network on LinkedIn, especially with people in the industry you’re looking to go into. You never know, speaking to that one person may just lead you to better things.
Regroup And Reassess When Things Don’t Work	Of course, it isn’t realistic to think every single application will land in success. So, when there is a rejection, take that as an opportunity to learn! Make notes on what didn’t work, allowing you to improve for the future.

Stick At It

It is a tricky sector to get into. For each entry-level marketing job that is listed, you can bet there will be dozens of applications already sent. The odds may be against you, however, the key is to not give up. Stay hungry and have the desire to keep plugging away.