The 10 secrets to finding your first job in digital marketing
Finding your first job in digital marketing can seem like a challenge. It’s the famous “whiting that bites its own tail” effect: since you don’t have experience, you don’t get hired, and because you don’t get hired, you can’t gain experience.
But all is not lost: not only is it possible to get your head into this industry, but digital marketing work is one of the most in-demand today. If you want to know all the secrets to finding your first job in digital marketing, don’t miss this article!
The keys to looking for your first job in online marketing
Here I am going to leave you with a few ideas on how to find that first job dreamed of by all young people who have finished their studies. It may seem like a complicated path at first, but the main thing is not to give up and to be patient. Yes, I said so. Have a lot of patience, more patience, and a little more patience. Because that’s how you’ll get results.
1) Set your goals
It happens with everything in life: in order to achieve your goals, you have to first know what they are. “Finding a job in digital marketing” is fine as a start, but it’s too broad. So to guide your search, try to specify it a little more by answering these questions:
- Do you prefer to work for an advertising agency, in the marketing department of a company, or as a freelancer?
- What types of brands would you like to work for?
- What aspects of digital marketing would you like to specialize in? For example, big data analysis, SEM, SEO, social media marketing, content marketing…
2) Research companies
Thanks to the internet, it is easier than ever to get information about your future employers. If you’ve already identified the type of client you’d like to work for, the next step is to research companies near you. What are your values and work culture? Do you have a “jobs” section on your website? What do you think they look for in an employee? Can you seek reviews from other people who have worked there?
3) Update and train yourself
Do you think you’re done studying yet? Well, you’re sure to be wrong. One of the things that makes working in our sector interesting is that it is constantly evolving.
Good digital marketers don’t stop training after finding their first job. They are continuously recycling themselves to keep up to date with new tools and trends in the sector and thus be able to offer the best to their customers.
Today, there are many free training options with platforms like Coursera. You can also stay up to date more informally, following the most relevant accounts in the sector. Whatever you do, don’t be left behind!
4) Take care of your cover letter
In today’s job market, every job posting attracts hundreds of resumes. But there is a weapon that often falls into oblivion and that can be definitive for them to notice yours: the letter of introduction.
Nowadays, most cover letters are sent the email in which you send your resume. Don’t just copy and paste a standard template: test your creativity to make yours stand out and grab attention from the front line. And of course, don’t forget to adapt it to each company in particular. Copying and pasting is going to end!
5) Have a social media presence
If you want to work in digital marketing, you have to show that you know how it works. And what better way than through your own social media presence?
A careful Twitter and LinkedIn will make you score many points with future employers. But in addition, there is a lot of activity related to job offers on these networks, so you will kill two birds with one stone.
6) Create your website/blog
Your website is your quintessential cover letter, a way to get the attention of HR professionals and show what you’re worth. If you want to find your first job in digital marketing, the professional website is an investment that is always worth it. You don’t need to overcomplicate your life: a simple, clean, and well-designed website can be even better than one that’s cluttered with content.
Where you should create more content is the better on your blog. I recommend that every marketing student have one even before finishing the training. Through your posts, you can demonstrate your knowledge of the sector and, above all, a quality that excites employers: passion for what you do.
7) Prove your worth with real projects
You may not have worked for any big brands yet, but don’t let that stop you from starting to gain experience. Do you have a family member or acquaintance with a business, or do you collaborate in a charitable cause? You can offer them your time and services in exchange for letting you show the results.
8) Diversify your skills
If you want to find a job in digital marketing, you have to know about digital marketing… But many other skills can become a plus. For example, marketers who can take good photos and videos or design are in high demand.
Another aspect to consider when “selling” yourself is the topics in which you are already an expert, almost without realizing it. For example, if traveling is your passion, it can be a great plus when it comes to finding a job in digital marketing for brands in the tourism sector.
9) Familiarize yourself with the tools that professionals use
One of the problems with hiring a “newbie” is the time wasted on training. You can partly overcome this handicap by informing yourself of the tools used in digital marketing (there are a lot of lists in blogs in the sector) and learning how to use them on your own, even if it is at a basic level.
10) Don’t despair!
When we have just finished studying, the job outlook can seem very bleak. But the truth is that all marketers, even managers, have started somewhere someday. So,o to find your first job in digital marketing, my best advice is the simplest: arm yourself with patience and keep insisting. Before you know it, you’ll be the one advising new ones.
