How to get a job in the marketing industry after graduating

Graduating with your degree in marketing is a big milestone to celebrate, but the transition from student to professional can also be daunting in this competitive field. One of the biggest challenges for graduates is getting into the marketing industry without experience. Luckily, there are solutions to this dilemma, especially if work-integrated learning subjects are part of your degree.

With the right strategies and preparation, you can go out there ready to step up to a career in marketing. With this 6-step guide, you’ll be ready to pick a niche, stand out in your job search and position yourself as the best candidate even as a fresh graduate.

1. Consider your niche in the marketing landscape

Choose a niche in-demand skill set: Marketing as a field has a large remit. While studying think about the specialisations within the field and where you’d like to venture. It may be that media management, product and brand marketing, social media marketing, content creation or campaign analytics for example are subject areas you enjoy. Identifying a preferred skill set and then looking for professional experience during your work-integrated learning subjects is recommended. Having directly relevant work experience provides opportunities to demonstrate capability during interviews.

Choose a niche market or industry: Focus on developing industry-specific knowledge or building an audience niche: for example, If you’re passionate about the sports industry, undertake work-integrated experience or tailor your assessments to learn more about that industry while studying. One aspect you may want to consider is whether you want to work agency-side or client-side. If you can, try to undertake internships or work on client briefs as part of your studies across both.

By becoming an expert in your specific marketing domain, you can tailor your job applications to roles that align with your unique skill set and interests, making you a more attractive candidate, and increasing your chances of securing a position in this competitive industry.

2. Undertake work-integrated learning experiences

Gaining practical experience is vital, even if it's unpaid. When you’re at the beginning of your career and you’re trying to enter the industry with no work experience, interning or volunteering your time is the best way to add some concrete achievements to your portfolio.

Most universities now offer work-integrated learning subjects, otherwise known as WIL. During these subjects, you gain the opportunity to experience working on real or practice client briefs or completing internships or placements with university partner organisations. In most cases, university industry teams can help connect you to self-sourced programs or companies you may have a career interest with.

If you are working part-time whilst studying, which is a common situation for many students, think about how you could assist your current employer by undertaking marketing-related tasks.

Consider the following options:

• Internships: Ask your university success coach or academics to connect or guide you, or independently apply for internships through university career connect platforms, approach marketing agencies, startups, or corporate marketing departments. These positions can often lead to full-time job offers.
• Volunteer: Offer your marketing skills to non-profits, local small businesses, or university clubs. This experience not only builds your resume but also demonstrates your commitment and initiative.
• Initiate your own projects: In marketing, it’s easy to use data to demonstrate the success of an independent marketing project. Set yourself a challenge, such as: developing an Instagram account with a 10,000k plus, getting your TikTok video to go viral, or reaching 1000 people for a charity donation drive via email marketing. These are all achievements you can add to your resume, and they will make you stand out as a candidate with initiative.

3. Build an exceptional online presence

In the digital age, your online presence is your personal brand. Potential employers often look at your online activity to gauge your suitability for a role. To start with, make sure your social media and digital portfolio all look great and read well. If you have gaps in your skill set, hire help from graphic designers, content writers, web designers, marketing strategists, market researchers and professional photographers.

When you work in marketing, your personal branding reflects your professional capability: there’s no room for error. Here's how to create a compelling online profile:

• LinkedIn: Optimise your LinkedIn profile with a professional photo, detailed work experience, and endorsements for your skills. Each time you complete a subject or WIL experience, why not post about your experience.
• Personal website or blog: Showcase your portfolio, write about industry trends, and highlight your achievements. Testimonials to prove your worth. A well-maintained website can set you apart from other candidates.
• Social media: Of course, it’s a must to use social media as a marketing professional, to share your insights on marketing topics and engage with industry leaders. However, a less obvious but essential function of social media marketing is how you can use it to support your networking efforts IRL to make sure you tag people when you post photos of industry events, cross-promote the campaigns of your colleagues, like and engage with potential contacts, and engage with the companies you want to work for.

4. Network all the time

Networks and professional associations are essential to every successful marketing career. This industry is particularly people-focused: building relationships with other professionals in the marketing industry can open many different doors to job opportunities, collaborative projects, connections, career advice, confidence building and mentors.

Rather than thinking about networking as something that you occasionally do while awkwardly holding a drink at a marketing function, think of it more like having a constant radar on you that scans for opportunities. The Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) and the Association for Data-Driven Marketing & Advertising are two such organisations that run networking events dedicated to marketing professionals and run marketing mentorship programs.

5. Tailor each job application

When applying for jobs, it's essential to customise your resume and cover letter for each position, even when it takes much more time than a generic application. Highlight relevant skills and experiences, and use keywords from the job description to increase your chances of passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS). Additionally, consider the following:

• Create a flexible foundation resume that can alter for each application: Focus on your achievements, work experience and niche skills then quantify your impact where possible.
• Write a compelling cover letter: Explain why you're passionate about the company and how your skills align with their needs. Be very specific and avoid generic statements. Take time to tailor the cover letter to suit the job description.
• Prepare for Interviews: Research the company, practise common interview questions, and prepare questions to ask the interviewer. Show enthusiasm and confidence during the interview.
• Seek advice: Ask your university success coaches to help you and take part in university career preparation workshops.

6. Make your application stand out

In a competitive job market, it's also essential to differentiate yourself from other applicants. Here are some key strategies to make your application shine:

• Highlight your work-integrated learning projects completed during your studies: Where you completed an internship or worked on a client live brief as part of your studies, provide a short summary of your experience and learnings.
• Showcase unique projects: Highlight any client projects you've worked on during your studies or initiated yourself, especially those that demonstrate creativity, generosity and results. Use a professional design: A visually appealing resume can capture attention. Use professional templates and ensure your resume is well-organised and easy to read. Here are some great real-world examples.
• Include recommendations where possible: Depending on the application, there is sometimes an opportunity to also attach letters of recommendation or include quotes from professors or employers that speak to your skills and work ethic.
• Demonstrate cultural fit: Research the company culture and aesthetics and reflect it in your application. Tailor your resume, design and cover letter to align with the company’s values and mission. If your company is quirky, creative and aesthetically loud - respond in kind and add some colour and flair to your application. If their website is formal and minimal, respond similarly.
• Follow-up: After submitting your application, send a follow-up email to reiterate your interest in the position. This shows your enthusiasm and can keep your application at the top of the pile.

By actively seeking out a mentor through these channels, you can find the guidance and support you need to kickstart your marketing career.

Finally, stay persistent and positive

The job search process can be challenging, particularly when you’re starting out with no experience, but persistence is key. Rejections are part of the journey, and each one is an opportunity to learn and improve. Stay positive, seek feedback, and continue honing your skills and finding opportunities to develop your network and add to your resume while you look for work.

By following these tips and leveraging the resources available to you, you'll be well on your way to landing a job in the marketing industry. Remember, the skills and experience you build during this time are valuable investments in your future career.