A business could have the finest products or offer the best services, but what is the point if no one knows about them? This is where marketing comes in. Marketing professionals are the creative lifeblood that keeps businesses going. Not only do they build brand awareness, they also increase sales, engage customers and grow brand loyalty. We have all seen great brand campaigns before – Nike with ‘Just Do It’, the California Milk Processor Board with ‘Got Milk?’ – I bet you just said it out loud – or more recently, Weetabix with ‘Beans on Weetabix’. These campaigns all came from great marketing professionals. So, it does not take a genius to see how valuable someone with marketing skills can be for a business.
Brands are focusing more on creating great marketing campaigns than ever before, so now is the perfect time to become a marketing professional. And the best thing is that because marketing doesn’t require a specific degree, the steps to becoming a marketing professional are actually very straightforward. This thorough yet easy-to-follow guide walks you through how to get a job in marketing with no prior experience! So, here are our top tips for becoming a marketing professional.
1. Choose your field
The marketing industry is constantly evolving. Because of this, the modern-day marketing professional can choose to specialise in a HUGE variety of roles based on their interests and skillset. So, deciding what role you are best suited for is the first step to getting the job of your dreams. Here are just a few examples of roles you could pursue:
Social media marketing
Social media marketers promote and strengthen an organisation’s brand using social media platforms. There are several creative, analytical and managerial aspects to this role. So, if you’re passionate about using social media, have great photo and video editing abilities and can think on your feet, this role could be perfect for you.
Content marketing
Content marketers are responsible for planning, creating and sharing valuable content to grow their readership and relationships to create new business for the company they represent. This role is perfect for anyone who loves copywriting, storytelling and has strategic skills.
Product marketing
Product marketers are in charge of increasing the effectiveness of a company’s sales team to convert interested audiences into customers. This role is excellent for anyone who understands business basics, has a passion for solving customer problems and possesses strategic thinking skills.
2. Take a great marketing course
Once you’ve decided which field you want to go into, the next step to becoming a marketing professional is to get a marketing qualification. When you learn marketing, you become part of a highly sought-after industry with countless career opportunities. Not only does a marketing qualification provide valuable access to the marketing world, but marketing trainees also acquire a wealth of transferable business skills along the way. Thankfully, a university degree of several years isn’t the only option to achieve a marketing qualification. In fact, we’d recommend our short marketing training courses to those who are new to the sector and looking for a recognised marketing qualification.
The world of marketing is highly competitive, and the number of applicants looking to break through into this fast-moving industry is always high. So, if you want to stand out and get the job, you’ll have to prove you’ve got the practical skills and knowledge required. Marketing Assistant diploma has been developed to give you the skills you need to work in a specialist marketing or PR agency or in-house for a company with its own marketing department.
In today’s market, driving business forward is a challenging and highly competitive game. Beating competitors and increasing profits are at the forefront of many businesses’ development plans – pushing marketing forward as a fundamental sales channel. On this course, you’ll cover topics such as understanding what a marketing plan is, how to carry out appropriate research, how websites are designed to market a company, effective advertising and the four Ps of marketing products.
This is an excellent diploma for any aspiring digital marketing professional. In an industry that is fast-paced and rapidly expanding, being able to demonstrate your proactive approach to learning in the digital marketing profession will stand you in good stead. With an expanding range of channels available to market through, this diploma helps you learn more about some of the key specialisms of digital marketing.
3. Update your CV
A good CV gives potential employers a snapshot of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. So, when you’re applying for marketing roles, it’s crucial to ensure your CV is up to date. Start by writing an effective introduction, then highlight your relevant qualifications, marketing experience and career achievements. Remember, your CV is a chance to promote your unique selling points – don’t include unnecessary details and stick to showcasing your skills and experience that make you the ideal person for the role. By following these CV tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a marketing professional.
4. Apply to marketing jobs and don’t be afraid to work for free
There’s no better education than real-life experience. Marketing jobs and – dare I say it – unpaid work experience allow you to learn on the go while you’re still learning in the classroom. These experiences are valuable because they help you determine what kind of marketing you want to do. There are a lot of moving parts in the marketing machine, so finding out where you fit in through work experience is a great idea. With some real-life experience under your belt, you automatically become a highly desirable candidate to employers. You can reach out to companies through LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed to offer your services out. And who knows, if you manage to do a good job, the chances are they’ll ask you to stay on for longer or take a paid position.
5. Develop a portfolio by marketing your own blog or business
A well-articulated and polished portfolio can be just as valuable as a well-written CV when applying for a role as a marketing professional. Starting your own blog or website is a great and easy way to showcase the marketing experience you’ve picked up from working in the industry. You can then use the skills you’ve learned throughout your marketing courses to market your blog or website. Doing this will not only help you gain exposure for your achievements, but it’ll also help you gain valuable experience in content marketing, SEO, advertising (if you decide to run some to promote your blog), analytics and social media. If writing isn’t your thing, you can use the same approach for starting a YouTube channel or your own podcast. Any type of content will work!
Pitman Training has long been regarded as one of the world’s top training facilities. A Pitman Training marketing qualification provides the competitive edge employers seek. Our range of marketing training courses covers everything from the basics of building a marketing plan, SEO (search engine optimisation), PPC (pay-per-click), and more. Marketing often pairs well with studying event management and social media courses too.
