These roles have been designed to train new marketers, so the emphasis isn’t on their experience but on their ability to learn and their interest in doing so.
So when you get to your interviews, think about the following.
What Excites You About The Role?
Research each company that you are interviewing with and be ready to talk about why that role interests you.
For example, if you are applying to an agency, you can look at its website and social media accounts to identify some of the clients and industries it works with.
Perhaps its focus on charities appeals to you, or you feel that the opportunity to work with a broad range of companies will help grow your marketing skills quickly.
Take a look at some of the campaigns the agency has carried out or the work it has done to win awards. Speak to the team about specific examples and why you feel that is the sort of work you want to be involved with.
If you are applying to in-house roles, still take a look at their social media and websites. Sign up for their email newsletters.
This will give you an understanding of what sort of marketing they are doing. Perhaps you like the tone of voice they use with their audience or think their most recent email campaign was particularly effective.
Discussing these aspects shows you are interested in their company, but more importantly, that you understand the different marketing levers they are already using.
Where You Have Learned Marketing
Be ready to discuss where you have learned about marketing. This may be through formal education like a degree, or it might be that you have taken on your own personal studies.
Interviewers will be interested to know what you already understand about marketing theory but also that you are still trying to stay up to date. Remind yourself of the conferences you’ve attended, podcasts you’ve listened to, and articles you’ve read. This can demonstrate both a passion for marketing but also a strong grounding in its principles.
Perhaps your knowledge has come about through some side projects you’ve worked on at your previous jobs.
You may not have been the company’s full-time marketer, but you may have assisted in putting together an ad campaign or carrying out marketing surveys.
This is all relevant experience and knowledge that you should highlight at the interview to stand out from the crowd.
Show Your Continued Interest In Marketing
Another way to stand out as a candidate who is genuinely interested in the marketing industry is to talk about news, trends, and campaigns that you have recently seen.
For example, keeping up-to-date via publications like Search Engine Journal means you can talk about the latest advancements regarding AI in marketing – or you can discuss recent Google system updates and changes to social media platforms. All of this will show that you are embedding yourself in the industry and keeping abreast of important changes in it.
Have a look at some recent marketing campaigns that have stood out to you – both successful and not. Think about what they got right in terms of audience, messaging, and channels. Think about what you would recommend they change.
Also, note some companies that you think are leading the charge within the marketing channels you are looking to work with.
Or perhaps even research some of the competitors for the company you are applying to. You can have a look at what they are doing well or poorly at in regards to their marketing.
This will demonstrate that you are already thinking about how to critique and improve campaigns. It also shows that you understand the importance of competitor analysis and monitoring.
Get Advice From People Already In The Industry
A lot of what goes into landing a good job in marketing, especially if it is your first one, is who you know.
The marketing industry, especially among channel specialists, can be very tight-knit. This means that you should try to take full advantage of the communities and conferences available to you.
Ask people already doing the type of marketing you’re hoping to work in what they would be looking for when hiring a junior – what skills they are looking for and what sort of behaviors they would want to see demonstrated in interviews.
You might be able to arrange for a mentor through one of these communities. That way you are getting to know someone more senior than you who will be able to connect you with other marketers and potentially even provide a reference for you.
Have Examples
Finally, a great way to stand out from the crowd is to start doing the work that you want to end up doing.
By that, I mean create some draft Facebook adverts or sketch out some ideas for a digital PR campaign. You can talk about these at an interview, or if you share them more widely, it might even help you get an interview.
Sharing your ideas and asking for feedback on social media is a great way to learn. It also helps to get your name out there to potential employers.
If you are looking to specialize in something like SEO, digital PR, or content creation, start your own website or channel. Practice the skills you are learning, and you’ll be ready with some examples of what you’ve learned when you get to interviews.
It’s Not Just About Making Yourself Stand Out
In essence, it can feel overwhelming when trying to break into the marketing industry.
In reality, though, there are ways you can start to learn and practice skills way in advance of getting your first interview. Any voluntary experience you have can help to demonstrate your aptitude and interest in marketing.
Most critically, though, if this is a career that you see yourself in for a while, it is good to take some time to find the right first job.
Look for a company that is going to support you as you grow in confidence and give you the opportunities you need to become an expert marketer.
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Featured Image: Paulo Bobita/Search Engine Journal