Has there ever been a better time to break into marketing? Businesses have embraced digital and are using new technologies to glean marketing data and deliver customer experiences. This has created a wealth of entry level marketing jobs for hungry professionals looking to build a successful career in this diverse and exciting industry.
Robert Half recruitment expert Shelley Crane, Market Director, Marketing & HR shares tips on how to get your first marketing job and what it’s like to work in the industry.
What does a marketing team do?
The marketing team oversees all customer and client-facing communication on behalf of the business. They use a blend of strategy and creativity to get in front of the target market, sell products and services, and build strong brand awareness.
Marketing roles span everything from data analysis, PR, and brand management to social media, content creation, and design.
“The impact of marketing on the reputational and commercial success of an organisation makes it a key strategic business function, and building a career in that field can be particularly rewarding”, says Shelley Crane.
“The vast number of specialisms within marketing means that professionals can develop a range of skills even with an entry level marketing job, while being presented with multiple career growth opportunities. Also, the collaborative nature of marketing allows professionals in that field to work with various departments across the entire organisation, allowing for wider internal networking and further professional development.”
Entry level marketing jobs: choosing your area of expertise
Marketing comes in all shapes and sizes. Your chosen career path will rely heavily on your area of interest — are you creative? Do you have a head for numbers? Adore strategy? There’s a good chance you can find a marketing role to suit you.
“Knowing what you enjoy the most, as well as where your strengths and talents lie, is key when choosing your marketing specialism as a novice in the field. It is always good to first research and find out more about what each of the specialisms entails, as for example digital, content, social media and e-mail marketing, to name a few, would require different skillsets and talents.
Also, it will pay off in the long run to be aware of what roles the current job market favours – which are the roles with highest demand and which areas are more future-proofed than others would be good questions to consider. And attending industry events or reaching out to marketing professionals on social media is another way of gaining deeper insight for a more informed decision when choosing your marketing specialism”, says Shelley.
Examples of entry level marketing jobs:
- Digital marketer
- Marketing assistant
- Social media manager
- SEO specialist
- PPC and paid media specialist
- Graphic designer
- UX/UI designer
- Copywriter/content writer
- Product designer
- PR executive
- Junior brand manager
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the plethora of marketing roles available to graduates and entry-level candidates.
Once you’ve chosen a career path, we recommend researching the role further. You could even browse marketing roles here on Robert Half to familiarise yourself with what employers are looking for.
The average-entry level marketing salary
The average entry-level marketing salary differs depending on the type of role you choose. For example, a UK-based junior marketing assistant can hope to start at £24,000, and entry-level graphic designers and digital assistants could start at £22,000.
According to new research for the 2023 Robert Half Salary Guide, the best salaries go to SEO and PPC specialists. Even with minimal experience, they can start at £30,500 and command anything up to £57,000 with experience and in-demand skills under their belt.
Read more: 2023 Robert Half Salary Guide
How to get your first marketing job
1. Train into in demand marketing skills
Research for the 2023 Robert Half Salary Guide has shown a considerable shift towards digital marketing since the pandemic. As a result, businesses are looking for candidates with digital skills and the ability to use data and metrics to show value and highlight new opportunities. Businesses want candidates with copywriting skills, creativity, and strategic skills like SEO and Google analytics experience.
“Top in-demand marketing skills would vary based on industry and job role, yet digital marketing is one of the areas that is continuously evolving and candidates with up-to-date expertise in areas such as SEO, SEM, social media and digital content marketing are highly sought after.
Also, marketing professionals who can analyse and interpret data are in high demand. Here key skills would be the use of tools such as Google Analytics, Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio), Microsoft Power BI and other data analytics software to track marketing campaigns and measure success.
Other sought after soft skills would be strategic thinking, creativity, communication skills, project management, collaboration and adaptability”, says Shelley.
2. Gain relevant experience wherever possible
Junior marketing jobs are often awarded to candidates with a proactive approach to experience. You can get your foot in the door through internships, volunteering, or online courses. We also recommend leveraging personal projects to build out your portfolio or CV.
“When it comes to seeking entry level roles, being successful most often boils down to demonstrable transferrable skills, as well as a keen interest in the marketing specialism that would easily transpire throughout an interview. Whether the relevant skills are acquired during projects at university, while volunteering, doing an apprenticeship, or through online courses, make sure these are listed on your CV in the same order of priority as the job advert implies.
Also, candidates should use keywords that are relevant to the job posting to get their CV noticed by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Common keywords would be marketing, social media, SEO, Google Analytics, etc”, says Shelley. “And focus on accomplishments instead of simply listing previous duties and responsibilities.
This will also give you the opportunity to provide context to transferrable skills while tailoring your CV to the job advert. Lastly, don’t forget to proofread your CV, typos and bad grammar can impact the outcome during the CV screening stage, especially if the role applied for will require copywriting skills too.”
3. Trust a marketing recruitment professional
When your marketing CV is ready, you can upload it to a powerhouse recruitment site like Robert Half. Our recruitment experts use sophisticated AI scanning technology to match your CV with perfect job opportunities, and our team will prep you ahead of your interview.
Are you ready to start looking for your first marketing role? Browse vacancies for entry level marketing jobs now or visit the Robert Half advice blog for more tips on starting a new job.
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