Marketing is a competitive niche, and breaking into the field can often be one of the biggest hurdles you’ll face throughout your career. The job(s) you land at the start of your career can set the tone for the path you’ll take and ultimately, how much you will earn over your lifetime. Use these strategies to stand out in the highly competitive entry-level marketing niche.
“Marketing is hot today, especially the creative and digital side. There is also a strong path to sales with a marketing background. Explore your options and tap your passion! Many companies need strong blog writers, great social media experts, amazing talent to introduce new campaigns and business developers who can open doors and create new business opportunities! Stand out by staying focused and being in top 10% of your niche. Understanding the full business plan, the competition and future landscape of your industry to differentiate you from your fellow marketing classmate! Says Sharon Tsao, CMO, Contemporary Staffing Solutions.
Apply For The Right Jobs
If you’ve graduated college within the last couple of years, it can be tempting to apply for every single job you see. However, if you want to increase the chances of landing a great and well-paying job, you have to make sure you are qualified and aligned for the jobs you go after.
Always study the list of experience and qualifications. Don’t fret if you are missing one or two items on the list, but don’t apply for jobs that require 10 years of experience, either. Study company culture to make sure you are a good fit and finally, determine if the job sounds like something you’d actually want to do.
Tailor Your Cover Letter and Resume
Don’t make the mistake of sending out generic cover letters and resumes. If you want to catch a hiring manager’s eye, you have position yourself as their ideal candidate. Make sure your resume includes the skills and qualifications they are looking for and whenever possible, quantify your achievements so the hiring manager can see what you bring to the table. Draft a custom cover letter for every position and use it to make your case as to why the hiring team should want to talk to you.
Practice Your Interviewing Skills
Spend time practicing your interviewing skills. The more you practice, the more confident you will be. Work with a colleague, your college career office or a recruiter to learn how to make the right impression.
Additionally, you want to come to every interview armed with a list of thoughtful questions that go beyond “tell me about a typical day.” Ask about the goals for the role and what makes people succeed and fail in the marketing department; ask about the relationships that the marketing team has with other departments, ask about current projects you uncovered in your company research, etc. Finally, ask the hiring manager if she has any hesitations about your background and address them immediately. Before you leave, always ask about next steps. Everyone knows this is important, but in the moment, many candidates forget this critical step.
Follow Up
Never underestimate the power of following up like a true professional. Write handwritten thank-you notes and drop them in the mail right away. Send one to every person you spoke with. If you don’t hear back within the stated timeline, it’s ok to follow up with a call or email, but never be pushy. The key is to show enthusiasm rather than desperation.
If you are looking to start your career in marketing, contact the recruiting team at Contemporary Staffing Solutions today. We are committed to the success of our talent network, and we can help connect you with a position that will help you achieve your career goals.