It’s National Career Development Month, so let’s talk about how to get into marketing – and why.
Digital marketing is a hugely diverse industry that can suit people with all sorts of talents and interests. From tech-heavy Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to content and design, the role you choose can be tailored to your skillset and interests. If you have a great imagination and a visual eye, creating content could be a good career choice; if you excel with maths and figures, you could be well-suited to PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising, or SEO. Whether at an agency or an individual brand, a marketing career is often fast-paced and rewarding, with plenty of room for creativity.
So, what does a digital marketing career path look like, how can you get started, and is it the right industry for you? We asked our team about their personal journeys to help you find out.
Steph, Senior Digital Content Specialist
“I studied Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University. I was chuffed when I was accepted onto the course (it’s the longest running journalism school in the UK!) However, I quickly realised newspaper journalism wasn’t for me – there was a heavy focus on politics and current affairs.
In my final year, I was searching around for alternative careers and came across copywriting. I spent a few months as a contributing blogger on a number of student websites to gain some experience, then came across Go (Careers) Wales and a placement with Liberty Marketing. When the placement ended I was offered a permanent position as a Junior Copywriter. I progressed to a Content Executive role around a year after, then later became a Senior Digital Content Executive.
“After more than eight years at Liberty, I feel like I’ve grown alongside the company.”
My knowledge and skill level has improved, plus Liberty’s offering and client base has expanded to now be Wales’ biggest (and best) specialist digital marketing agency. It’s really special to think I started as a young and fresh-faced 21-year-old copywriter and I’m now a senior member of the content team, with a much more varied role. Looking forward, I see myself on the management and leadership team, helping to shape the future of the company.”
Charlotte, SEO Team Leader
I’ve got a marketing degree, which you’d assume would massively help in terms of starting a digital marketing career – but in my case, you’d be wrong. The course focused on traditional marketing, like TV and newspaper. Some of the elements have helped me though – particularly people management.
I was always interested in digital marketing because my dad has been in the industry for years.
“It wasn’t until I joined a marketing agency that SEO won my heart.”
If you go into digital marketing with an open mind, you might be surprised where you end up. I started at Liberty as a Client Accounts Assistant, not really knowing what I wanted to do. Liberty allowed me to explore the different aspects of marketing and now, I’m a senior member of the SEO team. My career goal for the future is definitely to support the next wave of juniors. I want to help them develop, just like I was able to.
Mari, Client Account Director
I have a BA in English and French Literature from Milan University, so digital marketing wasn’t exactly on my radar when I came out of uni.
After graduating, I moved to the UK and started working for a Translation Agency in Swansea. I owe that first job a great deal, as it gave me the chance to try my hand at several roles. I started in the Sales department, then moved on to Project Management (where I became Head of Certified Translation), but subsequently, I became intrigued by the world of SEO and digital marketing in general, and eventually, I moved to the Marketing department, where my love for digital marketing truly blossomed.
“When I first applied for an SEO role at Liberty I was turned down as I didn’t have enough experience – but I took that as a challenge.”
After six months at the translation agency as a Marketing Executive (and a lot of studying out of hours), I reapplied and became an SEO Account Coordinator. That was over 8 years ago!
I’ve since moved to Account Management and progressed to the Client Account Director role. I’ve only just stepped into this new role, and one thing I’d like to focus on is people development. I’d like to grow my team, mentor them and help them achieve their own goals.
How to Get Into Marketing Without a Degree
While many digital marketers start their careers after university, you don’t need a degree to get into marketing. There are countless online resources you can use to grow your skills, and doing a work placement for a brand or an agency can help with this too – as well as giving you a clearer picture of what working in the industry will be like. Our top tips for budding marketers who haven’t attended university are:
How to Know if Marketing is Right for You
Is marketing a good career for you? If you’re naturally curious, great at coming up with ideas and solutions, and enjoy working collaboratively, you could make an excellent digital marketer. However, the only way to find out for sure if this is the right career for you is to give it a go.
You could find you have a real passion for digital marketing, and if not, the varied skills you’ll develop will serve you well if you decide to move to a different industry.
Want to Work With Us?
If reading Steph, Charlie, and Mari’s stories have got you thinking about working at Liberty, then we’d love to hear from you. We are often looking to expand our team, and experience is not a barrier when it comes to joining us.
Take a look at our current vacancies here, and if your ideal role isn’t listed, get in touch so we can learn more about you.
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