Landing a job in marketing is no easy feat. And for people who do not have degrees, it can be even harder, but not impossible when you have the right strategy.
If you’re looking to break into marketing, or even level up your marketing game, you’re at the right place.
Here’s how to break into Marketing with no degree.
Pick a path
Marketing is a diverse field with so many different paths that you can take. Here’s a quick list from Hubspot listing out the different types of marketing and what they are. You’re probably most familiar with Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing. The opportunities really are endless, but when first starting out, I do recommend picking a focus and going all in.
Once you’ve picked your path, you need to get some experience.
But how do I get experience when no one will hire me? The million-dollar question! Well I can guarantee you that there is someone in your life who has a brand, a business, or works for a small business. Find that person. Pitch your service to them. You can offer to do the work pro-bono at first, just to gain experience. (pro-tip, limit pro-bono work to 3 months, after that, they should be paying you)
Even though you are doing this work for free or for a super affordable price, take it seriously. You can learn almost everything on youtube or google these days. Document what you are working on and most importantly take record of where you are starting and where you have taken this business.
P.S. If you do not know of anyone with a business or have a connection to someone with a business, then think of your favorite TV show, (we’ll use Friends for this example), and take a business from that TV show (Central Perk) and do your marketing for that business.
Now that you’ve got some experience under your belt, it’s time to create your portfolio.
You can create a free website with almost every website service. My portfolio is on Wix!
Your portfolio should be simple. Get to the point. Showcase your work, write a case study, add screenshot or photos. See if you can get a quote from the business you worked with.
Add an introduction page with a professional photo and introduce yourself. You can take this photo with your phone these days!
Next up, update your resume.
I know it’s tempting to use a colorful resume template, but since a lot of companies use an applicant tracking system to help select candidates, you’ll want to use a Microsoft Word template so that their software can easily read your resume. I recommend this cover letter and resume template by Workhap, linked here. (I used this template to land my current role!)
When writing your resume, be sure to use action verbs and describe what impact you made with your portfolio project. You can read about more helpful resume tips here.
Don’t forget to link your portfolio at the top of your resume! & some online applications ask for your website (if you have one), this is where you can insert your portfolio link!
Create your LinkedIn profile and optimize it.
If you don’t have a LinkedIn, it’s time to get one! Create your free account at this link.
Be sure that your LinkedIn shows, “Open to Work”. Add your professional headshot and add your resume and info to your profile.
Share your portfolio project to your feed, and share about your journey on LinkedIn.
Strategically Apply to Marketing Positions
Do not mass apply to jobs, be strategic. Narrow down into 2-3 beginner job titles that you are interested in and create variations of your resume targeting those positions.
Search those job titles and apply to jobs that you are interested in. Note that a lot of “beginner” positions require 3-5 years of experience….which is wild!! BUT, if you read the job description and feel that you would be a good fit, APPLY ANYWAYS!
I have landed jobs that I was under qualified for because I put myself out there. For example, I landed a job that wanted 8 years of experience when I only had 3 at the time. And a job that wanted a minimum of 5 years of experience and public speaking skills when I only had 4 and 0 public speaking experience.
The point is, put yourself out there because you never know!
These steps are a great start for anyone looking to get into the industry, or for people who are looking to change directions. With the right strategy, I really believe anyone can break into marketing or even break into another segment of Marketing.
