Learning digital marketing is one thing but getting a job or internship requires different skill sets.
To figure this out, we asked marketing practitioners to share their best advice on how to get a digital marketing job for beginners.
Here are the suggestions:
Here are 12 tips for getting your first digital marketing job
Build your portfolio to showcase
As a digital marketing trainer with 6+ years of experience and helping thousands of digital marketing students getting placed, I can ensure that if you have more results to share with your employer than your certifications, you’re most likely to stand out and get the job.
There’s no better way to impress your employer than by sharing your digital marketing portfolio with positive results.
Start by implementing what you’ve learned in digital marketing.
For example, if you’ve learned about email marketing and cold emailing, you should consider practically applying this knowledge by sending cold emails to founders. If you send 100 cold emails to founders or agency owners and get at least 3-5 freelance gig opportunities, you can present this as a skill.
Most candidates applying for the same job won’t have experience implementing digital marketing strategies.
Likewise, you may also build a niche website and try to generate traffic using your SEO understanding. If you can bring 1,000 visitors to your website, this will still leave a positive impression in your job interview—because you’ve applied what you’ve learned.
Considering the same approach, our digital marketing institute in Pune helps students not only learn but also gain practical project experience.
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If you’re from Pune, you can apply for the next batch of our digital marketing classes here. We also offer digital marketing classes in Nagpur with placement assistance.
Continuously Upskill in Digital Marketing
A crucial piece of advice is to continuously upskill yourself. Digital marketing is a constantly evolving field, and staying current with the latest tools, techniques, and trends is essential. Enroll in online courses on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or Google’s Digital Garage to learn about SEO, PPC, content marketing, and more.
Certifications from reputable sources can add significant value to your resume. Additionally, reading industry blogs, attending webinars, and joining professional associations can help you stay informed and connected. Lifelong learning is key to maintaining a competitive edge in digital marketing.
Marc Bishop, Director, Wytlabs
Get Google Certifications and Practice
The best advice is to utilize Google’s free courses on digital marketing basics and get your certifications to get a sense of the landscape of digital marketing.
I would also suggest learning by doing. If you have an interest, try creating and marketing your blog/website to gain real experience before starting a position.
Kim Butler, SEO Strategist, Online Optimism
Become a T-Shaped Marketer
The best digital marketers are what we call T-Shaped marketers. They may specialize in one area (like SEO, email, social media), but they are also cross-trained in other areas.
There are times when your speciality isn’t the right fit for a marketing objective, so knowing enough to tag in another specialty, or jump in and do it yourself, makes you invaluable.
When you’re a hammer, all you see is nails. Think beyond your core speciality so you become a toolbox and know when to use each tool.
Michelle Tresemer, Marketing Strategist, Foundations First Marketing
Specialize to Stand Out
My advice: Specialize. In the crowded field of digital marketing, you have two main paths to carve out your niche: stand out from the crowd or narrow your focus within the market even more.
Niching down can really boost your digital marketing career by helping you become proficient in a specific area of the industry.
This is crucial because, while job opportunities in marketing are growing, so too is the competition. And when you’re competing with other marketing hopefuls, you’re up against a plethora of communication experts.
It’s tough competition to stand out on paper. If you want to distinguish yourself, you need to specialize your skills. Whether it’s creating standout content, honing your curation abilities, focusing on link-building, technical SEO, digital PR, or another area that piques your interest, find your niche.
You could also consider specializing in a specific industry or local digital marketing if that suits your goals better.
Patrick Beltran, Marketing Director, Ardoz Digital
Build Your Personal Brand
One key recommendation I have for aspiring digital marketers is to proactively build your personal brand. In today’s competitive landscape, having a strong personal brand can set you apart from other candidates and showcase your expertise in the field. Start by identifying your niche or specialization within digital marketing, whether it’s social media marketing, content creation, SEO, or any other area of interest.
Then, establish your online presence by creating a professional website or blog where you can showcase your knowledge, share valuable insights, and highlight your past experiences.
Consistently create and share high-quality content related to your chosen niche across various platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or industry-specific forums.
This will help you establish yourself as a thought leader and gain credibility among your peers and potential employers. Additionally, actively engage in relevant conversations, participate in industry events or webinars, and network with other professionals to expand your connections and visibility within the digital marketing community.
Don’t underestimate the power of personal branding in today’s digital age. Your personal brand acts as a calling card, demonstrating your skills, expertise, and passion for digital marketing.
By investing time and effort into building your personal brand, you can enhance your chances of landing a digital marketing job and positioning yourself as a valuable asset to prospective employers.
Joyce Tsang, Content Marketer and Founder, Joyce Tsang Content Marketing
Create a Portfolio with Tangible Results
Start building something on your own.
As a beginner, having a portfolio will set you apart from recent graduates without one. It allows you to showcase your results and demonstrate what you bring to the table, which is often valued by HR teams.
Grow your social media, create a website, rank for relevant search terms, and generate revenue from it.
Remember, marketing is a complex process, and companies often prefer not to hire complete beginners who need a lot of hand-holding.
Victor Hsi, Community & Social Media Manager, UGC Creator
Master Data Analysis Skills
One piece of advice I would give to a beginner seeking a digital marketing job is to master the art of data analysis. I realized that understanding data was crucial for making informed decisions. Familiarize yourself with tools like Google Analytics and Excel, and learn how to interpret metrics and trends.
When I started analyzing campaign data, I could pinpoint what worked and what didn’t, which helped me optimize our strategies effectively. By becoming proficient in data analysis, you’ll be able to demonstrate your ability to drive results, making you an invaluable asset to any digital marketing team.
Vaibhav Kakkar, CEO, Digital Web Solutions
Gain Practical Experience with Projects
You cannot underestimate the power of practical experience. You can gather as much theoretical knowledge, but unless it is executed, it won’t make much difference. But how can you do this?
Showcase your skills by creating and managing your own projects, like a blog, social media accounts, or a small-business website. Highlight your understanding of various digital marketing tools and techniques. This hands-on experience will demonstrate your abilities and passion to potential employers, making you a more attractive candidate.
Bonus Tip: Keep sharing your content or growth journey on LinkedIn.
Abhishek Sharma, Digital Marketing Manager, Ajackus
👉 Find useful digital marketing projects that you can start as a beginner
Develop a Strong SEO Foundation
For beginners entering the digital marketing field, my key advice is to develop a strong foundation in SEO. Early in my career, I spent significant time learning about search engine algorithms and keyword strategies. This knowledge improved our website’s visibility and taught me the importance of staying current with industry changes.
One practical step is to start your own blog or website and practice optimizing it. This hands-on experience will deepen your understanding of SEO principles and give you tangible results to showcase in job interviews.
Remember, a solid understanding of SEO can set you apart and open many doors in the digital marketing world.
Sahil Kakkar, CEO & Founder, RankWatch
Practice Skills with Mock Projects
My advice: Plan some mock projects. One of the best ways to gain experience when you’re just starting out in digital marketing is to practice your skills through mock projects. (The concept of building a web design portfolio with mock projects is also applicable to digital marketing.) Often, the best marketing project to start with is your own brand.
Think about ways you can use your personal social media accounts to strategically grow a following—I actually hired a social media coordinator after she showed me she had successfully done this—or optimize your own website for search engines and showcase your SEO results.
Lydia Valentine, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Cohort XIII LLC
👉 Find the complete digital marketing syllabus
Focus on Fundamentals and Adaptability
I’d say, don’t get too hung up on knowing every single tool or platform out there. In my experience, the key is to understand the basics of how digital marketing works and be ready to adapt.
Show you can think strategically and learn quickly. Employers value problem-solvers who can keep up with the fast pace of the industry more than just someone who’s memorized a bunch of software features.
So, I believe if you focus on the fundamentals and stay curious, you’ll be ahead of the game.
Andrew Lee Jenkins, Owner, Catalyst RVA Marketing Agency
Get your first digital marketing job with GrowthAcad
GrowthAcad’s digital marketing training in Pune is designed to help you land your first job in the industry. The program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips you with in-demand skills like SEO, SEM, social media marketing, and more.
You’ll learn from experienced digital marketing practitioners and work on real-world projects to build a strong portfolio. GrowthAcad also provides 90%+ placement assistance, helping you secure internships and jobs at top companies.
Upon completion, you’ll earn globally recognized certifications from Google, Facebook, HubSpot, and other leading platforms – boosting your professional credibility.
With a 4.7/5 rating from over 300 reviews, GrowthAcad’s digital marketing training in Pune is highly regarded by students for its quality learning experience.
Whether you’re a college fresher or looking to switch careers, GrowthAcad’s program can help you kickstart your journey as a digital marketing professional.
