Working in Digital Marketing, would I need a Marketing degree?

Got2Save

I have been seeing a lot of vacancies for Digital Marketing Assistant roles in my job searches lately, but I have never worked in Marketing. I wouldn't mind working in Digital/Social Media Marketing, but would I need a degree for this? If not, would I have to have some kind of qualification/certificate in Marketing? I wouldn't mind doing a course in it, but where would be the best place? I often see courses on Reed.co.uk and elsewhere for courses in Marketing, but dunno how genuine they are. Do you know a good course for Marketing beginners?

Guest101

I would say at entry level, no you wouldn't.


But marketing is difficult, practical experience is worth it's weight in gold. Are you active on Social media, if your employer was to look you up, would they see the last tweet sent as Jan 2017, or Jan 2015?


If your facebook full of engaging shares or pictures from your holiday in 2012?


Are you active on social media?

Got2Save

Guest101 wrote: »

I would say at entry level, no you wouldn't.


But marketing is difficult, practical experience is worth it's weight in gold. Are you active on Social media, if your employer was to look you up, would they see the last tweet sent as Jan 2017, or Jan 2015?


If your facebook full of engaging shares or pictures from your holiday in 2012?


Are you active on social media?

Not really to the above. I know how to use social media, but I hardly ever use it. Social Media is something I am trying to get the hang of though, in terms of engaging with people and increasing my presence. I need to do this as I'm going to start a small clothing business on the side of a day job. What would you suggest to get into Digital Marketing? Take an online course? Without proof I've studied Marketing I don't suppose a company would look at me for a entry level role.

Guest101

Got2Save wrote: »

Not really to the above. I know how to use social media, but I hardly ever use it. Social Media is something I am trying to get the hang of though, in terms of engaging with people and increasing my presence. I need to do this as I'm going to start a small clothing business on the side of a day job. What would you suggest to get into Digital Marketing? Take an online course? Without proof I've studied Marketing I don't suppose a company would look at me for a entry level role.

Like I say entry level you can get by with experience, but if you no social media presence then what will an employer think?

Digita marketing is all about audience retention.

Planet_Switzerland

You'll most likely need a degree, but doesn't have to be marketing. There is a digital marketing department where I work and people have degrees in all sorts of subjects, in fact I can't actually think of anyone I know in that department who has a marketing degree.

Samiire

I'm a marketing manager so hopefully I can give you some advice! A marketing assistant is very much the entry level role in a marketing department however I'd say the experience or qualifications you need will vary depending on the size of the company and the industry it's in. As such I can only speak from my own experience.

For example, I work for a large brand in a sought after industry where we have so many applications that we will only consider applicants with degrees. It's simply the first criteria we'll look at to try and reduce the list. The degrees don't have to be in marketing but I would expect something relevant i.e. Business, economics, administration etc.

As others have said, experience is also crucial too. I know it's hard to get experience when no one will give you a shot at an entry level role so I'd suggest trying for an apprenticeship or an internship. Even with my degree I struggled to get interviews until I completed a three-month internship. All of a sudden I was more appealing to potential employers and I found a job as a marketing assistant.

Regarding qualifications, I'd also keep an eye out for someone with something like a CIM qualification. I'm basically looking for someone who can show me that marketing is the career they're passionate about.

As I said, all company sizes and industries will have a different approach for what they're looking for. I suspect a smaller, more local company may have less competition for vacancies however being smaller they probably won't have a large structure and as such will be looking for 'all-rounders'.

Can you share what type of companies you're looking at and what qualifications you do have already?

FYI, digital marketing is all about PPC, SEO, display advertising, programmatic campaigns, email marketing etc.