5 Things You Can Do At University To Increase Your Chances of Getting Employed in Marketing
By Matthew Ward, Founder and Director2 April 2021
Choosing to study marketing is a genuinely good starting point, but there's more to improving your job prospects than lectures and coursework alone. A few things done alongside your degree can make a real difference once you graduate.
Getting involved with university media, building relationships with lecturers, using career support properly, networking at industry events, and securing work experience all add up to a far stronger position than grades alone.
Get involved with university media
Most marketing and media courses give you access to student radio, TV, a magazine, or social channels. Getting involved is worth it, even running a student Twitter account for a term means you were genuinely responsible for representing a brand and engaging an audience. That's a real example for your portfolio and a solid talking point in an interview, however small it felt at the time.
Build real relationships with your lecturers
Lecturers are usually industry veterans with genuine experience worth asking about. Staying in touch after graduating, through LinkedIn or email, keeps that relationship alive. They can provide references, support job applications, offer perspective when you're unsure about a role you're already in, and sometimes even forward opportunities they think would suit you.
Actually use the career support service
Most universities offer support covering job hunting, CVs, cover letters, interview technique and using LinkedIn properly. It's worth using it properly rather than assuming you'll figure it out later, a polished LinkedIn profile and the ability to search and connect effectively are skills that carry well beyond graduation.
Network with visiting professionals
Industry talks and guest speaker sessions are common, but most students just listen and leave. Staying afterward to introduce yourself, mention something specific you found valuable, and exchange contact details puts you ahead of nearly everyone else in the room. In marketing especially, who you know genuinely matters alongside what you know.
Secure real work experience
Whether it's built into your course or something you seek out separately, universities can usually help you find placements aligned with the kind of agency, brand or campaign work you're actually interested in. Once completed, that experience belongs on your CV and in interviews, regardless of who organised it, and it's exactly the kind of thing that sets an application apart.
University is about more than the degree itself. If you're looking to build genuine experience alongside your studies, Lead Kinetics is always happy to talk to graduate talent. Once your course wraps up, what to do when you finish your university course picks up from here.
Related services
today to connect with trusted UK freelancers and build a marketing team that delivers.