8 Tips On How To Start A Career In Digital Marketing
By Matthew Ward, Founder and Director20 October 2020
Digital marketing moves fast and demands a genuine mix of creative, technical and analytical thinking. The good news is there's plenty you can do to prepare for a career in it, before, during or after university, without waiting for a formal role to teach you the basics.
Learning the fundamentals, building a genuine online presence, getting certified and gaining real hands-on experience, whether through internships or freelancing, matters more early on than any single qualification.
Learn the fundamentals properly
Understand the real difference between paid and organic search, get comfortable with current social platforms, and practise with the actual tools, building a basic site, running email campaigns, reading analytics. Clear, professional writing is a genuinely underrated skill in this space too, so look for ways to build a writing portfolio alongside the technical side, student publications and volunteer writing both count.
Build a genuine online presence
Most employers will look you up on social media and search your name before an interview, it's standard practice now. Make sure your public profiles reflect where you're heading professionally: a clear bio, a decent photo, and content that shows real engagement with the industry, sharing articles, commenting thoughtfully, following brands you admire. A personal blog, even a modest one, is a strong way to show initiative.
Stay genuinely current
Digital marketing changes constantly, so make a habit of consuming industry content regularly, publications, newsletters, respected voices in the space. It gives you real talking points in interviews and keeps your knowledge from going stale between roles.
Network deliberately
Who you know genuinely matters alongside what you know. LinkedIn is a strong starting point for connecting with people in the industry and following relevant discussion, but don't overlook your existing personal and professional circles either. Industry events and workshops are worth attending too, both for the content and the people you'll meet there.
Find a placement or internship
If your course includes a placement year, take it seriously, experience with a recognised agency genuinely strengthens your position after graduating. If your university doesn't advertise one that fits, reach out directly, plenty of companies take on interns without formally advertising the role. Once you're in, say yes to as much as you reasonably can, every project adds something real to your CV.
Consider freelancing
Not every placement is paid, and freelancing offers a genuine alternative: real experience, real client work, and payment for your time, fitted around university or other commitments. Small local businesses are often a good starting point too, offering to help a cafe or independent shop with their social media is a practical, low-pressure way to build a portfolio.
Get certified
A degree isn't strictly required to work in digital marketing, but recognised certifications genuinely help you stand out. Free or low-cost courses through platforms like Google's own training resources or established marketing institutes are worth the time, and they signal both technical grounding and self-motivation to a hiring manager.
Build a CV that actually stands out
Make your CV genuinely reflect the value you'd bring, not just a list of duties. Include personal projects alongside formal experience, and tailor it properly for each role rather than sending the same version everywhere.
If you're working through any of these steps and want to talk about real opportunities, get in touch with Lead Kinetics. Digital skills are worth taking seriously from the outset too, see the importance of digital skills in the workplace.
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