Searching for Entry-Level Marketing Jobs
By Matthew Ward, Founder and Director26 October 2021
Breaking into marketing at entry level takes more than a good CV. A handful of practical habits, kept up consistently, make a real difference to how quickly opportunities start coming your way.
A visible portfolio, active engagement on LinkedIn, and a genuine effort to build your network are worth more to an entry-level marketing search than applying to job listings alone.
Put your portfolio where employers can find it
Link your portfolio or blog directly in your social media bios, add videos or podcast clips if you have them, and use relevant hashtags so the right people can actually find your work. A portfolio matters more than most graduates realise, it's the clearest way to show what you can actually do, not just what you say you can do.
Use LinkedIn properly, not passively
LinkedIn's jobs section is worth checking regularly, but the platform is more useful as an active tool than a passive listing site. Engage with posts in your area of expertise, follow companies you'd genuinely want to work for, and keep your profile current. A polished, up-to-date profile makes every application that follows land better.
Get involved in the conversation
Commenting on industry discussions and sharing your own take on developments takes time, but it's one of the most effective ways to build visibility before you've landed a role. Posting your own thoughts on things you've learned, rather than only reacting to others, shows initiative that a CV alone can't convey.
Build a personality, not just a CV
Balancing professional and personal content online is genuinely difficult, especially while you're trying to establish authority in a niche. Businesses want to see the person behind the ideas before they meet you, so avoid becoming one-dimensional. A bit of personality alongside the expertise tends to make a stronger impression than a purely polished feed.
Take the relationship offline
Online connections are useful, but meeting people you've connected with in person leaves a stronger impression and strengthens the relationship in a way messaging alone rarely does. Keep engaging online, then follow it up with a coffee where it makes sense.
Stay current on the industry
Following industry-leading blogs and publications keeps your knowledge sharp and gives you material to share, whether that's a quick take on LinkedIn or a longer post on something you've learned. Being genuinely up to date makes it far easier to hold your own in more specific conversations later.
Join active groups and forums
Groups on LinkedIn and elsewhere bring opportunities to your doorstep over time, provided you're contributing useful information rather than just watching. Building a reputation as a genuinely helpful voice takes patience, but it pays off. People in active groups eventually refer opportunities to those who've shown up consistently.
If you're a graduate weighing up freelance work as part of that early career path, our piece on freelancing for marketing graduates is worth a look too.
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