How to Get a Job in Marketing During a Pandemic?

No one could have hoped for a year like 2020. When the effects of the global pandemic were yet to be fully experienced, more than a third of marketers had reasons to believe the industry would suffer. This didn‘t bode well either for industry professionals with the possibility of being laid off, or freshly graduated newcomers without work experience. However, the market landed on its feet and turned the tables, increasing the importance of marketing departments all across the board. As a result, marketers have a lot of opportunities and a lot of competition. We are here to show you how to land a marketing job in 2020.

How did the coronavirus affect marketing?

As the first wave of panic passed, it became obvious basically all industries would have to work hard to retain their customers and even build their brands further. In other words, they had to rely on their marketing teams and raise their marketing budgets, as most people didn‘t have a way to see their products outside different media outlets. In turn, this meant marketers had to find their audience online, be it through social media, mobile ads or the company’s own website. Of course, marketing was already getting more and more digital, but this year and its events sped up the transition dramatically.

To put it simply, 2020 is the year to polish your resume to fit the high demand for digital marketing knowledge.

Acquire new skills

As we have stated, digital marketing skills are in high demand. It wouldn‘t be a reach to say they will continue to be highly valued as time goes on either. Hence, if you aren‘t well versed in online marketing strategies, there is no time like right now to start updating your skillset. A great step would be to look at different job postings you find interesting and compare the skills you already have with the ones the postings demand. Make a list of the most common ones, and consider whether or not you possess them and in which capacity. If you lack a skill or have only the basic knowledge see which certifications you will be able to get online and start working on them.

If you, on the other hand, have the skill and use it with ease don‘t miss the opportunity to immediately highlight it on your resume. Build multiple resumes based on each job posting you are applying for. Read through the postings carefully, and present yourself as the best possible candidate for the job. Use language similar to the one in the posting, as many companies have made the application process automatic. Whether you are doing it yourself or using a handy CV maker, it is time to adapt and step up your game.

Digital marketing skills to boost your resume

Adaptability and innovation are the traits of the best marketers. While the demands of the industry are ever-changing, it is important to know all the current trends. So, here are the most sought after skills for a marketer in 2020.

Take the time to learn all the ins and outs of search engine optimization, as well as competitor research, to be able to balance what search engines favor the most and all the ways you can one-up the competition by using less popular but equally important search terms.

Developing and adjusting a content marketing strategy based on data analysis and forecasts is a must as well. Knowing how your audience thinks and being able to predict their next move is the best asset you can have.

Social media marketing is one of the most important aspects of online marketing at the moment. Building a community around your product and engaging with its members is the surest way to create a buzz and build brand loyalty.

Turning a simple online purchase into an experience is a great way to make any product enticing. Hence, user experience and design are one of the top priorities for online marketers as well.

Are you new to the job market?

Landing your first job is difficult in and of itself, let alone during such global turmoil 2020 has brought us. Sill, while difficult, getting an entry-level job in marketing isn‘t impossible these days. Our previous advice still applies – you should build up your skillset through courses and certifications, and be mindful of the most valuable skills at the moment. Fortunately, there are many free and affordable online courses out there you can take to acquire skills you don‘t have and polish the ones you do. As you know yourself, the field of online marketing isn‘t clear-cut, and there is no formal education for this line of work.

Additionally, you need to understand how important your personality and people skills are in this line of business. Try to be persuasive, focus on your strongest suit – whether it is your strong skill set, education or sense of humor and do your best to have a valuable conversation with your interviewer. You may not have a lot, or any experience in the industry, but most entry-level postings don‘t require you to, and your interviewer is aware of that as well.

As you can see, marketing is one of those lines of work where you need to adapt quickly or be left behind. It offers opportunities to everyone equally and is both dangerous and exciting.