How to Market Yourself for a Career in Marketing
Job hunting is not easy for those seeking marketing positions. It can be time-consuming and stressful. To be successful, you must take a structured approach. You need a strategy. A process that will help you to remain focused and land jobs that act as steppingstones on a successful career path.
This article provides a 10-step job search strategy that has been proven to work.
1. Figure Out What You Have Enjoyed Most About Previous Marketing Roles
What makes you happy is what you should focus on when considering your next job move. Think about all the jobs in marketing you have had, and write down what it was about them that you most enjoyed. For example:
- The ability to grow professionally
- Working with talented coworkers
- Working with motivated co-workers
- Learning new skills and knowledge
Once you have figured out what it is that makes you happiest at work, you’ll have a better understanding of what to look for in your next job.
2. Know Your Career Goals
When you know what you want out of a job, it helps you to focus on you career goals and ambitions, which will help determine which marketing jobs you should be searching for. Also, consider:
- Your personality
- Your skillset
- The industry
- The company’s culture
Your next job should be a steppingstone to achieving your career goals. Without knowing what you want to achieve in the long term, you risk drifting from one marketing job to another and building a lackluster resume.
3. Develop Complementary Skillsets
Successful people know that it isn’t just about the job – it’s about having a skillset that supports your career and getting the job to support your goals. Thus, they are constantly improving their skillsets, learning new concepts, and seeking out new opportunities.
There are many strategies that you can use to improve your skillset. These include reading articles and books, taking online courses, and taking on more responsibility in your current marketing role.
4. Update Your Resume
Your resume is the document that shows potential employers what your skills are and how they match the job. Its job is to impress the hiring manager enough to earn you an interview.
The most important thing to remember about resumes is that they are not static documents. You should update your resume every time you have any significant change in your experience, qualifications, and skillset, and ensure that you personalize it to each application. Pepper it with keywords that highlight the skills included in the job description.
5. Update Your Social Media, Especially LinkedIn
Social media is a great tool for job hunting. It allows you to connect with people and find opportunities to further your career. However, stale social media accounts can be detrimental to your job search.
Therefore, you should update your social media profiles with your latest work experience, skills, and other relevant information so that you can match it with your resume. This is especially true of LinkedIn – hiring managers will check out your LinkedIn profile to see that it matches your resume.
6. Create and Maintain a Personal Website
A personal website is an important part of your online presence. Not only does it make you more visible to potential employers, but it also allows you to showcase your skills and interests. It’s a place where you can publish your portfolio of work, too, letting potential employers know what you are capable of. It could be the difference that makes you a target to be headhunted.
7. Focus on Networking – Including Professional Organizations
Networking is a crucial skill for success. It is an essential part of success in any field, and it can help you achieve your goals more easily. When networking, you should be focused on building lasting relationships and making connections with those who can help you achieve your goals.
Ask current connections to make introductions, and use LinkedIn to search for professionals in your field who you want to network with. In addition, join professional organizations to keep updated with industry trends and develop your professional network further.
8. Register With a Specialist Staffing Agency
Registering with a specialist staffing agency can be highly beneficial. Experienced recruiters will offer career guidance, and are adept at matching candidates with hiring companies. They also have access to the hidden job market: many companies use staffing agencies to hire for their key positions.
Partnering with a reputable staffing agency gives you the benefit of having a professional career builder with inside knowledge on your job search team – and this will improve your chances of landing the job you desire.
9. Prepare for Your Job Interview
A job interview is your opportunity to demonstrate your skills and enthusiasm, and also to learn more about the role and the hiring company. Prepare answers to questions you are likely to be asked, and prepare questions that will help you establish if this is the job for you.
With good interview preparation, you will be more relaxed and let the real you shine during a productive conversation.
10. Be Prepared to Negotiate the Offer
Finally, be prepared to negotiate a job offer. To do this successfully, you should know what the industry is paying – including perks and benefits – and understand your value. Again, the role that a recruiter can play here is invaluable. They will know current market dynamics, and be able to guide you through a successful offer negotiation.
Stay Focused on Your Job Search
The quicker you implement this 10-step job search strategy, the faster you will start to receive job offers. Most job seekers aren’t strategic in their approach to job searching. They use scattergun tactics, applying for jobs that won’t benefit them in the long term: jobs that are a poor match.
Don’t make the same mistake. Put this job search strategy into practice now by contacting TECHEAD for a confidential conversation about you career in marketing positions.
