Before graduating from their degree program, many marketing industry experts advise students to get an internship or paid work experience. Getting relevant marketing work experience can help you stand out from the crowd when applying for entry-level marketing jobs. Most universities have a career database where students can look for part-time, full-time, internship, and temporary job opportunities in their field.
The best strategy is to look for paid marketing job opportunities first. If you are unable to obtain paid marketing work experience as a student, an internship will most likely be your next best option. Because you may face stiff competition from other students, especially if the same internships are advertised at more than one college or university, it’s best to stay ahead of the game and check daily for internship opportunities as well as apply right away. Keep in mind that marketing is all about promotion, so you’ll need to sell yourself as the best candidate.
Make sure your resume includes specific projects from your education that relate to the type of marketing work experience position you’re applying for. Remember that marketing is a results-driven discipline that focuses on product, price, location/distribution, and promotion. You should conduct research into the industry and determine which marketing activities are most appealing to you. The closer your student marketing work experience can be matched to your future career choice, the better. Showing future employers how your training and education directly relates to what they require will increase your chances of being chosen.
As a student or entry-level employee, you’ll most likely be given lower-level, smaller assignments, regardless of what type of marketing career you want to pursue. Demonstrate your worth in all of the opportunities you’re given, whether they’re paid or unpaid internships. It’s possible that you’ll need to start out in market research or as a management trainee.
Doing your best in your student marketing work experience will help you gain references that will hopefully help you find full-time paid work after graduation. It’s a good idea to think ahead and research marketing jobs in your area for after you graduate while you’re still looking for student work so you can see what areas have the most demand. Consider working in public relations if, for example, there appear to be a lot of ads for jobs that match your graduate experience.