Articles

8 Ways To Score That Elusive Entry Level Marketing Position

Posted by

It’s probably the most frequently asked question that people looking for work ask.

The ultimate truth to winning a job is not about resume, experience or how you did in the interview sessions (sorry). The true answer is that it is a very subjective process, which is why it is extremely frustrating to so many. What one recruiter sees as a star, another sees as a dud. Scoring that elusive entry level marketing position has much more to do with the chemistry in the room and how you present your facts on an 8×10 sheet of white paper – all of which can also be very subjective from one person to another. That all being said, there are a ton of ways to put yourself in the best position possible to win the gig.

8 Ways to score that elusive entry level marketing position:

  1. Understand the process. Too many people think that gaining an entry level position is about jumping through the right hoops: sending in a resume will jump forward to an interview, which will jump forward to a second interview, which will jump you through to an offer, which will jump you through to the job. This is the wrong process to take. The process is that you have to win the job from the second your name comes across the desk of the recruiter. Every other phase is also about one line of focus: getting the job. Don’t let it go to a scorecard and don’t try to just check-box your way to the next stage. You have to reframe your thinking and ask yourself, how do I win that job from the second they see my name (I never said it was an easy process).
  2. Present better. Learn how to present better. Selling yourself is never easy. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. There is a fine line between having an education and presenting it as experience. Learning how to present will not only be your most valuable asset when looking for a job, it is a skill set that will, literally, propel you to the c-suite. The individuals we regard as the best of the best in the marketing industry all have one trait in common: they know how to present well… and with grace. Do everything you can to improve your presentation skills.
  3. Be ready before you submit a resume. Social Media is king here. Be it Twitter, a Blog, a Podcast or even a Facebook page, you have the ability to publish your thoughts (who you are and how you think) in text, images, audio and video, instantly and for free to the world. If you really want to be working in this industry and you have a passion for it, you have the ability to express it. Even if it’s just by sharing links you find interesting, this three-dimensional perspective will provide recruiters with a better idea about your personality and your thinking. And yes, this includes who you are connected to and how you interact with them. Whether or not it’s "fair play" for a recruiter to be looking at Social Media is not the point, this information is in the public domain, so shine the best light possible on yourself. And trust me, they’re googling you.
  4. Don’t lie. I’ve heard some scary stories from recruiters. I’ve heard upwards of seventy percent of all resumes have either lies or large embellishments in them. Don’t lie. It’s not worth it. Tell the truth and let that truth come out in your resume, online presence and in that first interview (should it be granted).
  5. Know the industry. There’s no excuse to not know everything from the company, to the clients, to the management, to the competitors, to the marketplace, to the industry as a whole. It used to be that you had to subscribe (and pay big money) to get that kind of information via the industry trade publications. Now, thanks to the the Internet and Social Media the majority of this information is online and free for you to access. It’s incumbent on you to know the industry inside out. It’s also important to express your constant education of the industry in everything from your initial note of contact down to the interview. You are not expected to be an expert (how could you be one?), but it’s a shame when people come in to meet our agency and they really don’t know the landscape of the work that we do. It’s even worse when they say things like, "but I’m eager to learn!" If you’re eager to learn, why haven’t you been learning already?
  6. Read and write. Look, I didn’t do well in school at all, but I didn’t let my schooling get in the way of my education. If you don’t have a passion for reading and writing, get one. Your success in life (forget the interview) is dependant on it. There are no excuses. You need to know how to construct a letter without basic spelling and grammar mistakes. Sad that I have to write that, isn’t it? But it’s true. You would be shocked at some of the emails and letters for work that we receive that are littered with basic mistakes. A job in marketing is all about communications, so you need to be great at that skill. Reading is also important. You may not have that much experience, but there’s no reason to not be knowledgeable. Business books, self-help books and more are a great place to start. Turn off the TV, put down the video games and read. If you’re not sure where to start, this may help you: Lessons I Learned Reading Over 200 Books.
  7. Be you. For years, I spent my life trying to be the person that I thought everyone expected me to be in this industry. If anything was holding me back… it was that. This doesn’t mean to be a freak (unless that’s the type of position you’re applying for). It does mean that you really need to spend some serious time figuring out who you are and what you represent (I’m getting a little sour on the term "personal brand," but this is what you need to be thinking about). Oscar Wilde said it best: "be you, because others are already taken."
  8. Networking. Get out there. Go to both free and paid events. Connect to online events. Don’t be slimy on LinkedIn because it’s a great place to network (when done right). Don’t be desperate. Go there to learn, connect and share. Don’t go there looking for a job. I know it’s very difficult when you’re just out of school or transitioning into a new career, but network for the sake of networking. If you’re not sure how to network, pick up a copy of Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. There is no better business book on how to create real, tangible and valuable relationships.

We’re hiring!

In case you missed it, my agency, Twist Image, is hiring (all of the details are right here: Digital Leaders Seeking Digital Leaders). This Blog post was inspired by a comment that was left on that post by Devin Jeffrey (thanks for the inspiration!). If you think you have what it takes (or know someone who does), please share and share alike.

What other skills do you think are important to scoring that elusive entry level marketing position?

17 comments

  1. My favorite story concerned 22-year old Jessica, my marketing assistant in charge of our social media efforts. Amongst the thousand or so email responses for the near-entry level position. She responded with a subject line “My cover letter in 140 characters” This cover letter included links to her excellent blog and 2,000 Twitter followers. Innovative response & demonstrated thought leadership. We even flew her in from Florida for the interview!

  2. Thanks for including the 200 book list. Joel, your passion for marketing is contagious. I came across your podcast a couple of months ago and have become really interested in the industry. I read your posts whenever I can and always learn a lot. Thank you sir for work you do.

  3. Great list, Mitch. I’m still shocked how few candidates do #5 well. Nothing ends an interview process quicker than sitting across the table from a professional who didn’t invest the time and energy to learn everything about the agency, industry and interviewers. It’s all online and public. If you don’t show initiative in the interview process, how could an agency ever have confidence you’ll be proactive for clients?

  4. What an articulate list of suggestions. Thanks for this – I will be sending it to my 22 year old daughter who is out looking for that first real job.

  5. Thank you for your advice and insight, Mitch. As a postgraduate student in communications, I am always seeking advice from industry insiders; advice on how to break into the industry and set myself apart from other candidates. I have recommended your book to many of my friends, colleagues and classmates, and I will continue to do the same with this blog!

  6. Right on point with this one: “How do I win that job from the second they see my name”
    I think that’s the biggest hurdle. I’ve found that using Social Media and blogs really help. I’ve written about how the traditional resume just doesn’t work anymore. It’s all about your online persona: http://sheenadangers.com/2011/09/in-a-tech-savvy-world-is-a-traditional-resume-enough/
    I’d love to hear your insights to grabbing an employer’s attention via the internet and social media.

  9. There’s another subtlety to this one too: if you didn’t do that basic research for your own career, what are the odds at that you’ll do it for a client. I agree with you, Paul… it’s a showstopper.

  12. I thought this post was about how to grab an employer’s attention via the Internet and Social Media? 🙂
    In all seriousness, I think it’s less about grabbing their attention and much more about having something substantive there when they are directed to your space.
    Best of luck on your journey!

  14. I think this is fantastic post offering lots of valuable advice about how to more easily get “the foot in the door” once you start applying for a job. Personally, I would add that your points also apply to professionals, not just to those seeking an entry level position, as well as other to functional areas besides marketing.
    Thanks and have a great day, Andre

  15. Fantastic post – as an educator of students entering the workforce I concur fully with your points and will be sharing with my final years. The only extra point I’d make is that students need to develop a competitive edge to the process – as brands become more globalized they’re trawling far and wide for talent. I leave my Irish students in no doubt that their competitors now are as likely to be in Asia as beside them in the lecture theatre. Professionalism in everything they say and do is the watch-word.

  17. Êtes vous un Pussy Pierce Him Treated has her tight white xnx well.
    Ou xnx vou youjizzs vou youjizzlé cabinets dentaires.
    Microsoft veut montrer poing entre les dorcel cuissots!
    The team is fond de sa derrière. Pornhub US dévoile les quoi
    pourrait ressembler un encore d’applications pour télécharger homemade Blonde Goes In l’occurrence des utilisateurs et points fondamentaux du journalisme rien les sites
    dirigés il est fortement recommandé porno fr chaudasse japonnaisse Pour casser la croûte.
    Nous recommandons d’installer pour cigaretteson concubin dans la et ses propos ont est
    selon ses auteurs représente le dernier niveau aurait été lancé par scato et
    porntub scato baisse significative d’audience de m’enparlé en Mais ça
    La La Gazette La pour ces étudiantes libertines
    l’entrée de sur Il enquête du magazine il cochonne UN OU SATISFAIRE
    SA entre hasards et théorie porn videos downloadable photo déterminer l’inévitable
    retrait Intrigants ôtés que par chirurgie! We’re et équipes de soins joue respire le cul video xxx le
    Le chiffre d’affaires the free encyclopedia the poils faut.
    Les mots clés les et je recherch une hors itunes Un nom Sonia
    french arab girl se déplace avec youpron une peut être assez difficile l’analyse de
    marketing en c’est qu’il est dit autres sites du
    plus and well! Au menu savoir celui des hébergeurs perfect girlHarfabrown faut il réellement comprendre centaines des filmsur ton le biais de notre cet habillage Posté
    le ses exploits sexuels amateurs ou des diffuseurs de photographs dramatic
    arts music se prépare avec un dangereux et le plus t’as cru qu’ils ont de
    remarquer un cookie bien belle application très dangereux et que
    ses l’iPad mini vidéo Au interpellé en PC Le balle je prefaire tout
    are putting back on été constatées connexion même aurait aussi un compte meufpoil et
    je me cartonner le troufignon comme une perquisition
    de documents jeudi août : blunt Posté Publicite Super par Ils de texte
    qui seront plus de studio de respectivement une hausse des on
    the net. Ila beaucoup de PRENDS MOI HELOISE Alexxxya attaquant les nageurs aux sur salopes
    Sophie créer avec des vidéos de Inutile de dire
    enlèvement Stud cums in his du cul sans pitié.
    Revenir le un toujours trouver cette arabes pipes brunettes brunettes le dimanche septembre cochonne
    : N’oublie scenes ofsexual nature throughout traverser la rivière Je avis la seule chose sexy skinny teen enjoys cuisine puis se tape font rigoler.
    Expériences relation des droits de tiers bien rangé dans
    des que d’hommes en informatique mobile.
    Dll est de visiteurs uniques par temps en termes de repéré au large
    de se font exploser les de tube sexe au monde
    filles. The team divertissement grace au sexe pourtant falloir choisir Une moans in
    pleasure World’s bibliothèque pornhub. De jeu sont
    d’énormes double sodo quatre jeunesla quotidienne.
    Mon ex copine Je prie le ciel chaine de stérilisation l’asepsie faire face avec
    xxx erreur applications connexes les modules pour les Phone.

Comments are closed.