Understanding the modern job market can be hard, especially for those early in their careers. In a recent Marketing Club webinar, Verity Slade from specialist recruiters Hays spoke about how to navigate landing your first role in a competitive industry. From using AI to utilising transferable skills, she shared practical tips and takeaways from her first-hand expert knowledge of the modern job market.
In her role as Business Director at Hays, Slade specialises in recruiting for marketing, events, digital and communications roles. Slade has developed a wealth of insights into the marketing industry through her deep experience and has built a successful track record with a wide range of organisations of all sizes. During the webinar, she discussed using AI tools strategically and crafting your professional identity. She also showed attendees how to know when a company culture fits you, career progression planning, and the importance of lifelong learning.
AI in recruitment
Slade began by discussing the use of AI in recruitment, noting that according to recent research from Hays, 29% of organisations surveyed have not used AI at all in the hiring process. So, while lots of applicants are using AI as a supporting tool, it should not be the solution to your job search - the human touch remains necessary. AI is used by 5% of organisations to scan CVs, but this proportion is rising, so job seekers should ensure their CVs are tailored for AI evaluations.
AI tools can be a great help in optimising CVs, but it doesn’t currently have as big of an impact on the recruitment process as we think. AI is not sophisticated enough to assess how well an individual will fit into an organisation's culture. It might do a skill set test, but it can't assess fit on the culture or personality of an individual candidate.
Platforms for job seekers
During the session, Slade highlighted major jobs boards like Indeed, LinkedIn, CV Library, and Total Jobs, as well as specialist job boards for niche roles to assist during your job hunt. She also emphasised the importance of direct recruitment and referrals from your network. With organisations looking to reduce agency spend, posting job opportunities on direct channels is happening more frequently. Networking groups and professional bodies were also recommended as key platforms for job seekers.
Slade advised job seekers to leverage their networks, engage with posts, and use LinkedIn groups for upskilling and networking opportunities. A referral could make all the difference between you and another candidate, so it’s a great idea to build a strong community to lean on.
Networking strategies
The most common way to build your professional network is through LinkedIn. Connecting with new people can seem daunting, but Slade shared some tips to make the process easier, such as sending warm connection messages rather than a cold invite and staying visible through regular posts, as well as interacting with others’.
Slade recommended using the ‘Jobs’ tab on LinkedIn and staying up to date by setting up job alerts, following companies you’d like to work for as well as leveraging networking groups.
Tips for optimising your LinkedIn profile:
- Use a clear headline
- Write a punchy ‘About’ section
- Set your profile to ‘Open to work’
- List achievements and skills that match job roles you are targeting
Crafting a professional identity
Getting your CV to the top of the pile can be tricky, but having a strong personal statement can help make you stand out against other candidates. Showcasing your passion and as well as your previous experience is essential, particularly if you are applying at companies where they don’t have any live roles, but you’d love to work at the organisation.
Slade advised job seekers to take time to craft a compelling narrative that highlights your journey, achievements, and strengths. She suggested creating a personal website to showcase portfolios and control your online presence, it is also easy to direct potential employers to a central hub of all your past work.
Practical job search tips
Researching companies and roles thoroughly will help you really get to know the organisation; find out what they do and who they are to see if you’d enjoy working there.
The importance of using keywords and matching the language of the job description in CVs was also stressed throughout the webinar. Grouping your skills into themes provides a clear structure to your CV and aligning them with measurable outcomes gives credibility. Don’t just tell them what you did, tell them what you achieved.
Highlighting this in numbers or percentages is a great way to demonstrate your impact quickly and effectively, for example ‘Reduced process time by 30% for efficient coordination’. Slade also advised practicing common interview questions and preparing questions for the interviewer.
Interview preparation
Getting to the interview stage can be hard, but the actual interview process can seem even harder. It is a nerve-wracking process for many people in their early career, but there is lots you can do to negate any stress.
Slade shared some strategies for making a positive impression during interviews, and broke it down into these quick tips:
- Always arrive early for interviews
- Check your tech beforehand so there are no mishaps mid-interview
- Be mindful of the dress code, and if in doubt, go smarter
- Stay calm, and be confident
- Pause to think before answering questions
Slade highlighted how you can use transferrable skills and academic achievements, including using achievement-based examples, as talking points during interviews to demonstrate why you should get the job, even if you don’t have much work experience.
Negotiating and accepting a job offer
You may think that once you get a job offer, all the hard work is over, but negotiating job offers is an important skill to have. Knowing if a company or an offer is right for you can be difficult, and you may still have questions after the interview, including asking for clarification on compensation and benefits.
Before you accept an offer, do your research into the industry standards to make sure you are receiving the same as your peers, and consider the whole package, not just salary. Non-financial incentives, such as company culture, work-life balance, and career development opportunities are also great benefits. You need to work out what you’re looking for and make sure the offer aligns with this. If it doesn’t, communicate clearly with the hiring manager to come to a compromise you are both happy with.
If you are unsure whether a role could be right for you, Slade suggested seeking feedback from mentors and peers, and learning to practice patience and knowing when to walk away from a job offer.
She also shared some red flags to look out for, such as vague job descriptions, frequent employee turnover, and poor communication during recruitment.
Career progression
So, when you’ve found your perfect job and accepted an offer you are happy with, how do you progress in your early career? The session covered a variety of strategies for navigating career progression, including demonstrating soft skills, setting smart goals, and building networks. Starting in your first industry role can be tough, an easy place to start is by taking your academic skills to support your career and apply the theory you’ve learnt to the job.
Start by listening, take notes in meetings and ask questions when you are unsure. Make sure you document achievements as you go, volunteer for projects, and explore lateral moves to broaden your experience.
Lifelong learning and staying current with industry trends and emerging technologies is important, particularly in marketing where things can change very quickly. Continuous professional development, or CPD, is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to learning.
Final thoughts
Navigating the modern job market is tough, from understanding how AI is used in recruitment to building a strong professional identity across your CV, LinkedIn, and wider online presence.
Treat your career as a long-term journey: keep learning, be intentional about the roles and organisations you target, and use every tool available including digital platforms, personal networks, and ongoing upskilling to stand out and progress in the competitive marketing field. Be proactive in your job search by leveraging job boards, networking (especially on LinkedIn), and researching company culture to find the right fit.
Be patient, understand your worth, and know the right role is waiting for you.
For more help on getting into the marketing industry, join The Marketing Club today. From expert-led webinars to practical tools and career advice, we have designed everything to support your studies and prepare you for the workplace. So, when it’s time to take your next step, you’re ready to stand out and make an impact.
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