Get into Marketing

Whichever industry you choose, marketing is about understanding what’s happening around you through the research you do. It's about knowing what your customers want, what your competitors are doing, and ultimately selling and promoting your product the best way you can.

Have you ever been looking at a pair of shoes on the internet or another product which then pops up on your social media feed? This is not a coincidence. It is a marketer's job to pick the best ways to reach their customers to promote and sell their products.

So, whether you see that TV advert for a new car, that newly released burger displayed at the bus stop, or an influencer promoting something on TikTok, all of it is connected to marketing.

Is it right for me?

A successful career in marketing requires a lot of different skills and knowledge. Whilst not all of these skills are necessary, if you can pick out a couple that you’re good at or if you’re studying any related A-Levels, this will really help you when applying for marketing roles or courses.

Art and Design

If you have a creative flair, a career in marketing would suit you well. The ability to create and communicate products in a compelling way, will help you to succeed in the industry. And an interest in how brands visually differentiate themselves, will make you stand out against others looking to get into the industry.
English and Humanities

Effective communication is key to marketing, so if you’re good with words and language, marketing could be perfect for you. Whether it’s a magazine article or social media advert, you’ll be talking directly to your audience and unless you get the important points across clearly, you’ll never persuade them to buy your product.
Maths

If you’re good with numbers, lots of elements of marketing require a good grasp of maths. From analysing customer data, to calculating whether a promotional campaign has been profitable, there are various roles within the industry that you could be right for.
Computer studies and IT

Technology has become increasingly important to marketers in helping them deliver and promote their products in the market – just look at the rise of programmatic advertising and augmented reality. The forward-thinking people with the technical skills to make all of this happen, are among the most successful marketers.
Languages

Marketing is an increasingly global business. The ability to speak foreign languages and understand other cultures gives you a major advantage when working for multi–national companies. This could also give you the opportunity to live and work abroad.

Why a career in marketing?

If you’re looking for a job:

Where your day is never the same, full of different activities and working with different people
Which is exciting, something you can be passionate about and actually be able to show this passion through your work
Or have a career that could go in many different directions depending on what you enjoy, and learn skills that you could use to set up your own business one day.

Then marketing could be for you!

Marketing is present in every organisation in some way, across all industries. So whether you’re interested in fashion, sports, gaming, or whatever your passion is, all of these brands need marketing. This means as a marketer you can not only work for a brand you are passionate about, but you can also make a real difference through the work you do.

No matter where you work, marketing is always changing. In recent years we’ve seen social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok take off, and marketers have had to adapt. Nothing stays the same for long, keeping your career different and interesting, but you will always need to be learning to keep up.

What will I do day to day?

Marketing is a department full of people who have different job roles and responsibilities. You could have the creative flair, the strategic mind set or numerical skills, there is something for everyone.

Routes into marketing

As an aspiring marketer, getting into the industry can seem daunting, but finding your true potential in marketing isn’t limited to one specific route. If you haven’t figured out your route into the industry yet, you still have a range of options to choose from. Whether you want to earn and learn, have your heart set on university or want to gain a recognised qualification, the choice is yours. Click on each route to find out more.

Route 1 | Professional Marketing Qualifications

*Source: Hays UK Salary Guide 2021

Route 2 | University

Route 3 | Apprenticeships

Route 4 | BTEC

Useful resources

Routes into marketing: is university right for you?
Routes into marketing: Considering a CIM qualification?
A career in marketing: Is it right for me?
46% of students are considering a career in marketing, if employers ‘invest in them’ – The Drum
Jobs in marketing – BBC Bitesize
Learn how to network your way to success with tips from BAME 2020 co-founder Adrian Walcott.
Listen to our webinar to discover how to start your successful marketing career.
Find your dream internship, placement or graduate role with Milkround.
How to get started in marketing
Explore the core principles of marketing in our insightful webinar.