If you are wondering how to get a job in digital marketing, you have come to the right place. Here, you’ll learn all about the skills and education that hiring managers look for on digital marketing applications.
This article will also feature possible interview questions and descriptions of high-paying jobs and job responsibilities in digital marketing to help you get an idea of what a career in this field might look like.
What Is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing is the process of creating and designing digital components of a service or product in a way that appeals to existing and potential customers or clients. There are different platforms that facilitate the advertisement of products and services, including email, social media, mobile applications, and blogging.
Businesses use specific digital marketing strategies to achieve their overall goals. You will find that most businesses rely on pay-per-click advertising, paid search advertising, Search Engine Optimization, social media marketing, email marketing, or affiliate marketing to grow their customer base.
Digital Marketing Job Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), advertising, promotion, and marketing manager jobs are projected to increase by 10 percent between 2020 and 2030. As digital marketing continues to increase, so will the demand for professionals with digital marketing skills.
What Education Do I Need to Become a Digital Marketer?
In order to become a digital marketer, a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or another relevant field is usually required. However, some employers are satisfied with a two-year diploma or another form of education in digital marketing.
There aren’t any concrete educational requirements for digital marketing, especially as different employers will have their own requirements. Most importantly, you will need the skills required for the position before applying for digital marketing jobs.
Can I Get a Digital Marketing Job Without a Degree?
Yes, you can get a digital marketing job without a degree. While enrolling in a four-year degree program will help you acquire the knowledge and skills needed for this career, there are other more affordable and less time-consuming alternatives that can be just as effective. Some examples include coding bootcamps, vocational schools, or massive open online courses (MOOCs).
Can a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Get a Job in Digital Marketing?
Yes, a coding bootcamp can help you get a job in digital marketing. The best digital marketing bootcamps will cover the essential skills and provide hands-on experience to help you break into the industry.
These coding bootcamps provide you with an in-depth understanding of how websites work, along with other information that is essential for generating traffic through marketing tactics. It is important to note that while most companies do not list coding as a prerequisite, having some knowledge of front end development will pay off in your digital marketing career.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Job in Digital Marketing?
The time it takes to get a digital marketing job varies depending on your educational path. It may take weeks to months to find a digital marketing position that is best suited to you. The timeframe also relies on your level of expertise, experience, and education, as employers seek to hire candidates whose qualifications meet or exceed their requirements.
Many potential employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree. However, choosing to attend a reputable bootcamp will often suffice. There are also online digital marketing courses that can help you launch your career. Continue reading to learn about some of the most common digital marketing education paths.
Common Digital Marketing Education Paths
Starting a career in digital marketing is not as challenging as some would believe. We’ve put together a list of the most common digital marketing education paths, including bootcamps, community colleges, and university degree programs.
Digital Marketing Bootcamps
If you want to become a digital marketer in a matter of weeks, you might consider joining a digital marketing bootcamp. Bootcamps curate career-oriented curriculum, employ top-tier instructors, and make use of project-based learning to prepare students for digital marketing careers.
Bootcamps are known for being affordable and most take only a few weeks or months to complete. Additionally, some bootcamps are affiliated with top companies. These partnerships provide recruiters with the opportunity to select and employ bootcamp graduates to fill up the vacant spots. Graduates are also offered support in developing and polishing their resumes.
Community College
Community colleges, also known as junior colleges, offer associate degree programs in a variety of fields. Most digital marketers who choose the community college route will major in digital marketing or another related field.
One of the benefits of enrolling in a community college is the fact that your credits can contribute to a bachelor’s degree. Once you graduate from a community college, you can decide to enroll in a four-year university, and you’re already halfway to completing your bachelor’s degree. Additionally, community colleges are much more affordable than universities.
Digital Marketing Degrees
Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Marketing will likely open up the most opportunities in this field. While the other education paths can land you a job as a digital marketer, having a bachelor’s degree opens up higher-level positions and increases your salary. Most digital marketers who choose this education path will major in digital marketing or a related field.
Pursuing a Master’s Degree in Digital Marketing isn’t necessary, as most employers will not require it. However, if you are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in digital marketing, it will certainly make you stand out to employers, increase your salary, and make you a great candidate for senior positions.
Key Digital Marketing Skills to List on Your Resume
There are specific digital marketing skills that recruiting managers look for in applicants’ resumes. These essential skills prove that the candidate has digital marketing knowledge and enough hands-on experience to perform the duties involved. Here are some of the most important skills you’ll need as a digital marketer.
Content Marketing
Business owners use content marketing to attract and maintain audiences through relevant media. This is often done with videos, emails, articles, or podcasts. Having skills in content creation and marketing can lead to creating and maintaining customer loyalty to a brand.
This is a skill that you’ll want to develop and include on your resume, especially as potential employers will be looking for candidates who can increase their customer loyalty. It also demonstrates your ability to take on leadership roles in content marketing.
SEO and SEM
As a digital marketer, you must have some experience with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). As much as the two terms appear synonymous, they are quite different. SEO refers to the process of increasing a website’s visibility organically, whereas SEM boosts the traffic of a website both organically and through paid search.
You will want to show hiring committees that you have skills in both because they are crucial tools to help your clients’ websites rank higher in search engines, which can increase traffic on the platform.
Inbound Marketing
Listing inbound marketing on your resume shows hiring managers that you have the expertise to create tailored content for each of their clients, which is important for building long-lasting relationships with clients. There are many examples of inbound marketing, such as blog posts, social media campaigns, viral videos, or web-based seminars.
Recruiting managers desire digital marketers who can drive sales by increasing relevance and engagement. Having skills in inbound marketing will significantly boost your appeal to employers, and will open up career opportunities.
Email Marketing
Despite having many newer social media platforms for digital marketing, email marketing still remains popular and important. With billions of active email users, employers value and seek applicants who can demonstrate the skills needed for email marketing.
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This is a skill that you’ll definitely want to develop and include on your resume, as it supports your ability to boost brand awareness, generate leads, increase sales, and promote customer loyalty, through a form of media that reaches billions of people.
Social Media Marketing
As social media continues to be an extremely effective marketing platform with tons of loyal users, most businesses have turned to social media for the majority of their marketing. Employers will look for candidates who have experience using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to increase their client base.
In addition to being familiar with different popular social media platforms, you’ll want to explore how digital marketers utilize social media. If you already have experience with social media marketing, be sure to add it to your resume, and include a portfolio of your work.
Where to Find Digital Marketing Jobs
You can find digital marketing jobs in a variety of ways. Below we will detail some of the best places to look for a job as a digital marketer once you have gained the necessary education and technical skills.
Job Boards
Job boards are a fantastic way to find digital marketing careers. You will find plenty of jobs in this field including social media strategists, digital marketers, content managers, and SEO experts advertised by hiring companies. Once you find your niche, you can peruse through the job listings and start applying.
The most popular digital marketing job boards are American Marketing Association, Careerbuilder.com, Marketing Hire, and Job.net. These job boards feature thousands of marketing jobs from tons of reputable companies. There is also the Jooble job board. Jooble has vacancies for top tech jobs across the U.S., including roles in digital marketing.
Forums
There are digital marketing forums where professionals can share tips, updates, and other information relevant to this field of work. They can also be quite beneficial for finding jobs, as participants can use the forum to seek and recommend employment. Additionally, employers and applicants can connect through these forums.
Some of the best digital marketing forums are WarriorForum, WickedFire, SEOCHAT Forum, and Search Engine Watch Forum. Forums also provide an opportunity to build connections to produce referrals, which are extremely valuable to employers.
Company Websites
If you already know which company you want to seek employment with, you can check the company’s website for job openings. Some companies even provide an option for applicants to receive updates on open positions. This is an excellent way to make sure that you’re one of the first to apply.
How to Prepare for Your Digital Marketing Interview
If you land a digital marketing interview, it’s important to be overly prepared. As the demand for digital marketers continues to increase, digital marketing positions always attract a plethora of applicants. You want to be prepared for whatever they might ask and ensure you have the relevant skills on your resume.
Digital Marketing Interview Questions
- Are you familiar with creating marketing budgets?
- Is inbound or outbound marketing more effective?
- Are you familiar with any digital marketing software?
- Have you ever had a successful digital marketing campaign?
The Five Highest-Paying Digital Marketing Jobs
All the projected job growth statistics are retrieved from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS categorizes most digital marketing careers under the same heading of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers.
| Digital Marketing Jobs | Average Salary | Projected Growth in 2020-2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Marketing Director | $104,259 | 10% |
| Content Marketing Director | $94,845 | 10% |
| Content Strategist | $85,859 | 10% |
| Digital Project Manager | $81,306 | 10% |
| Brand Marketer | $75,172 | 10% |
Digital Marketing Director
Salary: $104,259
Digital marketing directors are in charge of planning and implementing the digital marketing strategies of a company. They provide guidance for the digital marketing team, train digital marketers, and oversee all marketing operations.
Content Marketing Director
Salary: $94,845
Content marketing directors are responsible for the business’s content strategy. The main duties involve planning and implementing content strategies that align with the company’s needs. A content marketing director works on both online and offline content.
Content Strategist
Salary: $85,859
Content strategists make plans for the creation and design of content according to the needs of the client. Content strategists’ role also involves conducting research to learn more about the customer base of their client, competitors in the field, and other analytical tasks that help them to create a strategy that will enable the highest possible success.
Digital Project Manager
Salary: $81,306
Digital project managers are responsible for the entire management of online projects. This includes websites, mobile applications, social media, and Search Engine Optimization. These professionals ensure that the projects align with the business’s goals and budget.
Brand Marketer
Salary: $75,172
Brand marketers are responsible for the identity and image of a brand. They design the logos, packaging, and other visual aspects of branding. The responsibilities of brand marketers highly contribute to brand identity, brand awareness, brand loyalty, and increasing the customer base.
Digital Marketing Career Path
There are many branches of digital marketing as well as job opportunities at various levels. Once you’ve decided to pursue digital marketing, you’ll want to decide what career path will be right for you. Here are some entry-level, mid-level, and senior-level digital marketing roles to consider.
Entry-Level Digital Marketing Jobs
- Social Media Manager– Social media managers are responsible for creating and maintaining brand promotion and identity on multiple social media networks. They also monitor the platforms using social media analytics tools.
- SEO Specialist – Search Engine Optimization (SEO) specialists are responsible for analyzing, reviewing, and implementing changes to a company’s website to attract as much traffic as possible.
- Paid Ads Manager – Professionals in this entry-level digital marketing job create, maintain, and optimize paid advertising campaigns on different platforms. Some of the most popular ad exchange platforms are Google Ads Manager, Facebook Ads Manager, and Microsoft Ads Manager.
Mid-Level Digital Marketing Jobs
- Digital Marketing Consultant -Digital marketing consultants act as a bridge between businesses and their online community. It’s a well-paying position that requires experience as a digital marketer and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing.
- Google AdWords Expert – Google AdWords experts are skilled in identifying projects that lead to achieving business goals. They are responsible for handling marketing campaigns, running advertisements, and other duties that help to increase traffic to clients’ businesses.
- Email Marketing Specialist – Email marketing specialists focus on the different aspects of email marketing. They put together email lists, create emails, and maintain communication with potential customers through email. A degree in public relations, communication, or marketing is typical for this position.
Senior-Level Digital Marketing Jobs
- Digital Marketing Manager– To become a digital marketing manager, you need at least a bachelor’s in marketing or another related field. The position requires valuable experience in order to successfully design and implement digital marketing strategies and lead a digital marketing team.
- Digital Marketing Lead Strategist– This digital marketing specialist is in charge of planning, creating, and implementing strategies for marketing. They also oversee and guide all teams involved in the implementation process. This position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or another related field.
- Senior Communications Manager– Senior communications managers are tasked with overseeing communication from within and outside of a company. This position requires a Master’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, or International Development.
Digital Marketing Certificates
Professional certifications are extremely helpful in preparing digital marketers for this career. These certifications also look good on your resume, therefore increasing your chances of landing a job with your ideal employer. Here are a few professional certifications to consider.
Google Ads Certification
This entry-level certification is a great way to demonstrate that you have the skills required for building and optimizing Google Search campaigns. It will prove to your future employer that you have the abilities and qualities they are looking for among applicants.
Google Analytics Certification
In this one-hour certification exam, you can prove your expertise in fundamental and advanced Google Analytics practices. This includes planning, collecting data, conversion, and report creation. To prepare for this exam, you might want to consider taking courses offered by Skillshop in Google Analytics.
Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification
The Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification allows you to demonstrate your social media expertise and knowledge of social media marketing principles. This 60 question exam primarily tests your social media strategies and audience-building ability. The exam is solely based on the videos provided in the $199 course.
Tips on How to Get a Job in Digital Marketing
Starting a career as a digital marketing professional can be difficult as entry-level marketing jobs attract a high volume of applicants. We’ve curated a list featuring tips on how to get a job in digital marketing.
Learn about Digital Marketing
Just like any other profession, it’s important that you do some research on the requirements and common job duties of digital marketing. This also allows you to explore the different sectors of digital marketing to better understand what area of digital marketing you want to specialize in.
One of the best ways to learn about this field is by enrolling in a digital marketing bootcamp. Bootcamps often offer short training courses designed to equip you with knowledge and skills for whatever industry you’re wanting to enter, and can open up digital marketing opportunities.
Create a Blog
Creating a blog will not only help you gain practical digital marketing experience, but it will also help to build your understanding of how digital marketing can be effectively used. Additionally, blogs can demonstrate your expertise to employers during the application process.
Get Work Experience
Getting actual hands-on experience will help develop your understanding of the digital marketing industry and will be valuable when you’re ready to seek higher positions within this field. There are many entry-level jobs that do not require a marketing degree. This is an excellent way to build credibility as a digital marketer if you don’t want to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Get Certified
There are plenty of reputable certifications available for digital marketers. Getting certified is highly recommended if you don’t have a four-year degree, as it helps to demonstrate your abilities and skills in digital marketing. You can refer to the list previously provided to learn more about certification options.
Join a Digital Marketing Forum
Digital marketing forums are especially great for keeping updated on new developments in the industry. They also function as a channel for finding new job opportunities and networking. Many professions use forums to facilitate and exchange tips and other information relevant to the field. This is especially helpful as you are starting out your career.
Should You Get a Job in Digital Marketing in 2021?
Yes, you should get a job in digital marketing in 2021. Businesses are turning to online platforms at an extremely high rate, causing an equally high demand for digital marketers. Skills in digital marketing are valuable to companies in a variety of fields, and these professionals often earn above-average salaries.
In addition, by pursuing digital marketing you will gain knowledge and transferable skills that are useful for other fields of work, allowing you to switch careers at any time. If you’re looking for a stable career with many entry-level job opportunities and a good salary, digital marketing might be right for you.
Digital Marketing FAQ
Yes, you can become a digital marketer without a degree. You can choose to attend a digital marketing bootcamp, sign up for an online course, or even pursue an associate degree at a community college. Regardless, a bachelor’s degree is not required for many entry-level positions.
No, it is not hard to get into digital marketing. You can land a job in digital marketing without a degree and work to gain real-world experience and develop your soft skills. Once you master fundamental skills and demonstrate your ability to achieve results, building a career in marketing is a very achievable goal.
Digital marketing platforms consist of social media, email, web applications, and websites. Professionals in this field use these platforms to promote brands and reach a higher volume of potential clients or customers.
Google Analytics and Google Search Console are two of the top digital marketing tools available in the digital marketing field. You might also consider Facebook Ads Manager, Google Tag Manager, and LinkedIn Campaign Manager.
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