Getting a Marketing Job

Getting a job in marketing is a difficult proposition. Marketing, by its very nature, is invisible and the talents necessary to develop world-class marketing activities are difficult to impossible to qualify.

At JDM, we're not too worried about qualifying job candidates though high-pressure interviews or competitive internships. We utilize a strategy of "don't tell us what you can do—show us!"

Here are our 5 tips for showing a marketing firm you understand the art of marketing and not just the science.

1. Market Thyself
What better way to demonstrate your job qualifications as a marketer than to market yourself? Consider yourself a Brand. How would you position yourself in relation to your competition? How might you differentiate yourself? This is a perfect time to think long and hard about who you are and what you will bring to a marketing organization. For example, write your own boilerplate. This is sometimes referred to as an ‘elevator pitch’ but in reality, your job pitch doesn’t have a 7-second time constraint. Your bio on various websites, your resume, and your cover letter do, however.

Caution: Generic buzzwords like “people-person”, “awesome personality”, and “fast-learner” are not ways to differentiate your personal Brand. They are “Me Too” tactics and often denote their opposite (i.e. “fast-learner” means “don’t know anything—yet”).

2. Personal Business Collateral
At very little cost and effort, you can develop your own personal business collateral. Consider things like a logo, letterhead, and even a business card. If you lack design or writing skills, outsource. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a job that demands both of the skills—it’s best to show them off from the get go.

Caution: The purpose of this activity is to make you stand out and to further develop your personal Brand. Whatever you do, don’t put together template collateral with dry, boring content. You want to go into marketing, advertising, PR? Be a little creative. Here are a few tips to get you started.

• Collateral Development Tips
• The Over-Sized Sales Brochure
• The Crumpled-Up Sales Pamphlet

3. Develop a Call-To-Action
It is important to have a clear and concise call-to-action for any campaign. Your campaign for a marketing job is no different. Should they call a specific number, email, fax? Develop a clear and campaign-specific action for your potential employers to contact you.

Caution: Make sure this line of communication stays static. You never know who puts your information into a file for later follow up. If they find a disconnected number or the email bounces back, they won’t try to find you.

4. Ready, Aim, Fire
As with all modern marketing, determining your target audience is key for a successful campaign with a high response rate. Think hard about what criteria a firm needs to have to be a fit for you. Here’s a few to get you started:

• Commute time?
• Company size?
• Large part of small company or vice versa?
• Corporate Culture?
• How flexible is the scheduling?
• How steep is the corporate ladder?
• Benefits/Vacation?

Once you’ve determined your target audience, you’re ready to start aiming. Put together a list of potential employers and their contact information. Once you’re list is complete, do a little research on each to help tailor your marketing message and fire!

5. Work your Leads
Employers and hiring managers are busy people. Keep in touch with them. Don’t expect them to follow up with you. Work your leads, subscribe to their blogs and online social networks. The longer you stay in touch, the more likely a position will become available.


If you're interested in a career program or would just like to learn more about marketing job opportunities at JDM, check out our new careers page. Couldn't hurt, right?

Also, don't forget to check back often. We're growing quickly.