Achieving a college education, especially with a marketing emphasis is definitely, one way to achieve credibility that will compensate for lack of experience, however, you must not rely purely on a college education. As soon as you decide that you might want a career in marketing, you should begin to establish a portfolio of accomplishments.
From setting up your own social networking website to assisting a buddy who is starting a little home based business, whatever you do should be documented. When you are establishing your portfolio, you should keep your eyes open for any opportunity for a marketing job. Websites that you visit are great resources for experience-building jobs. Contact them, let them know that you have some suggestions on how they can improve or market their website, and offer your services for hire. As you are learning and establishing yourself, you will be able to offer them a valuable service at a steep discount as you build your value.
There are millions of websites and each one offers a new opportunity for web marketing jobs. Just keep your eyes open and be bold in offering your services. As you complete each job, ask for a letter of referral that you can add to your portfolio. A prospective employee, especially a young one, who shows a track-record of organization, diversity, and success will gain a strong competitive edge over every other person looking for web marketing jobs.
As you search employment resources for marketing job listings, keep in mind that not all job titles make the job description clear. You will need to look for clues in the ad that may indicate that someone with your experience and skill set would be well suited for positions that did not specifically indicate they were web marketing jobs.
With each job that you apply for, do not forget that you are expected more so that in almost every other position to present yourself as a prospective team member in an effective and creative way. However, be careful to not go overboard in creativity for this first contact. That kind of exuberance is more appreciated after you get the position.
Some of the best positions of the company are achieved through a referral network. You have heard it said many times before that it is not what you know as much as it is who you know. Occasionally, it would be beneficial if not educational to search the marketing job listings and look for companies that you would be thrilled to work with. Then keep your eyes open for opportunities to expose yourself to key personnel within that company.
You might see that they are going to be at a trade show or a local Chamber of Commerce event. Take the time to shake hands with the people there and hand them a business card. They will probably throw your business card away, but keep theirs and send them a brief letter that simply says something to the effect of, “It was great to meet you at the (event). I was impressed with what I saw. I wish you the best of success.” Include a well designed business card with your picture on it.
If you see praiseworthy news about them, you might send a card out letting them know that you saw them in the paper, on the news, or in a magazine and wanted to congratulate them on their accomplishment. Do not ask them for anything. Just let them know who you are in a way that is sure to get noticed. You should tape or staple a business card just to get your face in front of them in a positive way.
As you plan your socialization, keep in mind that you might run into just about anybody. Given that there are six or fewer people between you and the rest of the civilized world, you never know who you will meet that knows someone who is looking for a person with your exact skill set to work for their organization. If you strike up a conversation with a person who seems personable, make sure you introduce yourself and hand them one of your personal business cards. This person might be a bartender, a dry cleaner, or a school teacher, but they know people that you might want to know when you are looking for the perfect web marketing job.
Constantly market yourself, letting people casually know that you are web marketing professional. Eventually there will be so many web marketing jobs looking for you that you will be able to negotiate better pay, choose the better companies, and generate the most awesome success.
