There are dozens of jobs that fall under the umbrella of “digital marketing,” from content strategists to SEO specialists, there are plenty of jobs out there for you if you have the right marketing skills. 

Some of those skills that you should have mastered before entering the job hunt include things like understanding how paid ads work, analytics, email marketing platforms, SEO research, and content strategy. But, your digital marketing skills aren’t doing you any good if you can’t find a job. Through the next decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 10% growth in digital marketing. So, if the jobs are out there, why are you having a hard time kicking off a successful career? 

The answer likely has less to do with your marketing skills, and more about your appeal to potential employers. Being a great digital marketer is only half the battle. 

So, how can you land the best digital marketing jobs and stand out above your competitors to get hired quickly? 

Creating a Solid Resume

As a marketer, you should already know the importance of marketing yourself when you’re job hunting. Think of your resume or portfolio as your own personal brand. The average hiring manager only spends six seconds looking at a resume — meaning you have an extremely limited time to make yours stand out. 

The best resumes aren’t too cluttered, and aren’t more than one page. It should focus on your hard skills, like analytics and data-driven content marketing, as well as your soft skills like being persuasive or the fact that you’re an active listener. Don’t bog down your resume with skills you don’t have or skills that are irrelevant to the position you’re applying for. Avoid buzzwords or overused/tired adjectives when describing yourself. Keep things clear and concise, and you’ll have a better chance of getting noticed. 

A portfolio is a bit different than a resume, as it should feature some of your best pieces of work. One of the cleanest and most effective ways to show off your portfolio is by setting it up on a website, or even a personal blog. You should treat your portfolio like your own personal marketing campaign. Try out different strategies to get noticed, including: 

• Advertising your site on social media
• Regularly refreshing content
• Creating different categories of content
• Utilizing different platforms that show off your skills
• Using video to make your portfolio more personal

When you start to look at your blog/portfolio as your CV, you can actually end up having a lot of fun with it, and put your best work forward for potential employers to see. It can often be much more effective than sending in a resume via email!

Knowing How to Network

Having a great resume is only half the battle. Networking is still as relevant than ever, even if some of the characteristics of it have changed over the years. For example, if you aren’t utilizing all of the tools and resources on LinkedIn, you could be missing out. With over 315 million users, the networking/social media platform can (and should) be used by digital marketers to pitch themselves to prospective businesses. Or, if you’re a freelancer, to prospective clients. 

But, just like in the real world, no one wants to be harrassed for a job on LinkedIn (or anywhere else online, for that matter). 

Remember, don’t be too casual with your approach. Just because adding a personal touch is a good thing doesn’t mean professionalism should be taken away from your pitch. When you show that you can balance the professional and personal sides of yourself, that is something that will really stand out to a prospective employer or client. 

Be polite, be consistent, and stay engaged on your LinkedIn profile. Make a point to consistently share your content that you think your connections would find interesting or appealing. Join groups with like-minded individuals who might be able to lead you to the right people for a job. 

Using LinkedIn and other social media platforms for professional networking is not only useful, it’s becoming a necessity in an era of social distancing and remote working. 

Staying Up-to-Date With Digital Marketing Trends

Digital marketing changes at a rapid pace. For example, 10 years ago the use of video was hardly ever used in marketing. Last year, 63% of businesses used it as a marketing tool. Today, 81% of businesses use it and see it as one of the most important resources for digital marketing. 

Additional trends that have seen a steady growth in importance and popularity include: 

• Bespoke content 
• Omni-channel strategies
• Customer journeys
• Data protection
• Data-driven content
• Artificial intelligence

In order to keep up with digital marketing trends, it’s essential to think about how people are consuming their content. As of 2019, an estimated 2 billion people strictly used their phones to access the Internet. Wearable technology like smartwatches are also becoming increasingly popular. So, marketers need to adjust their techniques and strategies to be more mobile-friendly and instantly gratifying. 

Social media will also continue to change and adapt to the needs and wants of the masses, even faster than other digital trends. In order to keep up with the digital marketing shifts in social media, follow industry leaders, read publications and blogs, and invest some time in researching analytics and metrics. Most marketers understand the basics of that data, but really diving deep into what they mean and how they showcase current trends can make a big difference in how “ahead of the game” you are. That will be impressive to any potential employer. 

It’s not enough to be a digital marketing master. You also have to focus on the skills to land the right jobs. So, take your digital marketing know-how and show it off in a quality resume. Make sure you know how to network with the right people. And, commit yourself to continued education to stay on top of current trends. If you can master those skills, you’re bound to land a job quickly.