So, you are a student, and you decided to consider getting a new profession. No matter what your reason and goal are, the point is to earn funds and get an additional way for professional or personal realization.
Why should you order college paper help and use additional free time to try becoming a marketer? You might think there are more than enough marketers available on the labor market, of course.
You are right, but the same truth works for any profession. Thousands of average, poorly motivated specialists are there, but potential employers look for those who know the deal and are ready to reach goals. So, high competition is not something you should bother about if you are skilled, able to learn new things quickly, and hardworking.
Another plus is that any student can begin their marketer’s career without obtaining a specialized higher education diploma and degree. Here are seven steps to become a marketer from scratch for anyone.
How to Become a Marketer from Scratch as a Student
Read Professional Books
Of course, there are books becoming not worth attention 6 to 12 months after their release. Those are weak works. Nothing bad will happen if you skip them.
On the other hand, there stand books, written by a good Entrepreneur, known as the cornerstones of the profession. They let you get the basic knowledge in marketing quickly, simply, and effectively. Here are three books to help newcomers understand that marketing is actually a science:
- “Marketing Warfare” – Jack Trout, Al Ries
- “Principles of Marketing” – Philip Kotler
- “Brand Management” – Harvard Business Review
Choose Courses with Practice
Practical courses are the only suitable ones to help you get real knowledge and skills. Even the best theoretical materials won’t be equal to practicing with a good mentor in terms of learning effectiveness. Make sure the course offers a lot of practical tasks allowing you to apply new knowledge to real cases.
A course with clearly defined deadlines is even better. Time management is a weak spot for many students, so that’s your way to improve the required skill.
Mentorship Programs
Nowadays, mentorship programs in marketing are quite widespread. Most frequently, they’re public and offered at no cost. That’s sweet for the biggest part of students, as they don’t have free money to spend yet. The point is to find out whether or not a particular mentor really knows how to teach people.
Become an Intern
This option is especially cool for students. There are companies offering 2-6 months of internship for newbies with active studying courses and great practical tasks. Those who will become skilled and lucky enough after an internship course might be offered to stay and work part-time or full-time for that company.
Case Studies
Sometimes a real experience is much different from what you’ve read in a book or heard during a training course. So, the rule for a newbie marketer is the following: check at least five real marketing cases daily, both successful and unsuccessful.
You can easily use Google to find them. Then, read, analyze, and “disassemble” every course by concepts. Every idea is worth checking and memorizing. Trying to find out why something worked or didn’t work is a cool practical experience as well. You’ll have a set of ideas to use in your future work then.
Work as an Assistant Marketer
Then again, real practical experience is the best teacher. Of course, marketer assistants aren’t paid much, but the financial reward should be secondary for you here.
Knowledge matters at this stage, and nothing more does. Most frequently, marketer assistants create emails, download analytical materials, search keywords and phrases, pay for services, write sales texts, etc. These small steps are important for every marketing initiative to become successful. Still, asking for more complicated tasks and more responsibilities is okay after you feel confident enough with the basics.
Start With SMM
SMM stands for Social Media Marketing, and it is among the best starting points for newcomer specialists. Of course, understanding of different marketing niches is critical for real professionals, but SMM suits the best because:
- There are more than enough SMM job vacancies
- It’s pretty close to “offline” marketing
- It offers valuable experience and understanding of instruments
But here is the tip: track your experience, and try not to miss the moment when you’ll gain enough skill and knowledge to become ready to make your next development step. Staying in SMM for too long may be the reason for your disappointment in your new profession.
To Conclude
Widely available marketing courses are good points to make the first steps as a marketer, but they are not enough to become a qualified specialist. To earn well, you need to gather as much experience as possible.
However, trying to master the entire field at once is not an option. It’s science too wide to understand it quickly. Starting your professional growth from the position of an SMM manager is fine, but you might also consider becoming an intern or marketer assistant.
It will take some time for you to become valued and earn a reputation as an expert, but the effort will pay off for sure. According to Glasdoor.com, average marketer salaries reach over $65K annually.
FAQs on how to become a marketer from scratch as a student:
What skills and qualifications do I need?
You don’t need specific qualifications to become a marketer, but skills in communication, creativity, analytical thinking, organization and computer programs like Word, Excel and design software are useful. An education in marketing, business or communications can be beneficial.
What kind of internships or entry level jobs can I look for?
Look for internships and entry level roles in marketing assistant, digital marketing, social media marketing, content marketing, marketing coordinator etc. Having work experience in any role involving marketing will help.
How can I gain experience and build my portfolio?
Volunteer to work on marketing campaigns for student clubs/groups, do pro bono work for local nonprofits, start a blog, build your social media presence, take online courses to learn new skills, and create marketing plans for class projects.
What soft skills should I develop?
Develop skills in communication, creativity, collaboration, time management, problem solving, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure. Stay up to date on marketing trends.
How can I expand my network?
Join marketing clubs at your university, attend industry events, conferences and seminars, do informational interviews with marketers, connect with alumni working in marketing and expand your LinkedIn network.
How can I stand out to employers?
Get Google/Facebook/HubSpot certifications, create a professional portfolio highlighting your projects and experience, showcase unique skills like design or writing, pursue leadership positions in clubs, and refine your resume for marketing roles.
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