How to Land a Great Marketing or Digital Marketing Role?

Over the years, many professionals (and aspiring marketers) have reached out to me asking, “How do I break into marketing?” or “What does it take to land a good digital marketing role?”

I’ve been fortunate to have had a fulfilling career in marketing, working across diverse roles, building teams, and learning from failures. So, here’s my attempt to distill practical advice for anyone looking to thrive in this space—straightforward, actionable, and with a touch of humor because hey, we’re marketers!

1. Know Your Marketing Fundamentals—Not Just Buzzwords

The marketing world is vast, but whether you’re in performance marketing, content, or brand strategy, some fundamentals always hold:

• Strategy: Understand the why behind every campaign. What’s the goal? Who’s your audience?
• Data: Learn to interpret analytics and measure ROI. Tools like Google Analytics, Meta Ads Manager, or HubSpot aren’t optional anymore—they’re your bread and butter.
• Creativity with Purpose: Great campaigns stand out because they connect emotionally, not just visually.

The best marketers combine an analytical mind with a creative soul—and trust me, this combination will set you apart.

2. Your Résumé is a Campaign—Sell Your Achievements, Not Just Roles

Hiring managers don’t care about fluffy jargon. They care about results. Be specific:

• Instead of “Managed social media channels,” say: “Increased engagement by 30% and follower base by 50% in 6 months through targeted content strategies.”
• Instead of “Worked on paid ads,” say: “Drove $200k in revenue from a $10k ad spend by optimizing ad placements and audience targeting.”

Remember: Marketing is about storytelling, and your résumé is your first story. Make it compelling.

3. Build Something You Can Showcase

Whether you’re new to marketing or an experienced professional, having your own “portfolio” of work speaks volumes.

• Start a blog, manage a social media page, or grow a side hustle.
• Volunteer for small businesses or nonprofits to gain experience.
• Run your own campaigns—even if it’s for a personal project.

Being able to say, “Here’s something I’ve done” carries far more weight than theoretical knowledge.

4. Embrace the T-Shaped Marketer Mindset

Successful marketers today need to:

• Have depth in one area: Maybe you’re an SEO expert, a PPC wizard, or a killer copywriter.
• Gain breadth across disciplines: Understand how paid ads work with email, how content drives organic traffic, and how it all fits into the broader customer journey.

The more you understand the entire marketing ecosystem, the more valuable you’ll be.

5. Don’t Just “Answer” in Interviews—Pitch Yourself

When I interview candidates, I’m not just looking for their skills—I’m assessing their ability to market themselves.

• Have a clear elevator pitch: “Here’s who I am, what I’ve done, and why I’m excited about this role.”
• Use the PAR framework: Problem, Action, Result. For example, “We were losing traffic on our website. I redesigned the UX, optimized for SEO, and increased traffic by 40% in 3 months.”

Marketers solve problems. Show that you’ve done it before and can do it again.

6. Network Intentionally—But Add Value First

The best opportunities often come from people you know.

• Reach out to marketing professionals (yes, even on LinkedIn), but don’t just say “Can you help me get a job?” Instead, share your insights, ask thoughtful questions, or comment on their work.
• Engage with marketing communities—events, webinars, or even LinkedIn comment threads are goldmines for connections.

Build relationships, not just a contact list.

7. Understand That Rejection is Part of the Process

Here’s the reality: Not every campaign succeeds, and not every job application will land. The key is to learn, iterate, and improve.

• Didn’t get a response? Refine your résumé.
• Didn’t ace the interview? Practice your pitch.

Success in marketing—and life—comes from resilience.

Marketing roles aren’t just about running ads or posting on Instagram. They’re about understanding human behavior, leveraging data, and delivering results. If you can showcase your ability to do this, opportunities will find their way to you.

I hope this post helps clarify the steps to building a great marketing career. If you’re in the field—or trying to break in—what’s your biggest challenge? Let’s discuss in the comments.

And if you’re hiring, well, feel free to share those opportunities below, it might help someone.