How to Land Your First Digital Marketing Job: Part 1

​Now that we’ve expressed how stressful graduating from college can be (see The Intern’s Guide to Handling College Graduation), it’s time for us to help you land your dream (digital marketing) job. You’re going to kill it out there in the real world.

Let’s start with your resume. Resumes can be the trickiest part in landing your first post-grad job. You only have a sheet (or two) to tell the hiring manager what you’re all about. No worries though; we’re here to give you all the tips and tricks you will need to move forward in the hiring process. Below you will find the answers to questions you’ve been wondering throughout college and get an inside look from the mind of a hiring manager in the digital marketing world.

Question: What is the number one thing hiring managers look for on the resume of a potential entry-level employee in digital marketing?

Answer: What’s most important is the identification of your personal values and your work ethic. Your character is what makes you a strong candidate because most things can be taught in entry-level positions.

Question: What’s the deal with the one-page resume rule?

Answer: We believe your resume should be as long as it needs to be to convey your work experience, skill set, references, values and work ethic. However, make sure that everything on your resume is helping you and isn’t there just to fill space.

Question: How can you make your resume stand out?

Answer: Hiring managers want to get a sense of who you are from your resume, not just why you are qualified on paper. With that being said, make sure you are conveying your values, passions and character. Use color and/or imagery to make your resume stand out; don’t just be a number. Consider adding a personal summary to your resume and why you qualify for the job. Hiring managers don’t want to feel like you are sending the exact same resume out to a bunch of other companies. If you expect an employer to give you personal attention for the position, take time and make your resume personal.

Question: How crucial is internship experience for an entry-level position in digital marketing?

Answer: It’s almost imperative nowadays to qualify candidates who have internship experience. Here at The Social Firm, we’ve made a pattern of even offering full-time positions to our interns. Once a company has invested in you, and you’ve shown them what you have to offer, it can be a natural progression to get promoted to a full-time employee.

Question: Do hiring managers consider GPA as a factor on a resume?

Answer: Some do; some don’t. It can be a factor, but not always a disqualifying factor.

Question: How long do hiring managers usually glance at resumes?

Answer: This also depends. It can range from less than 10 seconds to a minute.

Question: How do hiring managers weed out candidates based on resumes?

Answer: Here at The Social Firm, we create position profiles which outline what we are looking for in a candidate. When we list requirements for a position, these requirements are non-negotiable. However, that’s not always the case with other companies. We also make sure potential candidates are active in the community and see if their values align with ours.

Question: How should you tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for?

Answer: Take the time to get to know the company you are applying to. Be proactive and do your homework. Find previous articles, clients and industries the company has been featured in or worked in. Relate these and discuss how and where you fit in. Also, take a look at the job description and responsibilities of the position you are applying for. You can then relate those to your experience and incorporate similar responsibilities on your resume.

It can be difficult to strategize and perfect your resume, but it definitely pays off. Once you perfect your resume (we know you will), stay tuned for how to nail your interview and officially become employed. We believe in you.