Quick answer
Marketing covers brand management, digital marketing, content, social media, market research, communications, and PR. It is one of the most accessible sectors for building experience before formal employment through personal projects, freelance work, and voluntary roles.
What you need to know
Types of marketing roles
Brand management focuses on the positioning, identity, and campaigns of a product or brand. Digital marketing covers paid search, SEO, email, and social media. Content and copywriting creates written material for communications, campaigns, and platforms. Market research gathers and analyses data about customer behaviour. PR and communications manages media relationships and reputation.
Step 2
Building experience before formal roles
Marketing is a sector where you can build experience independently. Running a social media account, writing a blog, creating content for a local business or charity, or working on a personal creative project all demonstrate relevant marketing skills. Document your results — follower counts, engagement rates, website traffic — so you have evidence to discuss in applications.
Step 3
Internships and placements
Marketing internships are available across most industries — not just at media or advertising agencies. Many FMCG companies (Unilever, P&G, Mars) run some of the most sought-after marketing graduate schemes. Year-in-industry placements are common and often convert to graduate scheme offers.
Checklist
- Build a portfolio of marketing projects (social, content, or creative)
- Research marketing graduate schemes and their deadlines
- Apply for summer or placement internships early
- Prepare for online assessments and situational judgement tests
- Be ready to discuss specific campaigns or projects you have worked on
Common mistakes
- Applying for marketing roles with no evidence of practical interest
- Not documenting the results of personal projects
- Not preparing for the significant commercial component of FMCG applications
Next step
Use one action from this guide today, then continue with a related guide when you are ready.