How to get a position at a marketing agency

Marketing has traditionally been quite an interesting field for graduates from many areas, from graphic designers, to writers and graduates with various business degrees. With the advent of online marketing, the scope has expanded even more and marketing agencies offer opportunities to an even more varied selection of students.

Marketing agencies offer excellent working conditions and the ability to improve one’s skills, as well as advance within the said agencies. However, how does one get their foot in; how does one prepare and do everything in their power to get that first position at a marketing agency.

Research their past work

Before you go in for your interview, a good idea would be to familiarize yourself with what the marketing agency in question has done in the past in terms of campaigns, ads and anything else that they might have done. You should have no problems finding out about this and when you do, you should try to take apart the campaign and see why they had done it in the way they did.

This will give you an idea of who they are and what their approach to the job is. In addition to this, it is likely that they might ask you something about their past work when you are being interviewed. It is always a good idea to be prepared.

Brush up on recent marketing news and trends

Every marketing agency will be looking for people who are in touch with what is going on in the world of marketing. That is one of the main reasons why they are hiring – they want fresh blood that will have brand new ideas. One of the best ways to be such an applicant is to research what is going on in the industry, what new campaigns are all about and whether there are certain trends that you might relate to.

These days, there is so much stuff online that you should be able to find at least four or five examples of marketing efforts that appeal to your sensibility.

Be prepared to do some work

When you go for an interview with a marketing agency, it is likely that they might ask you to come up with some ideas on the spot. Depending on your education and your set of skills, they might ask you to show them what you can do. For instance, if you are a graphic designer or an artist, they might ask you to provide some work on the spot or to show them what you had done before. If you are a writer, they might ask you to come up with a tagline for a certain client.

You should not worry too much about this as no one is expecting you to come up with a revolutionary work in matter of minutes. They simply want to see what you can offer and how you can handle pressure. It is essential that you remain calm and do your best.

Share things about yourself

Marketing is a very specific industry and it is much more influenced by personal traits of people who are involved. Because of this, an interview at a marketing agency might involve much more personal questions than your average interview. The best policy here is to be honest and to give them a clear picture of who you are. Of course, you can always do some personal PR, but do not go overboard. Interviewers and recruiters in particular are usually quick to notice if someone is being particularly dishonest.

Closing word

These are just some of the things that are idiosyncratic to interviews in the marketing industry and there is plenty more advice that you should keep in mind which has to do with interviews and getting jobs in general. Hopefully, these tips will help you land a position at the marketing firm of your choice.

AUTHOR: James D. Burbank has been involved in the world of marketing for more than 10 years, traveling around the world and working mainly in the trade show industry. He is currently back home in Sydney on a hiatus, blogging about the stuff he has seen and learned. He wrote this article with the help of info he got from his friends at Marketing Angels, a Sydney-based marketing agency.