How to Network and Job Search in the Digital Marketing Industry
Reading Time: ~ 7 mins | By: Marissa Mok
Networking plays an important role in career growth as it can open the door to new opportunities. Online platforms like LinkedIn are powerful tools that connect you with professionals worldwide, while in-person networking offers you the chance to create more genuine and lasting connections.
Using both LinkedIn and in-person networking can greatly boost your career by connecting you with others who may expand your field of opportunities in digital marketing.
Networking with LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a business-oriented networking platform for professionals, offering various avenues for career growth. Through LinkedIn, you can connect to digital marketing professionals across the globe, follow organizations of interest, and join LinkedIn Groups to expand your connections and knowledge.
Currently, LinkedIn has more than 900 million members in over 200 countries. LinkedIn can have a significant impact on your job prospects, with over 93% of hiring managers using LinkedIn to research and hire their employees. Therefore, building a wide-reaching network on LinkedIn is key to boosting your job opportunities.
You’ll likely find that many of your colleagues, peers from school, clients, and employers are on LinkedIn. Start building your network by connecting with those you already know in the industry. As you progress in your career, LinkedIn serves as a valuable platform to nurture new connections and maintain your current ones.
To stay on top of the latest news and job openings, follow companies that you are interested in working for. LinkedIn is a powerful research tool, as you can learn about companies and hiring managers before you submit a job application or ask for an informational interview.
LinkedIn Groups offer spaces to connect with others who have similar professional interests. Joining Groups can greatly expand your network to include more digital marketers who think alike. Also, Groups may host discussions, and participating in these conversations are an easy way to exhibit your expertise and meet new people.
Networking in Person
While we are in the midst of the digital age, there’s still immense value that comes from in-person networking. Face-to-face meetings create deeper and more meaningful connections than compared to online interactions. The ability to convey and interpret nonverbal cues during in-person interactions allows you to establish greater personal rapport with others. Furthermore, such meetings create a lasting impression, increasing the likelihood of being well remembered.
If you’re currently in school, your post-secondary institution provides a great starting point for building your professional relationships. Many schools offer student clubs that bring students together with common interests or academic studies. For example, Student Marketing Associations are often offered by many universities and colleges. Joining these clubs can open doors for you as you may get the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice by collaborating with other associations or businesses on projects.
While in school, don’t overlook the potential connections within your own academic community, both with teachers and peers. Connecting with one person can be a gateway to a broader network, allowing for continual growth and expansion with networking.
In-person events are back in full swing, and digital marketing conferences draw in large crowds of professionals from across the country. Attending these events gives you the chance to network in person, learn from industry experts, and stay updated on the latest trends and developments in digital marketing. As conferences bring together professionals from various cities, you may also have the opportunity to meet some of your online connections in-person for the first time. When attending conferences, be prepared to foster new relationships. Do your research beforehand by looking up the speaking events, attending companies and individuals, and identifying who you would like to meet.
Several conferences in digital marketing include:
Job Searching
The first and most common place to start searching for job opportunities is online through job boards.
Popular job boards include:
Before you start applying, ensure your profile and resumé are up-to-date on these websites. While browsing for your dream job, set up notifications and alerts for jobs that catch your interest so you’ll be notified when a similar job is available. You can use various filters to sort through listings, prioritizing factors that are most important to you, such as work location, salary, or company.
While Glassdoor can be used as a job board, it also serves as a workplace and employer review site. Conducting research on Glassdoor will give you an idea of what you can expect from an organization’s work environment and culture. This knowledge will be useful for when you prepare for interviews, allowing you to ask informed questions.
Another job searching method involves connecting with hiring managers or employees from a company you’re interested in and asking them for an informational interview. An informational interview is an informal discussion that gives you the opportunity to ask questions to learn about the career, industry or company culture. This can help you to prepare for future interviews, grow your network, and gain guidance on how to pursue a digital marketing career.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to kick it old school and apply in person! Sometimes, walking into a company with your resume in hand at the right time can open doors for you.
