Originally posted on LinkedIn on February 2, 2017 and repurposed, revised, and modified for this blog by Roberto Severino. All rights reserved.
Getting a Digital Marketing Job with 0 Experience Whatsoever
If you’re up at night searching for digital marketing roles on LinkedIn and Indeed and come across some enticing positions, that’s all fine and good, but it’s also very easy to find some openings too good to be true. There was this one digital marketing position targeted at anyone with NO EXPERIENCE whatsoever. Without knowing a single thing about the company, you might be tempted to go for it. The job looks as delicious as an apple offered by a serpent in the Garden of Eden. You take a bite out of it, and you realize you took the bait into a job which exploits you like cheap labor. Not a very good start to your job search and what’s worse is also finding out you, and the company doesn’t jive well on a personality level either. How do you avoid getting into this mess? Yeah, you have a job, but your time is robbed working for someone who doesn’t connect with you on any level.
How to Save Time and Find a Company With the Right Fit
The first thing I always do when I’m job hunting on job boards is look up the company on Google and find their Glassdoor reviews, which is another very useful site for getting an idea of the culture of the company. I read all the reviews of people who have worked there and also look at other search results to find past experiences. Even before I ever agree to an interview or talk to a recruiter on the phone or via email, I’m able to get a nice feel for what I’m getting into. The reassurance helps ease any fears or concerns I might have about a company and how well I’d be able to work with the managers and bosses.
Once I’ve gotten comfortable with what I see, I take action and apply for the role. However, my work isn’t done. There’s still a matter of speaking with the recruiter or hiring manager on the phone if they contact me. I’d say if they contact me back within 1-2 days of applying, I create a mental list of all the opportunities taking the most precedent. I love companies which respond promptly to applicants and don’t like to wait 2-3 weeks for responses. It’s even better when the full details of the interview and times are given through either text message or discussion by phone.
There are so many more opportunities for me to look at and I’m not the kind of person who likes to sit around and lose out on other means of connecting with companies and employers. Time is money as the adage goes. My priorities include immediately having an impact on a company and being part of an environment where learning is the biggest priority. I already have an equivalent of a buyers persona for the ideal company I want to work for.
Always Ask Questions and Do Your Research
Once I’ve agreed to speak to someone on a specified date, I make sure to ask plenty of questions about the role and what the company values the most. Doing some research before also helps a lot and allows me to formulate better questions to help me form a good picture of what I’m dealing with.
I also try my best to have a natural conversation with the person I’m speaking to. Sometimes I can even tell when something has truly “clicked.” It’s generally a great sign when the conversation goes on for a while, and you can hear the excitement in the voice of who you’re speaking with because you’re also very engaged and wanting the role. Even when I find the company culture isn’t exactly what I’m looking for, I still take the time to thank the person for talking with me and realize playing the long game for future roles is just as crucial for career development.
Digital Marketing Interview Time: Have You Done Your Homework
Now here comes the interview! It’s a big day, and I continue to conduct research and to know the “ins and outs” of the business. I’m ready and have a lot of points to raise and plenty of questions. The homework is complete, and all hands are on deck. On interview day, I walk in the building and carefully take note of the atmosphere and what others are doing. Is everyone calmly doing their work? How comfortable are the seats? How proper is the maintenance on the building? All these questions let me know if this is a place I want to work at in the long-run.
Are You “Clicking” with People at the Digital Marketing Agency?
Speaking to people at the interview, I want to make sure yet again everything is clicking well, and they know what I can offer. The body language and facial expressions of the individuals asking you questions should indicate excitement if you come in and understand what you’re talking about. See, here’s the thing. You want to create the perception you’re the expert, and you did your homework before coming in. It’s all about building your self-confidence and having a natural conversation.
There’s no guarantee you’ll be offered the job, but this not only bodes well for creating a memorable impression but if you are hired, these are the people you will be working with daily. If you don’t get along with them now, how do you expect to withstand any drama in the workplace? I like to think of the interview as a sort of a free trial you get at a gym. You’re getting a taste of the company, especially if the hiring manager shows you around the building. Bonus points if you get that far by the way.
Much of the battle in figuring out if you fit the job and company is how you present yourself. Good communication also comes into play as you conduct your investigation more and more. You need to use your eyes, ears, and mouth to sniff out good companies from bad and avoid the scams and anything else too good to be true. After all, there are so many of these serpents lying around waiting to strike. Don’t be like Adam and Eve. Be more like David when he won the battle against Goliath in your approach.
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