How To Start Your Social Media/Marketing Career

Did you recently graduate? Are you looking to turn your passion for social media into a career? Well, get ready to take notes! I'm sharing 7 things you can be doing to kick-start your social media/marketing career. 

According to a 2024 Forbes article, social media marketing skills are in demand in the workplace. One of the fastest-growing in-demand skills for 2024 is Digital marketing. It ranks in Coursera's top 10 list in their Job Skills Of 2024 report. The digital marketing industry is strongly spurred on by consumer trends, particularly on social media. ~76% of consumers browse and purchase items via social media. It's a huge part of customers' purchasing journey!

I've worked in marketing for over 7 years now, and social media has been my favourite position so far. It's one of the most fun, rewarding, and creative jobs I've ever experienced! It's exciting to do something every day that I'm so passionate about. I currently work full-time for a travel company, managing their social media platforms. I also do freelance content creation and have worked with many top brands such as L’ORÉAL, Barbie x Home Hardware, Conair, SolaWave, Gillette Venus, and recently, Hubba Bubba.

If you're looking to break into this career that's on the rise, find all the deets below on how to dive into it!

1. Build Your Personal Brand: Just like picking out the perfect outfit, crafting your own brand is key to standing out in the digital crowd. Decide what makes you unique and showcase it across your social media platforms. Whether it's your love for pink, your killer fashion sense, or your witty captions, let your personality shine through! You don't necessarily need to have a social media presence to work in social, but you should have proof of skills associated with it, and branding abilities are huge!

2. Take on Internships and Volunteer Work: Experience is everything! Look for internships or volunteer opportunities at local businesses, fashion boutiques, digital marketing agencies, or event committees in your area. Not only will this give you real-world experience, but it'll also help you network with industry professionals who can open doors for you in the future. These are great opportunities to add to your resume and include in your portfolio. 

3. Create Killer Content: Put those creative juices to work! Practice creating content on your own personal channels, or privately saved to your camera roll. Whether it's fashion hauls, makeup tutorials, or styling tips, make sure your content is engaging, visually appealing, and on-brand. Leverage popular trends and test out different formats of content such as short and long-form videos, collages, carousels, voiceover videos, vlogs, etc.

4. Prep Your Portfolio: This is an important piece for a social media job application. It's like a visual resume. Add screenshots of your content, links to past posts, images of school projects relating to social media, and other information that shows your skillset. For example, check out my TikTok video that debriefs my old portfolio from when I graduated from my Fashion Marketing course!

5. Network: In the world of social media, who you know can be just as important as what you know. Attend industry events, join online communities, and connect with fellow influencers and marketers. Use social media to your benefit as well! It's one of the best ways to network. Add contacts on LinkedIn, comment on Instagram posts from people you look up to in the industry, etc. You never know when a casual conversation could lead to a collaboration or job opportunity!

6. Stay Updated: The digital landscape is constantly evolving, so it's crucial to stay updated on the latest trends, algorithms, and platform changes. Follow industry blogs, subscribe to newsletters, and never stop learning. Adaptability is key in the fast-paced world of social media marketing! There are also tons of online resources, courses, and even certifications available that can teach you the ins and outs of social media marketing and stay ahead of the competition. Showing your initiative and willingness to learn is always appreciated in the working world. Whether it's learning about content creation, analytics, or audience targeting, soaking up this info will be your secret weapon!

7. Be Patient and Persistent: A successful social media marketing career takes time, dedication, and a whole lot of hustle. Don't get discouraged by setbacks or slow growth. Stay focused on your goals, keep pushing forward, and remember that every small victory brings you one step closer to your dreams!

If you happen to get an interview, make sure you're prepared! If you'd like a post about this topic soon as well, let me know by commenting. 

If you have any questions for me, feel free to reach out on Instagram. Always happy to chat with you and help where I can!

Thanks so much for reading today.