How To Get a Marketing Job Without a Degree

Degrees are often seen as the main way to get a job. Many companies list degrees as requirements in their job postings, especially in a field like marketing. Still, there are other options for candidates seeking marketing careers.

It's possible to get a job in marketing without a degree, although it will be a much more difficult path. To become a marketer, these applicants must take additional steps like developing a marketing skill set on their own and pursuing various types of marketing certificates.

Can You Get Into Marketing Without a Degree?

You can obtain a marketing position without a degree, but the process isn't as simple as applying for jobs. Applicants can demonstrate their skills with previous experience and courses.

Learners can take multiple free online marketing courses to develop the marketing skills needed for a career. Some of these programs even include certifications that can be put on a resume or shared on LinkedIn to demonstrate knowledge to potential employers.

Even with these courses, there will be limitations. Most marketing career paths require a marketing degree, at minimum an associate degree, with most preferring a bachelor's or higher. The skills covered in online marketing courses that are part of a college degree program will be broader and more in-depth than these free online courses. Most employers will give preference to degree holders over certificate holders.

Can You Work in Marketing If I Have a Degree in Another Field?

Most marketing positions require a degree, but not all of them specifically require a marketing degree. Many areas within the marketing field can benefit from knowledge of other subjects.

For example, content marketing and copywriting are heavily focused on writing. Graduates of English major programs often have the required skills to perform these jobs. Other marketing roles, like research and analysis, can benefit from degrees in data science.

Steps To Getting a Marketing Job Without a Degree

Starting a marketing career path without a degree can be difficult, but there are several steps you can take to make your goals possible. You should first build a marketing industry-relevant skill set before trying to earn certifications and other documentation.

1. Develop Relevant Skills

Bachelor's degree programs are ultimately designed to help students learn skills needed for a specialized job. It's possible to utilize the internet and other resources to develop these skills, but you need to know where to start.

Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is a field of marketing that focuses on using the internet to spread messages. Some examples of the subdivisions of digital marketing include:

• email marketing
• pay-per-click (PPC)
• search engine optimization (SEO)
• social media marketing

The technical skills needed to thrive in this type of marketing range from understanding ongoing technology updates to changes in the laws about privacy rights. If you're looking to start a digital marketing job, pick a specialization and focus your learning on the new skills needed to work in that role. Though SEO and PPC are both forms of digital marketing, they differ in execution and daily responsibilities.

Content Creation

Content creation is a term that covers everything from blog posting to social media marketing. Content marketers are often copywriters, but sometimes graphic designers are also involved in the process. Some companies have in-house teams to write their blog posts, but many digital marketing agencies hire writers to work with multiple clients.

Marketing Tools

Modern marketing uses popular tools like Semrush, Screaming Frog, and Ahrefs. Many of the most commonly used marketing tools offer online learning programs to allow learners to develop a fundamental understanding of how to use these tools and programs, even without marketing experience.

2. Pursue Marketing Certifications

Learning doesn't have to happen in a classroom. Pursuing marketing certifications can help you learn specialization-specific skills without the costs associated with a marketing degree. Multiple free online digital marketing certificates are available, but some more in-depth programs will come with fees to access and share your certification.

Google Ads Certification

Google Ads is one of the most used platforms in digital marketing. Learning how to use this platform can make you valuable to employers, especially small businesses that might not have access to other experts.

Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ)

Digital marketing uses data analysis to track performance and aid in project management. Google Analytics is one of the main tools used by agencies and businesses to track the performance of their paid ads and organic content.

HubSpot Content Marketing Certification

HubSpot has long been a leader in content marketing. Their content-based digital marketing courses cover topics like SEO, developing a content marketing strategy, and how to make content marketing campaigns.

3. Apply for a Marketing Internship

Internships are one of the best ways for marketers without degrees to gain experience in the field. Work experience, even from an internship, can help aspiring marketers gain hands-on practice and soft skills needed to begin their first job search.

4. Stay Updated on Marketing Trends

Marketing changes frequently. Even if you have a degree, you'll need to stay up-to-date on the changing trends in the field. Listening to marketing podcasts, reading blogs, and watching marketing-related videos can help you keep your finger on the pulse of this rapidly changing field.

Machine learning and automation are changing the internet as a whole, and digital marketers need to be aware of how these changes will affect marketing efforts in the near and distant future.

5. Network With Marketing Professionals

Talking with people who work in marketing is one of the best ways to learn the realities of the job. Reaching out to marketing professionals in your area or through platforms like LinkedIn can help you develop connections and possibly get leads on entry-level marketing jobs.

6. Build a Strong Portfolio

Hiring managers almost always review resumes and portfolios without ever talking to applicants. Building a strong portfolio is an important step to displaying your skills to recruiters, especially when you don't have a degree. Portfolio pieces can include speculative work you've completed, but it's best to include real work when possible.

Identify freelance work opportunities, such as writing blogs for small businesses or startups, working with influencers, and more. Portfolio work should be as relevant to your desired specialization as possible.

Alternative Marketing Careers for Non-Degree Holders

There are marketing career paths available to people without marketing degrees. If you're trying to get into the field without a degree, there are alternate entry-level paths that you can pursue.

Marketing Data Analyst

Marketing data analysts use data to gauge performance and help develop future marketing plans. Senior positions often require a data science or similar degree, but some entry-level positions will allow workers to gain experience without one.

Marketing Research Analyst

Marketing research is rarely limited to just a single company. Teams of research analysts study market trends, competitors, and the habits of target audiences to help make informed decisions about marketing campaigns. Entry-level research positions can provide hands-on experience to workers without degrees.

Marketing Coordinator

Marketing coordinators are responsible for helping organize the strategies and campaigns used in marketing. This role is often an assistant to a marketing manager and can be used as an entry-level role. This position may require a degree, but some opportunities only require certificates.