3 answers
Olivia
Student
Burnsville, Minnesota
1
Question
Asked
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How should I go about marketing in the future?
As a person who's going to college for marketing what's the first step I should take when I graduate? How should I continue my studies to make sure I succeed?
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3 answers
Doug Hughes
Marketing & Communications Director
10
Answers
Cottonwood, Arizona
Updated
Doug’s Answer
Before you graduate, try to get a marketing internship. You can also volunteer part-time through sites like Volunteer Match or Catchafire. Marketing comes in many forms, so think about what type interests you and which industry you like. Join LinkedIn and find people in jobs you want at companies you admire. Add them as connections and send a message explaining that you're in college and interested in a career like theirs. Ask if you can reach out for an informational interview. Just have a chat with them. Ask how they started, what their daily tasks are, if they enjoy it, and any advice they might have for you.
Good luck! I hope this helps. I've been in marketing for over 20 years and I love it. I stumbled into it from other careers, but if I could start over, this is the path I would take.
Good luck! I hope this helps. I've been in marketing for over 20 years and I love it. I stumbled into it from other careers, but if I could start over, this is the path I would take.
Catherine Berg
4
Answers
Updated
Catherine’s Answer
Hi Olivia!
There's a number of ways you can continue your learning after graduation - and in marketing, it's necessary. The industry and tools are changing every day.
1. Subscribe to LinkedIn Premium and take advantage of their LinkedIn Learning center. There are a ton of classes there to teach you not only about LinkedIn, but all of marketing.
2. Find free resources on the web. HubSpot is a great resource that provides free online education, and you'll have a certificate to show for it afterwards. I'm not sure what type of marketing you'll be doing, but if analytics or ads is part of your job, you can get your certification with Google for their analytics platform and ad types.
3. Wherever you land in your first role, check out the benefits they have to offer for continuing education. A lot of companies will have opportunities for you to continue your degree programs and they pay. Or, they may offer to send you to conferences or online classes to continue your learning and networking.
4. Read every day! Just scrolling through your LinkedIn feed or subscribing to newsletters can give you all the information you need to stay up to date on all the new changes in platforms, algorithms, AI, etc.
5. Listen to podcasts. All industries have free podcasts each week that you can deep dive into different areas of marketing, or areas of marketing specifically in the industry you end up in.
I'm sure there's a ton more, but hopefully this will give you a good start.
Good luck!
There's a number of ways you can continue your learning after graduation - and in marketing, it's necessary. The industry and tools are changing every day.
1. Subscribe to LinkedIn Premium and take advantage of their LinkedIn Learning center. There are a ton of classes there to teach you not only about LinkedIn, but all of marketing.
2. Find free resources on the web. HubSpot is a great resource that provides free online education, and you'll have a certificate to show for it afterwards. I'm not sure what type of marketing you'll be doing, but if analytics or ads is part of your job, you can get your certification with Google for their analytics platform and ad types.
3. Wherever you land in your first role, check out the benefits they have to offer for continuing education. A lot of companies will have opportunities for you to continue your degree programs and they pay. Or, they may offer to send you to conferences or online classes to continue your learning and networking.
4. Read every day! Just scrolling through your LinkedIn feed or subscribing to newsletters can give you all the information you need to stay up to date on all the new changes in platforms, algorithms, AI, etc.
5. Listen to podcasts. All industries have free podcasts each week that you can deep dive into different areas of marketing, or areas of marketing specifically in the industry you end up in.
I'm sure there's a ton more, but hopefully this will give you a good start.
Good luck!
Jess Leitner
Brand Marketing
8
Answers
Severn, Maryland
Updated
Jess’s Answer
Love that you’re thinking ahead. Marketing is a fast-moving and exciting field, and there’s a lot of opportunity if you stay curious and proactive.
After graduation, the best first step is to start gaining real-world experience. Whether it's through an internship, freelance work, or an entry-level role, hands-on practice will teach you things you won’t learn in the classroom. It also helps you discover what areas of marketing you enjoy most.
It’s also helpful to familiarize yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry. Different niches use different platforms—social media marketers might rely on tools like Sprout Social or Later, while email marketers use platforms like Mailchimp or HubSpot. Explore the tools relevant to the area you’re interested in and start practicing. Many have free versions or training resources.
Keep learning through online courses, webinars, and newsletters, and connect with people in the industry whenever you can. Reach out to people in roles you admire, ask questions, and stay open to mentorship. Marketing evolves quickly, so being adaptable and always learning will set you apart.
You’re on the right track—just keep taking one step at a time and stay open to learning along the way.
After graduation, the best first step is to start gaining real-world experience. Whether it's through an internship, freelance work, or an entry-level role, hands-on practice will teach you things you won’t learn in the classroom. It also helps you discover what areas of marketing you enjoy most.
It’s also helpful to familiarize yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry. Different niches use different platforms—social media marketers might rely on tools like Sprout Social or Later, while email marketers use platforms like Mailchimp or HubSpot. Explore the tools relevant to the area you’re interested in and start practicing. Many have free versions or training resources.
Keep learning through online courses, webinars, and newsletters, and connect with people in the industry whenever you can. Reach out to people in roles you admire, ask questions, and stay open to mentorship. Marketing evolves quickly, so being adaptable and always learning will set you apart.
You’re on the right track—just keep taking one step at a time and stay open to learning along the way.