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What does a strong first 6–12 months in an entry-level role actually look like in practice for people working in marketing, and what tends to separate someone who quickly gets trusted with bigger projects from someone who mainly stays in executional support work?

For context, I'm asking as an upcoming college graduate who wants to pursue marketing and has been looking for roles in any kind of marketing space: product, brand, influencer, etc.

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Enrique’s Answer

I think the first thing you should do is try to learn as much as possible about your role, the activities of the other people you work with, and so on. It's very important that you learn quickly. There will be many people willing to teach you, but it can be annoying when they have to repeat the same things many times… it seems like you're not paying attention or you don't care about learning. That's not going to help you make many friends.

Another piece of advice someone gave me: When you ask someone for something, give them all the information they might need to make a decision. Don't make them go looking for information you already have. That will allow you to get what you need much faster.
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Wendy’s Answer

Based on my experience, I'd look for jobs at agencies. As an entry-level employee, you'll collaborate on accounts and gain a broad perspective on marketing, advertising, digital media, public relations, and more. Having worked at agencies and creating my own agency has been more rewarding than working at a corporation. Why? Depending on the company, there's bureaucracy, silos (people in separate divisions), and outdated models (of course, this is a generalization). Your path will provide a broad perspective on marketing.

To succeed, you need to work hard, have a learning mindset, be a creative problem-solver, be adaptable, and be collaborative. Another important point is that in an AI-driven world, you need to be technically literate. There are many AI courses on Coursera. One is "AI for Everyone" by Andrew Ng. Other courses to consider taking are: Marketing and Business Analytics, Statistics, Google Analytics, Social Media Analytics, SEO, Content Marketing, Psychology, Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Business Writing, Public Speaking, and more.

In addition to courses, create a small project (social account, blog, website, or store and track results. Identify and develop your soft skills, as employers (roughly 90%) are looking for people with skills such as communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability, creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and more. These are innate skills (I call them life skills; developed throughout your life) rather than skills taught, such as finance, economics, law, and others. CareerDevelopment FutureofWork Marketing AI

Wendy recommends the following next steps:

If you have any questions, please reach out. Good Luck!
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Yao Lawrence O.’s Answer

Some people will get the big projects because of their given track record others that stay in support roles usually did not make the connections or network. You must get a mentor to help you guide this minefield. That is most important. If you notice the person that’s getting all the top projects find out who they’re talking to watch them observe them. I guarantee you they have a mentor. That is your first priority. Let somebody take you under their wing.
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Brad’s Answer

Love this question! For me, I'm always looking for a few simple things in the first 6 months.
- Be someone who can be relied upon. This really is just about getting the basics covered first before plunging into big assignments. Deliver on time, pay attention to details and follow up proactively.
- Then try to show you can really think, not just do. This could be as simple as saying things like "Hey I noticed this is working really well... should we try doing more of that". It doesn't need to be earth shattering in the first 6 months. Just shows you are engaged and understand what is trying to be achieved.
- And then build relationships. Get to know the people you directly work with. And ask for simple advice like - how am i showing up, is there anything you recommend I could be doing? I find people generally want you to succeed. They hired you for a reason.
It may seem simple but it's not just what you do, but how you do it. This will build trust and land some bigger assignments.
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Brian’s Answer

Hello Arya--
So, you're curious about the working world? That's great to hear! In my experience (20+ years in the creative side of advertising), the best things you can do in the early days of your career are the basic ones:
1. Be dependable: show up on time, do what you said you would do.
2. Be curious: ask questions, ask why, find out what motivates people.
3. Be adventurous: say "yes" to new tasks, try something you have never done before.
4. Be ready: the marketing world is dynamic, and plans can shift, so be prepared to role with the changes.
5. Be kind: smile, say thank you.

I think you see where I'm going. Doing the basics can establish you as someone that others want to work with. That will bring you opportunities, and opportunities are where you can begin building real skills. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you!
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Nicole’s Answer

What ultimately separates those who quickly get promoted to higher-impact projects from those who remain stuck in executional support is an ownership mindset. While an executional worker simply completes their checklist (e.g., "I scheduled the post"), a high-performer analyzes the outcomes and connects them to the bigger picture (e.g., "I noticed our engagement spiked on Tuesday's post, so I drafted three similar content ideas for next month"). To build trust fast, proactively bring solutions instead of just problems, volunteer to own "unowned" team tasks, and always show that you are thinking about how your daily tasks drive actual business results.
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Allen’s Answer

There is a lot of great advice in here already.

In order to be trusted with bigger things in life, you must be trustworthy with the little things.
Communication is key - and if you want to take that to the next level, customize your communication to the working style of varying people.
Being dependable is massive in building credibility.
Network like crazy. You never know who you are going to meet or how you be able to mutually help one another out down the line.
Nurture the important relationships and make sure that you have a mentor or two that are ready to have your back when it comes to moving up in your career.
Come in with your perspective. It's why you are there! (But be humble about it.)
Help others. Not only is it rewarding, but it earns you some status in people's emotional bank account.
Focus on business impact/outcomes - not just the daily grind.
Raise your hand to take on projects a level above you or at a minimum, ask to shadow!


So many more things, but again, lots of great stuff in this thread!
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Suzie’s Answer

Congratulations Arya! The people that stand out to me as those I want to work with again and offer more responsibility to are good communicators. Show that you can work on your own, but proactively offer updates and ask clarifying questions while you do. Own your mistakes (we all make them!). Learn from them - and if you're unsure what the lesson is, ask "how could I have done that differently?". Many marketing agencies offer internships!

Suzie recommends the following next steps:

Connect with people on LinkedIn and ask for informational interviews
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Curt’s Answer

Marketing, at it's core is about communicating brand promise to a target audience. Realistically, starting at a new role you are likely not the one defining that brand promise, or that target audience. I would prioritize trying to understand the brand, the individuals and groups targeting and seek some mentorship in the process.

Some additional general advice for an entry level job, try to learn the foundations of professional skills - time management, professionalism. You can absorb good foundational habits and skills that will follow you throughout your career.
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Maya’s Answer

In your first 6-12 months at a new job, focus on learning as much as you can. You're new to everything—working, the job, the company, and the team. Stand out by being eager to learn and try new things. Once you feel more comfortable, take initiative by asking for more responsibilities or offering help in other areas. Show that you are adaptable and willing to learn. Remember, making mistakes is normal, especially at the start. How you handle mistakes matters—own them and learn how to avoid them next time. Taking responsibility shows you can grow, not that you're at fault.
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Jaynie’s Answer

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!

As an entry-level marketer, your experience will differ based on the organization's size. If you're interested in brand work, consider starting at an agency. Joining your local American Marketing Association chapter and similar groups can be helpful. Try out AI tools like Claude to improve your prompting skills, not just ChatGPT. LinkedIn offers free courses you can explore.

When you start your new job, keep these tips in mind to stand out:

1. Be eager to learn and help wherever possible. A positive attitude is crucial.
2. Show strategic thinking by looking beyond just the tasks you are given.
3. Share your ideas and experiences humbly. Be open to all types of work.
4. Think of ways to add value beyond what you're directly asked to do.
5. Keep stakeholders updated with weekly or bi-weekly bullet points. Highlight your key contributions and summarize your projects and their impact.

For networking, check out this free resource: life-global.org/course/427-professional-networking-for-career-growth. Recommended books include "Smart Brevity" and "All I Ever Needed to Know about Business I Learned at Microsoft," which offers timeless advice for professional conduct. Good luck!
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Reshma’s Answer

It's wonderful that you're planning ahead for your first job. Here are some encouraging tips for you:

- Feel free to ask lots of questions. This shows you're paying attention and eager to learn. It's normal for newcomers, especially in entry-level positions.
- Communicate openly. If you're unsure about something, ask. This builds trust with your team.
- Think ahead. Completing tasks is great, but showing you can help move the project forward is even better.
- Look for ways to add value. If you spot something that needs fixing, let your team know and see how you can help.

Wishing you all the best!
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