18 answers
Hugo
Student
Riverside, California
5
Questions
Asked
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What should I do to prepare for marketing?
My friend was a marketing intern and I was wondering what I should do to become qualified for one? What types of skills do I need besides Excel, SQL and basic programming skills? What kind of projects should I have to show I am suited for these roles?
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18 answers
Kerry Pokorny
Research
3
Answers
Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Updated
Kerry’s Answer
I agree with Aimee's response -- I would first start with where / what do you want to do in marketing since there is a range of roles and activities and the skills, experiences that support those can vary. The more that you can demonstrate desire and also coachable experience will go a long way. Think about how you can take on internships (paid or even not, if that is an option) or volunteer opportunities to round out or build your experience before you get to an actual job interview. Also, once you have honed in on what part of marketing interests you, compare your skill set to what people in those roles have or are doing (you can search on linkedin) and also to job descriptions or postings to figure out your gaps.
Julie Conover
Marketing Director
2
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Julie’s Answer
If you are interested in becoming a marketing intern, you may want to start first by asking your friend what they did as a marketing intern and ask about what skills were required for that position.
Marketing roles require both analytical skills and soft skills – strong listening skills, creativity, teamwork, collaboration, problem solving, time management, organization and more.
Marketing is about the process of understanding customers’ needs and demonstrating how a product or service meets those needs. If you have projects that demonstrate how you learned about customers’ needs (like research) and created an offering to serve those needs, that might be helpful. If you have examples of how you collaborated with others on projects at school, solved problems together, and demonstrated creative thinking to solve a problem, that will help you as well.
Marketing roles require both analytical skills and soft skills – strong listening skills, creativity, teamwork, collaboration, problem solving, time management, organization and more.
Marketing is about the process of understanding customers’ needs and demonstrating how a product or service meets those needs. If you have projects that demonstrate how you learned about customers’ needs (like research) and created an offering to serve those needs, that might be helpful. If you have examples of how you collaborated with others on projects at school, solved problems together, and demonstrated creative thinking to solve a problem, that will help you as well.
Johanna Adler
Marketing for education programs online
6
Answers
Roswell, Georgia
Updated
Johanna’s Answer
Marketing is really exciting because it lets you see things in a new way. I got into marketing by studying business first and then learning about sales before jumping into marketing. I wanted to understand the products our company offered, and once I got good at talking to people and learning about the products, I moved into my current role. I think it's important to know how to use Office tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. I don't have programming skills, and I've done fine without them, but having those skills can be a big advantage, so I recommend learning them if you're interested. Being organized and able to multitask is also important. You'll have a great time!
Jason Kempner
Product Marketing
8
Answers
West Hollywood, California
Updated
Jason’s Answer
Showing excellent messaging and communications skills is also key. Maybe doing an internship and launching marketing websites/digital marketing assets can show off your skills with public-facing content.
Zoe Vatter
Paid Media Marketing
1
Answer
Canada
Updated
Zoe’s Answer
You have some excellent advice here. My number one advice is to look at the roles in marketing you want to grow into. Look at the requirements for those positions. In marketing roles can vary from highly technical to less specific technical skills. Look at the requirements and the "nice-to-have" sections on these job postings. Where do you feel strong? Where could you use more support? This will help build a foundation.
Then look at roles as a marketing intern. Companies have various requirements. Develop the skills or tailor your resume if you already have some of the foundational skills.
Marketing is a varied field to work in. It can change from sector to sector so find what interests you. Also feel open to looking at profiles on LinkedIn of people in those positions and even reach out. You may not get a reply but you might find many people love to share how they got to the roles they are in today and are happy to share advice.
Find job postings that you would one day like to work - note requirements
Then look at roles as a marketing intern. Companies have various requirements. Develop the skills or tailor your resume if you already have some of the foundational skills.
Marketing is a varied field to work in. It can change from sector to sector so find what interests you. Also feel open to looking at profiles on LinkedIn of people in those positions and even reach out. You may not get a reply but you might find many people love to share how they got to the roles they are in today and are happy to share advice.
Zoe recommends the following next steps:
Wong Loke Yuen
Dean; Head of Programme and Senior Lecturer
850
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
If you're preparing for a marketing internship, Excel and basic programming are useful, but marketing also requires communication, creativity, research, and an understanding of customers. You should focus on learning how businesses attract people, understand their audience, and measure whether their marketing actually works.
For technical skills, consider learning Google Analytics, SEO, and tools such as Canva. You don't need to become an expert in everything. Being comfortable analyzing campaign data and explaining what the numbers mean can be very valuable.
For projects, try creating a small marketing portfolio rather than just listing skills on your resume. You could choose a real or fictional business and develop a target audience, competitor analysis, social media strategy, sample advertisements, email campaign, and content calendar. You could also run a small social media page or personal project and track metrics such as views, engagement, clicks, and follower growth. Then explain what you learned and what you would change.
For technical skills, consider learning Google Analytics, SEO, and tools such as Canva. You don't need to become an expert in everything. Being comfortable analyzing campaign data and explaining what the numbers mean can be very valuable.
For projects, try creating a small marketing portfolio rather than just listing skills on your resume. You could choose a real or fictional business and develop a target audience, competitor analysis, social media strategy, sample advertisements, email campaign, and content calendar. You could also run a small social media page or personal project and track metrics such as views, engagement, clicks, and follower growth. Then explain what you learned and what you would change.
Eva Lee
Marketing Manager
1
Answer
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Eva’s Answer
Lots of great perspectives and advice here! I was interested in doing marketing when I was in high school, but didn't know how many different areas of marketing there were, and I was at a few different marketing jobs before I figured out what I really enjoyed about marketing. While it's good to have some hard/technical skills like Excel, Powerpoint, Canva as an intern - your soft skills can go a long way when you don't have a lot of experience yet. There will always be a new platform or piece of technology you'll have to learn how to use. But being able to communicate effectively, collaborate well with others (there is A LOT of teamwork in marketing), having an open mind as well as a willingness to learn and problem-solve - these are all super valuable soft skills that will help you no matter which marketing field you decide to pursue. Give examples about your experiences with class team projects, any extra-curriculars (sports, music, volunteer, etc) you're involved in that demonstrate your soft skills. As someone who has interviewed marketing interns, that's the area I'm more interested in learning about than technical skills.
Claudia Lotero
Customer Success Manager
1
Answer
Mexico City, Mexico
Updated
Claudia’s Answer
Marketing is much more than spreadsheets and SQL. To prepare for an internship, you need to understand the customer, speak the industry language, and focus on the area of marketing you actually enjoy.
1. The Main Spheres of Marketing
Marketing isn't just data analysis—it splits into several core areas:
Brand & Content: Storytelling, copywriting, and building a loyal audience.
Product Marketing: Understanding customer needs and launching new products or features.
Growth & Performance: Managing paid ads (Google, Meta), SEO, and driving quick acquisition.
Lifecycle & CRM: Running email campaigns and retention programs to keep existing customers.
Social & Community: Managing platforms, creator partnerships, and brand voice.
Analytics & Operations: Funnel tracking and reporting (where Excel/SQL come in).
2. The 3 Essentials You Need
Understand the Customer Pipeline: Learn who the customer is, what pain points they have, and how your work helps guide them from hearing about a brand to making a purchase.
Speak the Marketing Language: Know basic industry terms so you can communicate clearly with team members (e.g., CAC for acquisition cost, LTV for lifetime value, CTR for click-through rate, and Positioning).
Show Genuine Excitement: Employers look for candidates who genuinely love the specific area they are applying for. Curiosity and passion beat memorized answers.
3. Portfolio Projects to Show Your Skills
Build a project centered around the specific part of marketing you are most excited to talk about. This proves both hard execution and soft strategic thinking:
If you love Brand/Content: Rewrite the landing page copy or plan a 30-day content campaign for a brand you like.
If you love Product Marketing: Pick a product, create a target customer persona, and outline a launch plan.
If you love Growth: Deconstruct an app's advertising funnel and propose 3 new ad concepts or landing page tests.
If you love CRM/Lifecycle: Design a 4-part automated welcome email sequence for an e-commerce brand.
Then ask your self....Which of these areas sounds like something I'd enjoy talking about most?
1. The Main Spheres of Marketing
Marketing isn't just data analysis—it splits into several core areas:
Brand & Content: Storytelling, copywriting, and building a loyal audience.
Product Marketing: Understanding customer needs and launching new products or features.
Growth & Performance: Managing paid ads (Google, Meta), SEO, and driving quick acquisition.
Lifecycle & CRM: Running email campaigns and retention programs to keep existing customers.
Social & Community: Managing platforms, creator partnerships, and brand voice.
Analytics & Operations: Funnel tracking and reporting (where Excel/SQL come in).
2. The 3 Essentials You Need
Understand the Customer Pipeline: Learn who the customer is, what pain points they have, and how your work helps guide them from hearing about a brand to making a purchase.
Speak the Marketing Language: Know basic industry terms so you can communicate clearly with team members (e.g., CAC for acquisition cost, LTV for lifetime value, CTR for click-through rate, and Positioning).
Show Genuine Excitement: Employers look for candidates who genuinely love the specific area they are applying for. Curiosity and passion beat memorized answers.
3. Portfolio Projects to Show Your Skills
Build a project centered around the specific part of marketing you are most excited to talk about. This proves both hard execution and soft strategic thinking:
If you love Brand/Content: Rewrite the landing page copy or plan a 30-day content campaign for a brand you like.
If you love Product Marketing: Pick a product, create a target customer persona, and outline a launch plan.
If you love Growth: Deconstruct an app's advertising funnel and propose 3 new ad concepts or landing page tests.
If you love CRM/Lifecycle: Design a 4-part automated welcome email sequence for an e-commerce brand.
Then ask your self....Which of these areas sounds like something I'd enjoy talking about most?
Connor Darwish
Marketing
3
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Connor’s Answer
Marketing is a huge field, so I’d start by exploring which parts interest you most: brand strategy, social media, content, consumer insights, analytics, or product marketing. The skills you need will vary by path, and you don’t need to master Excel, SQL, and programming to qualify for every marketing internship. Across most roles, clear writing, understanding an audience, interpreting data, and presenting recommendations are valuable. In my work in Commercial Product Strategy at Universal Orlando Resort, I partner with consumer insights, finance, and other teams to evaluate product ideas and determine how to bring them to market. Being able to connect customer needs with business goals is central to that work.
For projects, choose something that reflects the direction you want to explore: run a campaign for a student organization, audit a brand’s social presence, or develop a recommendation for a new product or offer. For a strategy-focused project, include the target audience, customer need, competitive research, positioning, basic financial assumptions, and measures of success. Put your work into a concise portfolio or slide deck, clearly identifying hypothetical work and including actual results when available. You don’t need a big budget or impressive follower count; show that you can research a problem, explain your choices, and learn from what happens.
For projects, choose something that reflects the direction you want to explore: run a campaign for a student organization, audit a brand’s social presence, or develop a recommendation for a new product or offer. For a strategy-focused project, include the target audience, customer need, competitive research, positioning, basic financial assumptions, and measures of success. Put your work into a concise portfolio or slide deck, clearly identifying hypothetical work and including actual results when available. You don’t need a big budget or impressive follower count; show that you can research a problem, explain your choices, and learn from what happens.
Aimee Tabor
Marketing
1
Answer
Newtown, Connecticut
Updated
Aimee’s Answer
I'd start by first asking yourself what function are you hoping to explore. There is a big difference between Marketing Analytics, trend analysis, research, execution tracking and something like Integrated Marketing or Marketing Communications (strategy and content/message development). Assume if you are asking about an internship, you are in college. I'd get as involved as possible in campus organizations where you can show and demonstrate experience of any kind (run a campaign, manage social media, event logistics - doesn't matter if it is for the school newspaper, a specific department of student government. Something that shows ability to take initiative and convert an idea into execution and evaluation (were you successful, what did you learn). This is the 'pre-experience' often needed to gain official experience!
Regardless of which side appeals to you, consider the impact of AI and approach it with the attitude not 'what part of my entry level job will AI replace' but with 'HOW WILL I use AI to do my job, better, faster, tailored by needed, etc.' So if you are a message developer, how you could use Copilot to train on a core message that you develop and then spit out versions tailored to different audience types. The human need and judgement is still there. If you are into analytics and campaign tracking, how can you use AI to follow trends, track competitors, create a dashboard to monitor progress, etc. It IS part of the job now and the more you have a taste and a desire to learn how to take advantage of it, the more appealing you will be as a candidate.
Regardless of which side appeals to you, consider the impact of AI and approach it with the attitude not 'what part of my entry level job will AI replace' but with 'HOW WILL I use AI to do my job, better, faster, tailored by needed, etc.' So if you are a message developer, how you could use Copilot to train on a core message that you develop and then spit out versions tailored to different audience types. The human need and judgement is still there. If you are into analytics and campaign tracking, how can you use AI to follow trends, track competitors, create a dashboard to monitor progress, etc. It IS part of the job now and the more you have a taste and a desire to learn how to take advantage of it, the more appealing you will be as a candidate.
Allison Zupancic
Business Strategy
3
Answers
Lockport, Illinois
Updated
Allison’s Answer
You've already got some great advice here! It's important to think about which area of marketing excites you the most. I didn't realize how many options there were early in my career, and you might not either until you start working. Internships are a fantastic way to gain experience and make connections.
I got my internship through someone I knew, and connections can be very powerful. I suggest looking into your network to see if anyone can help you find an internship. For example, I worked at an athletic club, and one of our personal training clients was a Head of Marketing at an ad agency. He offered me an internship where I assisted his Head of Strategy, which turned out to be an amazing experience. So, talk to people you know and see who they might know. If you're in college, ask your professors or university contacts for help.
Also, think about which marketing areas interest you, like Branding, Analytics, Strategy, Media, Product Marketing, SEO, or UX. Once you know your interests, you can focus on developing the right skills and finding suitable internships. Analytics is a particularly valuable skill, and understanding how data can reveal opportunities will make you stand out.
You're on the right track! Gaining experience and building your network are key steps to success. Keep going!
I got my internship through someone I knew, and connections can be very powerful. I suggest looking into your network to see if anyone can help you find an internship. For example, I worked at an athletic club, and one of our personal training clients was a Head of Marketing at an ad agency. He offered me an internship where I assisted his Head of Strategy, which turned out to be an amazing experience. So, talk to people you know and see who they might know. If you're in college, ask your professors or university contacts for help.
Also, think about which marketing areas interest you, like Branding, Analytics, Strategy, Media, Product Marketing, SEO, or UX. Once you know your interests, you can focus on developing the right skills and finding suitable internships. Analytics is a particularly valuable skill, and understanding how data can reveal opportunities will make you stand out.
You're on the right track! Gaining experience and building your network are key steps to success. Keep going!
Gareth Oystryk
Marketing Director
3
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Gareth’s Answer
You have some great advice to consider here. There are three things I'd focus on in your position:
- Choose a focus area: Marketing is a broad discipline that includes many different functions from audience and customer research, messaging and positioning, brand systems and creative, product launches, campaigns (social, email, paid media, etc.), events, analytics, and so on. Ideally, you'd select a function that allows you to leverage your strengths. Some functions are more about the creative, others about the strategy, and others about the numbers. So spend some time understanding your strengths and narrow down the functions that seem to both interest you and allow you to put your strengths to good use.
- Get some experience: Many colleges offer opportunities to develop marketing experience, whether that's through promoting events, helping with fundraising efforts or working with the student news team. Another possibility is volunteering with a non-profit, local church, or other community organization.
- Lean on your soft skills: Every company you intern with will require you to work with their own unique mix of tools. You'll typically learn those on the job, so I wouldn't worry too much about getting a bunch of experience with any particular tool set right now. When I interview prospective interns, I focus much more on their soft skills like their ability to think critically, collaborate well with others, navigate ambiguity, approach challenges with an open mindset, and communicate effectively both in written and spoken forms.
- Choose a focus area: Marketing is a broad discipline that includes many different functions from audience and customer research, messaging and positioning, brand systems and creative, product launches, campaigns (social, email, paid media, etc.), events, analytics, and so on. Ideally, you'd select a function that allows you to leverage your strengths. Some functions are more about the creative, others about the strategy, and others about the numbers. So spend some time understanding your strengths and narrow down the functions that seem to both interest you and allow you to put your strengths to good use.
- Get some experience: Many colleges offer opportunities to develop marketing experience, whether that's through promoting events, helping with fundraising efforts or working with the student news team. Another possibility is volunteering with a non-profit, local church, or other community organization.
- Lean on your soft skills: Every company you intern with will require you to work with their own unique mix of tools. You'll typically learn those on the job, so I wouldn't worry too much about getting a bunch of experience with any particular tool set right now. When I interview prospective interns, I focus much more on their soft skills like their ability to think critically, collaborate well with others, navigate ambiguity, approach challenges with an open mindset, and communicate effectively both in written and spoken forms.
Alessia Zucco
Digital marketing
1
Answer
Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Updated
Alessia’s Answer
Having basic data analytics skills and knowing key marketing metrics and software is a huge advantage. That said, it really depends on the company and the specific marketing role you're applying for. You might join a startup where you wear many hats, a structured enterprise focused on corporate comms and PR, or a digital agency handling social media and email marketing.
In my experience as a hiring manager, I’ve interviewed many interns across different companies. I usually ask straightforward questions and run quick, practical exercises on the spot. This allows me to assess their communication and presentation skills, creativity, and ability to understand audience and company positioning. For instance, I might ask them to draft an email presenting a campaign launch to their manager, outline a three-email workflow for an event invitation, or draft a few social media posts.
I’m definitely not expecting 100% perfection, I know the work might be incomplete or a bit off, and that's totally fine for a junior role. What I’m really looking at is the thought process: can you present ideas clearly? Do you stick to the brief? Do you consider the target audience? I love seeing a bit of creativity or an interesting angle, even if it's not fully fleshed out, and whether you bring any analytical thinking into the mix.
Hard Skills: you are already good with analytics. Then, having a foundation in basic marketing concepts (positioning, targeting, channel strategy) would be a great baseline too. From there, focus on what interests you. Take a look at junior or intern job postings on LinkedIn, pick the ones that stand out, and compare their requirements to your current skill set. That will show you exactly where to focus.
Soft Skills: focus on clear, structured communication. Also, bring genuine passion: study iconic campaigns from your favorite brands to see how they work.
Practice: try using an AI tool like an LLM to quiz you or generate quick marketing exercises so you can test your skills on the fly.
In my experience as a hiring manager, I’ve interviewed many interns across different companies. I usually ask straightforward questions and run quick, practical exercises on the spot. This allows me to assess their communication and presentation skills, creativity, and ability to understand audience and company positioning. For instance, I might ask them to draft an email presenting a campaign launch to their manager, outline a three-email workflow for an event invitation, or draft a few social media posts.
I’m definitely not expecting 100% perfection, I know the work might be incomplete or a bit off, and that's totally fine for a junior role. What I’m really looking at is the thought process: can you present ideas clearly? Do you stick to the brief? Do you consider the target audience? I love seeing a bit of creativity or an interesting angle, even if it's not fully fleshed out, and whether you bring any analytical thinking into the mix.
Alessia recommends the following next steps:
Josh Martin
Marketing
2
Answers
Lantana, TX
Updated
Josh’s Answer
Marketing is great because there is such a wide variety of skills that can be used! Technical skills like Excel and SQL are helpful for certain roles within marketing, but things like creativity, artistry, and copywriting are also really valuable.
Like many have shared, I think it is important to learn about all of the different aspects of marketing so you have a full picture. Learning about things like advertising, social media marketing, brand & creative, digital marketing, marketing analytics and others can help you to narrow down which aspects of marketing align closest with your goals. I got into marketing as an email marketer and have loved it ever since - it was such a natural fit for my skills and personality. There are so many tools that can help you learn about the different functions as well! Best of luck!
Like many have shared, I think it is important to learn about all of the different aspects of marketing so you have a full picture. Learning about things like advertising, social media marketing, brand & creative, digital marketing, marketing analytics and others can help you to narrow down which aspects of marketing align closest with your goals. I got into marketing as an email marketer and have loved it ever since - it was such a natural fit for my skills and personality. There are so many tools that can help you learn about the different functions as well! Best of luck!
Morgan Doyle
Global Marketing Leader
1
Answer
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Morgan’s Answer
Marketing offers a vast range of career paths, but at its core, it is about translation—understanding the value of a product or service and effectively communicating it to your target audience (B2B or B2C). The most critical foundation for this is Consumer Behavior and Psychology. Learning what drives decision-making, buying habits, and purchasing motivators—whether for an individual or an enterprise—is the single most impactful skill set you can develop.
Yesh Naidu
10
Answers
Updated
Yesh’s Answer
A few things you might want to do are get ready for the marketing skills you want to learn, like social ads, paid ads, or integrated marketing CRM. You're on the right track, and you can definitely achieve your goals!
Aee Germano
Workplace Service Delivery Analyst
25
Answers
Santa Rosa, Calabarzon, Philippines
Updated
Aee’s Answer
Hi there,
If you're into marketing, you're already on the right track with skills like Excel, SQL, and basic programming. To go further, it's a great idea to work on communication, data analysis, content creation, social media marketing, market research, and problem-solving. Knowing how people think and telling a story with data are also super useful.
For some hands-on practice, you might try running a social media campaign, setting up a personal website or blog, looking at marketing data to spot trends, or coming up with a mock marketing plan for a product or business. Getting certifications in things like Google Analytics or digital marketing can also boost your resume.
Above all, show that you can think outside the box, understand customers, and make decisions based on data. Employers really appreciate hands-on experience and taking initiative, especially for internships and entry-level marketing jobs.
If you're into marketing, you're already on the right track with skills like Excel, SQL, and basic programming. To go further, it's a great idea to work on communication, data analysis, content creation, social media marketing, market research, and problem-solving. Knowing how people think and telling a story with data are also super useful.
For some hands-on practice, you might try running a social media campaign, setting up a personal website or blog, looking at marketing data to spot trends, or coming up with a mock marketing plan for a product or business. Getting certifications in things like Google Analytics or digital marketing can also boost your resume.
Above all, show that you can think outside the box, understand customers, and make decisions based on data. Employers really appreciate hands-on experience and taking initiative, especially for internships and entry-level marketing jobs.
Kareena Patel
Product Marketing
4
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Kareena’s Answer
Hi there! It's great that you're considering marketing internships. You're definitely on the right path.
Skills to focus on:
Beyond Excel and SQL, marketing is about telling stories and understanding people. Work on your communication skills, learn data visualization tools like Tableau, get familiar with Google Analytics, and explore social media strategies. It's also helpful to learn a basic marketing tool like HubSpot. Stay curious about how brands promote themselves, as this awareness is important. Exploring different areas of marketing will help you find what you enjoy most. There's so much to discover! A lot of skills you do learn on the job, so don't feel like you need all of these to succeed.
Projects to build:
Here are some ideas... You could run a social media campaign for a small business or nonprofit and track the results. Try creating a case study on a brand's marketing strategy. If possible, manage a small digital marketing budget and measure the return on investment. Pick a project that matches your interests in marketing to see if it's something you enjoy.
Your friend who was an intern is a great resource. Ask them about their daily tasks and what they wish they had known before starting.
You can do this!
Skills to focus on:
Beyond Excel and SQL, marketing is about telling stories and understanding people. Work on your communication skills, learn data visualization tools like Tableau, get familiar with Google Analytics, and explore social media strategies. It's also helpful to learn a basic marketing tool like HubSpot. Stay curious about how brands promote themselves, as this awareness is important. Exploring different areas of marketing will help you find what you enjoy most. There's so much to discover! A lot of skills you do learn on the job, so don't feel like you need all of these to succeed.
Projects to build:
Here are some ideas... You could run a social media campaign for a small business or nonprofit and track the results. Try creating a case study on a brand's marketing strategy. If possible, manage a small digital marketing budget and measure the return on investment. Pick a project that matches your interests in marketing to see if it's something you enjoy.
Your friend who was an intern is a great resource. Ask them about their daily tasks and what they wish they had known before starting.
You can do this!