Today’s students are living in a world that is becoming more and more digitally active. They’re fluent in the ways of the web and a career in digital marketing can seem like a natural course of action.
To enable you to help those interested, Lilli Hender from web-based marketplace Office Genie, has the following suggestions about what’s necessary to help budding marketers.
Excel in IT
When most (if not all) of the tasks associated with a digital marketing role involve a computer, it’s very important to grasp the fundamentals. A working knowledge of tools such as Excel and Google Drive will help to mark candidates out from the competition – particularly when skills tests are a common occurrence in interviews.
Home computer use and online tasks completed in school will equip children with the basics. Encouraging students to opt for IT related courses at GCSE and A Level will enable them to fill in any gaps in their knowledge.
The best of the rest
It’s crucial for children to leave education with impeccable grammar and spelling consequently paying attention in English Literature and Language lessons is a must. Composing a CV and corresponding via email are the first steps to tackle on the career ladder and incorrect spelling or grammar really lets a good application down.
Stressing the importance of Maths will also work wonders when it comes to student bagging a job in digital marketing. As with all business, having a good head for numbers helps a great deal.
Due to the fact companies of every kind have digital marketing needs, when it comes to selecting GCSE and A Level options, students don’t have to limit their choices for their career. If however, they have a keen interest in digital marketing, the following subjects can be of great use:
- Information Technology
- Media Studies
- Business Studies
- Graphic Design
- Art
- Economics
- Psychology
- Foreign Languages
All the extras
With a shortage of web development talent, coding is becoming increasingly common in the curriculum. Many schools are hosting after-school coding clubs and a great way to introduce children to coding is through Codecademy.
It’s a free educational resource that gives people a chance to learn to code, from HTML and CSS courses to Javascript. The courses take several hours to complete and use repetition and quizzes to help users walk away with up-to-date coding skills. If students demonstrate a keen interest in how the web works, it’s worth encouraging them to learn about search engine optimisation, pay per click advertising, and other digital marketing techniques. Blogs such as MOZ, Econsulantcy, and Search Engine Land are advanced but they will be learning from the experts.
Lots of time is spent trying to get children away from social media but when it comes to digital marketing having an active profile on the various platforms can come in handy. Social media is an increasing part of most marketing strategies so the more you know, the better.
Even activities such as designing posters for sports days and school plays serve as great introductions to the sector.
Beyond the school gates
The best way to get a feel for digital marketing is through experiencing it first hand. One way to do this is by writing to local marketing firms in time for Year 10 work experience week to see if they’re open to taking on potential interns. Digital marketing apprenticeships are becoming more and more popular and it’s a great way to earn while you learn. School leavers will gain a nationally nationally recognised qualification over the course of one to five years and can earn in excess of £3.30 per hour. It’s a brilliant way to begin a digital marketing career.
Alternatively, there are lots of digitally-focussed college and university courses that serve as stepping stones to a digital marketing career. It’s an exciting sector to be part of and one that will go from strength to strength in the years to come. A little encouragement goes a long way and with these tips, your students are sure to be well equipped to bring their best to a digital marketing role.
Lilli Hender works for Office Genie: an online desk and office space marketplace. It is part of the larger company Genie Ventures: a Cambridge-based digital marketing agency.
