Getting started in Digital

Finishing university is a weird and wonderful time for most graduates. There’s a huge sense of achievement and excitement for what lies ahead – but there can also be uncertainty and confusion. It’s not the same for everyone. Some graduates will know exactly what they want to do; they might even have internships or a grad scheme in the bag already. Others won’t know what’s next – and that was definitely the case for me. 

I graduated from Portsmouth University six years ago and it took me a lot of time and deliberation – not to mention trial and error – before finding myself in my current role as Organic’s Marketing Manager. It was a while before I was able to decide on pursuing a career in digital – and even then, I still needed to work out what area of digital I wanted to become an expert in.

It can be a daunting position to be in. I remember seeing everyone from university finding their first grad jobs while I was struggling to get a job in retail to get out of my overdraft. A lot of grad jobs I came across still required some initial experience to get a foot in the door, and it can begin to feel like you’re trapped in an endless loop. 

So how did I escape it? And how did I get started in digital marketing? Here’s my advice to those thinking about their next steps after university: 

Don’t worry if you don’t have a clear career roadmap

I did unpaid work, went to many job interviews, and found myself in roles that just weren’t the right cultural fit. 

It’s also worth mentioning that my degree was actually a BSc in Television and Broadcasting – nothing to do with digital marketing. As one of many graduates without a clear career roadmap, I spent days Googling my degree, and thinking about what I enjoy doing and my skill-set. 

Figuring out your career path is a process and it’s perfectly normal for that path to take some twists and turns. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and remember, if it turns out that a role is not quite what you thought it would be, acknowledge that it’s not right for you. Don’t make yourself unhappy. 

Get some experience

Getting some experience to discover what works for you never goes amiss. Try different things out and start building up your work experience as soon as you can. I worked in retail for ethical beauty brand Lush but I was lucky enough to gain social media and film experience during my time there. You never know where opportunities might lead and this experience has stood me in good stead in terms of gaining vital digital marketing skills. 

And if things don’t quite go to plan – perhaps you don’t manage to land that internship or a particular role – don’t get disheartened. Try to make the best of the situation. For example, it can be an opportunity to gain valuable feedback on your CV or your interview technique. 

Think about what you’d find fulfilling

I knew I wanted to work in a thriving, forward-thinking industry with a lot of capacity for innovation – and one which had some real significance in people’s day-to-day lives. Plus, I love finding ways to engage and connect with people; it’s something I find really motivating and rewarding. Digital marketing stood out to me as something that could be the perfect fit and I took the skills I gained at university and thought about how I could transfer them into a digital marketing role. 

Consider a career in digital 

When it comes to my advice on getting into digital itself – the first thing I’d say is do it! It’s a great idea and not least because the field of ‘digital’ is so broad with so many opportunities within it – marketing, development, user experience, content, graphic design, SEO and more. 

Plus, the opportunities for professional development are significant, so there’s a lot of room to grow and expand your role as your career develops. Since being at Organic I’ve obtained a diploma to become a Certified Digital Marketing Specialist, as well as undertaking free qualifications with Google. You’ll learn so much from the talented specialists you’ll be working with too.

Get connected 

Stuck on where to begin? You might start by getting your LinkedIn profile up and running. If you’ve got a good idea of where you want to be headed with your career in digital then make sure your relevant experience is clearly stated if you have it – and if not, or if you’re still unsure about the direction you want to take, there’s a lot to be said for those transferable skills. 

Make it clear that you’re seeking opportunities and don’t be shy to make LinkedIn connections with relevant recruiters and companies either. Check out other people’s profiles as well. Seek out those in positions which are similar to what you’re looking to be in in the future and don’t be afraid to ask for their advice on how they got there; you might be surprised at how many people are happy to help. 

Working in digital can also be a chance to make a difference. We live a lot of our lives digitally these days and that means what happens online can have a real, tangible impact. This is something that Organic has recognised and harnessed through its Digital For Good ethos, striving to make a positive difference for our clients, their customers and the wider world through the work we do. This was a huge motivational factor when I joined Organic, and I love that digital can be used to do great things and bring about change for the better.