How to Find Work Experience in Marketing

Let’s think about the force of marketing for a sec. It’s basically like a superpower brands use to engage buyers across the world and encourage them to hit the ‘buy’ button.

Marketing is more than just running ads – it’s the perfect blend of behavioural psychology and creativity. Wouldn’t that be the perfect job?

Landing work experience in this field isn’t just about filling a gap on your CV – it’s about gaining practical skills to support your marketing apprenticeship and job applications. This guide will equip you with the knowledge of what you’ll gain during a placement and, more importantly, point you towards real opportunities to kickstart your marketing journey.

What will you learn through work experience in marketing?

Applying for work experience in marketing is like getting a backstage pass to the secret world of brand building and audience engagement. After all, these are the pillars that all successful businesses are built on. While your specific tasks will vary depending on the company and placement you choose, one thing’s for sure: you’ll gain a valuable and comprehensive toolkit of essential skills.

Firstly, you’ll get hands-on experience with marketing fundamentals. This real-world training might involve understanding the four Ps (product, price, place, promotion), learning about market research techniques, and gaining insights into how marketing strategies are developed.

Nowadays, digital marketing is the number one buzzword. You can also expect to gain experience in various digital marketing channels, such as learning about search engine optimisation (SEO) and email marketing campaigns.

7 exciting career paths in marketing

You can take many specialisation pathways after completing work experience in marketing. Here are just a few ideas to get your inspiration flowing.

1. Digital Marketing Specialist: The champion of the online world, managing social media campaigns, SEO, content marketing, email marketing and online advertising to build a brand’s presence.
2. Social Media Manager: The voice of a brand online, crafting engaging content, managing communities, running social media campaigns and analysing performance to build a loyal following.
3. Content Marketing Manager: Brand storyteller through various content formats like blog posts, articles, videos, infographics and ebooks to attract and retain a defined audience.
4. Marketing Analyst: Data wizard who understands consumer behaviour, evaluates campaign performance and provides insights that inform marketing strategies and drive better results.
5. Advertising Executive: Campaign creator who manages advertising campaigns across different media, working with creative teams and media buyers to reach target audiences.
6. Email Marketing Specialist: Expert in crafting and managing email campaigns to nurture leads and promote products or services.
7. Market Research Analyst: Trendsetter who analyses data on consumer trends and market activities to provide valuable insights for marketing decisions.

The hottest marketing work experience placements on the market right now

DreamWorks

Want to make magic? Animation studio DreamWorks accepts students three times a year for 10-week, paid work experience opportunities. Don’t fancy moving to LA? The Launch Fellowship Program is a completely remote 8-week talent development and mentorship opportunity.

Channel 4

Channel 4’s virtual work experience goes live three times per year. This programme is designed to give you an in-depth understanding of media and marketing. Plus, you’ll get access to additional support via Channel 4’s CV Clinic and 4Skills resources.

The Good Marketer

The Good Marketer is a successful London-based agency that offers media work experience to A Level students. Their website features reviews of previous learners’ experiences, so you can see what’s up before diving in.

Rixxo

B2B agency Rixxo offers work experience placements in content marketing, graphic design and website development. Each one lasts for 2-4 weeks, and you’ll have the option to work from home or their office in Bristol. The projects include working on user-generated content (UGC), eCommerce websites and more.  

Take the first step into marketing

You might start with marketing fundamentals in a work experience placement, but you’ll progress to strategic campaigns in no time when you apply for jobs and apprenticeships in marketing.

So, what should you do now? Start by reading this ultimate guide before embarking on your first work experience placement. Then, discover opportunities that excite you, so you can kickstart your career.