3 Ways to Get Into Marketing (Without A Degree)

When I was applying for college, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life career-wise. Marketing wasn’t something I heard or knew anything about at the time, even though I now know that it would have aligned perfectly with all of my interests. All I knew back then was that programming was an option, because that’s what both of my parents studied when they were my age. I also knew that I could become a doctor, a lawyer, a scientist, and a number of other things that I had grown up to believe were traditionally “good” career choices. But what could I possibly do with my interest in and love for writing, promotion, socializing, and social media? Everyone in my life at the time – from career advisors, to guidance counselors, to family members, to friends – encouraged me to pursue a degree in anything but these areas. They told me to get a traditionally “useful” degree. Foolishly, I listened to them, rather than doing my own research. Because if I did even just a bit of sleuthing online, I would have discovered that marketing was the career for me.

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But, instead of pursuing a degree in a marketing-related topic, I found myself starting a bachelor’s degree in business economics, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in international relations, and finishing my studies with a master’s degree in political science. Amidst all those studies, I caught myself thinking about one thing: what will I do after I graduate? The answer to that question ended up being simple: marketing. And, let me tell you: I have been loving every moment of it since!

To this day, people often ask me: “How did a background in business economics and political science open doors for you in the world of marketing?” My answer is always quite simple: it didn’t. At least not in the traditional sense.

So, if you’re looking to get into the world of marketing without an academic background in the field, don’t worry. Let me give you some insights into exactly how you can make that happen.

(1) Repurpose your past experience. Did you work as a babysitter for a while? Do you have experience in retail? Did you spend some time programming? Do you have a degree in graphic design? Did you study math in college? You might not realize it, but the skills you gained from jobs and college programs like these (and more!) can prove relevant to your desired job in marketing.

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Working as a babysitter teaches you people and promotion skills. After all, how else would you get yourself and your services to stand out from the rest? Experience in retail means you’re a problem solver, extremely adaptable, and great under pressure. If you’ve got a background in programming, it means that you’re probably pretty good with computers. If you’ve done graphic design, then you’ve got an eye for detail and a knack for creating user-friendly designs. A college degree in math means you’re good with numbers, details, and data.

What do all of those skills have in common? They’re incredibly relevant for a marketer in any branch of marketing. What else do they have in common? The fact that they can be gained in any academic field or area of work.

(2) Take some free online courses. Learning about marketing doesn’t necessarily mean investing in expensive textbooks, taking college classes, or enrolling in a full-on university program. The Internet is a great resource for those who are looking to learn more about marketing without spending a dime. Websites like HubSpot offer dozens of free marketing courses you can take to learn more about the specific marketing topics that are most relevant and interesting to you. Plus, with the help of HubSpot, you can even take assessments and get free certifications to include on your resume!

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(3) Create your own work experience. Just because you’ve never had a job in marketing, and you didn’t study marketing, it doesn’t mean you have to apply for marketing jobs with an empty resume. The best way to learn hands-on at the beginning of your marketing career is to create your own experience. If you’re interested in social media marketing, work on building an online presence with your personal accounts on your social media platforms of interest. If content marketing is what you’re into, start a blog and practice your writing skills. If video marketing is the type of marketing that you’re looking to develop yourself in, start a YouTube channel with which you can practice developing a worthwhile online video presence. If you rely on companies to give you a shot with no experience or relevant background, you’ll find that your options are extremely limited. Meanwhile, the possibilities are endless when you’re making your own experience.

And, there you have it: just because you don’t have an official academic or professional background in marketing, it doesn’t mean that you’re unable to pursue a career in the field. With all of the free resources out there, as well as the opportunities to build your own experience, there’s a plethora of ways in which you can make a name for yourself in the world of marketing.