jobs guide

A Post-2020 Guide to Getting Hired in the Marketing Industry

We spoke to everyone from CMOs to interns about everything you need to know when it comes to getting hired right now.
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Francis Scialabba

3 min read

On March 13th, at the start of the pandemic, I was laid off from a job at a social media marketing startup. I’d worked there for less than a year.

Although I don’t think I’ve ever felt more alone than I did on “Black Thursday,” I actually wasn’t alone at all. By 2021, Forrester estimates that 50,000 marketing and advertising jobs will be lost just on the agency side of the industry.

That day, which economists have since dubbed “Black Thursday 2020,” seems so long ago now. I’ve since been hired at Morning Brew, launched a newsletter with over 100,000 readers, and deepened my marketing knowledge far beyond social.

Since I started writing Marketing Brew this past summer, I’ve heard from readers who were among those laid off, furloughed, or somewhere in between. And, better yet, I’ve also heard from readers who were laid off and have since found dream jobs.

This series is an attempt to pass along some wisdom for those who are still looking for a marketing gig. We spoke to everyone from CMOs to interns about everything you need to know when it comes to getting hired right now.

Happy reading, and happy hunting.

Chapter One: In-House

Francis Scialabba

Selected wisdom:

  • "The number one thing marketing candidates should be maximizing right now is how they show up online—whether it’s through a website or social media." —Squarespace CMO Kinjil Mathur
  • "The difference between early 2020 and now is that you will need to keep reminding yourself that the rejection is not personal and that you must keep going." —Amanda Nachman, founder and CEO of College Magazine and more

Click here to hear more from Kinjil, Amanda, and others.

Chapter Two: Creative/Media Agency

jobs guide agency

Francis Scialabba

Selected wisdom:

  • "Right now I am very excited to meet people who have more hybrid or eclectic skill sets—a designer who loves photography, a copywriter who puts together gorgeous presentations." —Emily Heyward, Red Antler Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer
  • "I have heart for interviewees that are earnest when they don't know the answer to a question, but instead ask questions to learn more about an aspect of the job." —Anthony Hagan, director of social media at Mustache.
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Click here to hear more from Emily, Anthony, and others.

Chapter Three: PR/Comms

pr jobs guide

Francis Scialabba

Selected wisdom:

  • "We always look for candidates who are deeply creative, and can easily think on their feet, but now that we’re in a period of ongoing uncertainty, adaptability from an operational perspective has moved up the list." —CEO of Small Girls PR Mallory Blair
  • "Don’t give up. This is a time to be resilient. You may hear a lot of “no”s right now. Heck, you may hear a lot of silence right now. I know that’s what I heard in 2008. There is no option but to just keep going and keep trying. Take every email introduction and phone call someone is willing to give you." —Sara Giles, Senior Vice President at Small Girls PR

Click here to learn more from Mallory, Sara, and others.

Chapter Four: Publishers

jobs guide publisher marketing brew

Francis Scialabba

Selected wisdom:

  • "No longer can you just focus on hiring for the immediate needs of today, you need to expand your teams with people who can drive business into future growth areas and opportunities." —Group Nine Media Chief Strategy Officer Rachel Baumgarten
  • "Instead of applying to marketing roles at just any publication, first look within. Ask yourself what you care about, what interests you most." —Amanda Nachman, founder and CEO of College Magazine and more

Click here to learn more from Rachel and Amanda.

Get marketing news you'll actually want to read

Marketing Brew informs marketing pros of the latest on brand strategy, social media, and ad tech via our weekday newsletter, virtual events, marketing conferences, and digital guides.

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