Spoiler alert! Breaking into digital marketing in 2025 isn’t just about having a flashy resume or knowing your ROAS from your ROI.
It’s about creativity and a serious respect for the details.
Switching careers? Fresh out of a course? Trying to get your foot in the door?
From 2023 to 2033, the total number of jobs for managers of marketing, promotions, and advertising is expected to increase by 8%, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Danny Gavin, Founder of Optidge, recently sat down with marketing strategist and hiring insider Faigy Gilder, a nonprofit marketing consultant, who’s reviewed countless applications – and she didn’t hold back. Think of it like grabbing coffee with a brutally honest mentor who actually wants you to win.
So, what really matters when applying for digital marketing jobs today?
The 2025 Digital Marketing Hiring Landscape
The digital marketing job market in 2025? Competitive is an understatement.
Marketing for beginners has never been more accessible, but that also means there are a lot of entry-level applicants – and not all of them know how to stand out.
What sets candidates apart isn’t just raw skills, it’s how they package and present those skills – especially during a pivot from nontraditional backgrounds.
“If you’re not paying attention to how you show up on paper, you’re probably not going to get a chance to show up in person.” – Faigy Gilder
Amazing marketers come from all walks of life. The trick? Learn how to tell your story in a way that clicks with hiring managers and maximizes transferable skills.
Common Application Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
Let’s get into it. Here are the most common things that make Faigy – and likely every hiring manager – cringe:
1. Typos (Yes, Still)
Marketing is communication. If your spelling and grammar are off in your application, what does that say about your attention to detail?
Triple-check. Read it out loud. Ask ChatGPT. Send it to a friend. Just DON’T send it in sloppily.
2. Generic Cover Letters
If your letter starts with “Dear Hiring Manager”… DON’T SEND IT. Hiring managers don’t want it.
Be specific, be human, and make it obvious why you want this role. Yes, we understand the market is competitive, and you probably send in 100 applications today alone. That is why you need to be specific – make us want YOU. Your cover letter is even better if you:
- Use the company name.
- Mention something from a recent campaign.
- Show you’ve done your homework on the company.
3. Lack of Clarity
“I get resumes where I still can’t tell what the person actually wants to do,” Faigy says. Your materials should paint a clear picture.
Prepare your resume and summary for the role you’re applying to. If it’s content, lead with content. If it’s ads, lead with paid media experience. And always, lead with clarity.
Craft an Impressive Digital Marketing Portfolio
Here’s the good news: You don’t need a decade of agency experience to build a portfolio that WOWS. You just need evidence of your thinking.
“I want to see how someone solves problems. What their process looks like. What they care about.” — Faigy Gilder
Include:
- Case studies and success stories (even from class projects!)
- Volunteer campaigns you’ve helped run
- Screenshots of mockups of email or ad strategies
- Reflections on what worked, what didn’t, and what you’d change
Don’t have real client experience yet? Volunteer. Partner with a local nonprofit. Offer to help a friend’s small business with their social media. It all counts.
Translate Experience to Marketing Skills
Many new marketers and students at ODEO Academy, come from other fields – and that’s not a disadvantage. In fact, your previous experience might make you a stronger marketer. In doubt? Here’s how and why…
Teachers → Content Strategists
Lesson planning? That’s content development. Classroom management? Well, hello project management. Assessments? Similar to analytics.
Nonprofit Professionals → Brand Marketers
Tight budgets. Mission-driven messaging. Juggling many hats aligns with marketing strategy.
Admins → CRM and Ops Specialists
You’ve already got the organizational and customer service skills – just learn and plug in the tools.
The goal is to translate what you’ve done into what marketing needs because there are many transferable skills gained from a variety of other professions that can be effectively applied to marketing roles.
If you’re not sure where to start, take a beginner’s marketing class. They can help you network, and learn how to best apply your skills – directly from long-term professionals and mentors.
The Soft Skills That (Really) Matter
Sure, you can learn Meta Ads Manager or an advanced marketing tool. But there’s no shortcut to becoming the kind of teammate or strategist people want to work with. There are three soft skills that always stand out for applicants, according to Faigy:
1. Empathy
Marketing is all about understanding people. If you can’t put yourself in someone else’s shoes – whether it’s a customer or a coworker – you’ll struggle to make an impact.
2. Initiative
Did you teach yourself how to run a Google Ads campaign? Launch a personal newsletter? Tinker with SEO for a blog? Talk about it. Hiring managers love seeing curiosity and hustle.
3. Attention to Detail
Whether it’s formatting a report or catching a broken link in an email, this skill builds trust. And in marketing, trust is everything.
“I’ve hired people not because they had the most experience, but because they showed they cared—about the work, about the team, about getting it right.” — Faigy Gilder
You’re Closer Than You Think
If you’re still reading this, it means you care – and that already puts you ahead of many applicants.
Yes, the hiring process can be frustrating. Yes, digital marketing jobs can feel out of reach. But you’re not starting from zero. You’re repositioning.
Every project you’ve done, every skill you’ve picked up, every class you’ve taken – it counts.
So, here’s a to-do list:
- Polish your resume (no typos!)
- Personalize your cover letter
- Build your portfolio (even with volunteer work)
- Translate your past experience into marketing terms
- Invest in community and mentorship
And most importantly… don’t wait to be picked. Start reaching out, networking, applying. Your first job won’t be your last, but it will be the foundation.
Are you ready to take the next step?
ODEO Academy exists to help you bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Through mentorship, continued education, and a powerful network of marketing professionals behind you – together, we’ll make your goals actually achievable.
Discover how ODEO can help you build your digital marketing career.