How to Get Into Marketing Without a Degree

In this guide for how to get into marketing without a degree, you'll find several methods for boosting your chances to work in this exciting field. Learn about skills you can hone, getting an internship, marketing courses, and bootcamps to take, building your brand, creating a resume and portfolio, and more.

Can you become a marketer without a degree?  

Yes, if you have a keen interest in marketing and a drive to succeed, it's possible you could break into the field without a degree, especially if you have a plan. Although most people in marketing hold a bachelor's degree, about 5 percent of marketing professionals have a high school diploma and no college degree, according to statistics from Zippia [1].   

How to get into marketing without a degree

While it might be more challenging to break into marketing without a degree, it's not impossible. Try a few or several of these strategies to improve your chances.  

1. Hone your marketing skills. 

No matter the job, an employer wants to fill it with a qualified candidate. Even without a degree, you can show you're qualified for a marketing position by honing certain technical and workplace skills. 

Important technical skills for marketing professionals include:

• Data analysis

• Graphic design

• Search engine marketing (SEM)

• Search engine optimization (SEO)

• Social media marketing

• Writing and editing

Important workplace skills for marketing professionals include:

• Attention to detail

• Communication

• Creativity

• Critical thinking

• Problem-solving

• Time management

2. Consider boot camps or certificates.

To improve your marketing skills, consider enrolling in boot camps or getting marketing-related certificates. Boot camps typically last about four months, and certificate programs last four to 12 months. 

These types of training differ in terms of college credit. While you likely won't get college credit for a boot camp, you can get college credit for a certificate program, even if it's offered outside a college or university. 

3. Build your professional network.  

Networking with professionals in the marketing industry allows you to make valuable contacts, and some of these contacts might have information about job openings. You can find opportunities to build your professional network by:

• Frequenting marketing-related events 

• Optimizing your professional social media profile

• Joining a professional marketing association

• Attending marketing industry job fairs

4. Create a stellar resume and portfolio. 

The quality of your professional resume and portfolio can play a big part in getting the marketing position you want. Make sure your resume contains all essential information by including the following elements:

• Name and contact information 

• Introductory paragraph (a few sentences explaining who you are, why you want the job, and what you can contribute)

• Any relevant work history

• Any relevant education (including online courses, bootcamps, and certificates)

• Any marketing-related skills

Your portfolio offers a potential employer an illustration of your marketing skills. When creating your marketing portfolio, make sure it contains:

• A homepage with a professional headshot and a catchy personal branding statement 

• An "About You" page offering a short professional biography

• Digital samples of your work (projects from courses you've taken, freelance work, or hypothetical projects)

6. Apply for an internship.

Consider applying for an internship to gain valuable skills that can help you get a marketing job. This unpaid job opportunity can help you build technical skills like market research, data analysis, writing and editing, and social media marketing. If you perform well in your marketing intern role, you might even get a paid position with your sponsoring company.  

You can find a marketing internship by:

• Checking online job sites 

• Visiting your local job service center

• Attending marketing industry job fairs

• Calling local companies directly to inquire about internship opportunities

7. Build your own brand.

A strong personal brand allows potential employers and fellow marketers to learn more about your personality, values, skills, and experience. It presents you in a positive light and allows you to stand out from other job candidates.

To build a strong personal brand, take advantage of these tips:

• Use strategies like self-reflection and vision boards to become familiar with your strengths. 

• Consider what traits (honesty, cooperation, creativity, etc.) make up your "brand personality." 

• Create a quick pitch emphasizing your strengths in case you need it at marketing events or career fairs. 

• Take a public speaking course to get comfortable networking with marketing professionals. 

• Engage in self-promotion through your personal and professional social media profiles.

8. Look for entry-level jobs that may not require a degree.  

To work your way up in marketing, look for entry-level jobs that may not require a college degree. Some examples of jobs that offer entry into the marketing industry include:

• Account coordinator

• Advertising assistant

• Marketing assistant

• Media assistant

• Public relations assistant

• Retail manager

• Social media coordinator

9. Apply for jobs that require a degree.

If you feel ready to get into marketing after an internship and several marketing courses, you may want to apply for jobs even if they require a degree. Just applying shows a potential employer you have confidence and initiative. That, combined with a well-written resume and a great interview, might just get you the job. 

Improve your chances for a great interview with these suggestions:

• Arrive early.

• Shake your interviewer's hand and maintain eye contact.

• Appear relaxed by accepting a beverage if offered.

• Research the company thoroughly.

• Know the job description completely.

• Practice answering interview questions.

• Ask good questions.

• Reiterate your interest in the job and thank your interviewer before leaving.

• Follow up with a thank you email. 

10. Try freelancing.

To break into the marketing field, consider freelancing, especially if you feel comfortable with a niche like direct marketing, email marketing, or SEO. Great ways to build your client list include:

• Offering discounts to new clients through social media and local community apps

• Showing your expertise by authoring a marketing blog

• Commenting on other marketing blogs to help establish your brand

• Participating in online or in-person events that might interest potential clients

Reasons to consider earning your marketing degree   

Although you might not be ready to pursue a degree right now, you may decide to get one in the future. Good reasons to consider earning your marketing degree include:

• Job security: A bachelor's in marketing can lead to many types of jobs, and the field should remain relevant in the distant future.

• Positive job outlook: The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers to grow by about 8 percent in the decade from 2023 to 2033, which measures above average compared to other jobs [2].

• Good pay: According to Glassdoor, the average annual pay for a marketing manager (who usually requires a bachelor's) is $81,131 [3], while the average annual pay for a marketing assistant (who might not require a bachelor's) is $47,168 [4].

• Learning opportunity: Because the field of marketing changes as technology and consumer attitudes change, a bachelor's in marketing provides many new learning opportunities.  

Getting started with Coursera

To learn new marketing skills, consider taking the Digital Marketing Specialization on Coursera offered by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This seven-course series covers a variety of subjects, including brand communication, digital marketing, content marketing, customer data collection, marketing analytics, search marketing, and more. At 10 hours per week, you can finish in about four months, and you'll earn a career certificate for your resume.