How to Land a Digital Marketing Job Without an Agency Background
Breaking into the digital marketing world can feel intimidating, especially if you don’t come from a traditional agency background. Maybe you've been working in a different field, doing freelance projects, or managing marketing efforts for a small business or nonprofit. Whatever your path, the good news is that there is space in the digital marketing industry for people with diverse experiences.
Here's how to position yourself as a strong candidate and confidently step into your first (or next) digital marketing role:
Transferable Skills
Lean Into Transferable Skills
You don’t need to have "Agency Experience" stamped on your resume to prove your worth. In fact, many roles outside of agencies build foundational marketing skills that are directly applicable. Think about roles where you've needed to communicate ideas, coordinate projects, analyze performance, or create compelling content. These experiences can come from nonprofit work, internal communications, retail, education, or even entrepreneurial side hustles.
For example, maybe you led a fundraiser campaign that involved crafting email newsletters and social media posts. Or perhaps you managed your company’s internal communications, refining messages for different audiences. These are marketing skills in action. The key is to reflect on these tasks and learn how to frame them in a way that speaks to hiring managers. Show that you understand audiences, that you can tell a story, and that you're comfortable analyzing and adapting strategies.
Build a Portfolio
Build a Portfolio—Even if You Haven’t Had Clients
A strong portfolio can demonstrate your abilities more effectively than a list of job titles. If you haven’t had formal marketing clients or full-time roles, take the initiative to build sample work. Choose a brand—real or fictional—and create a mock social media strategy, a blog post with an SEO focus, or an email marketing funnel. You can even analyze the digital presence of a company and suggest improvements.
Personal projects are just as valid. Have a blog where you write about tech trends or fashion? Built a following on TikTok or Instagram? Started a small e-commerce store and ran paid ads? These are all experiences that demonstrate your understanding of digital marketing principles.
When you show your thought process, creativity, and ability to execute from start to finish, you build credibility, regardless of where the project originated.
Get Certified
Get Certified and Stay Current
Digital marketing is a fast-moving field, and one of the best ways to show your commitment to learning is through certifications and continuous education. Platforms like Google, HubSpot, Meta, SEMrush, and LinkedIn Learning offer accessible courses that teach everything from SEO fundamentals to advanced paid advertising strategies.
Certifications not only add credibility to your resume, but they also give you practical, up-to-date knowledge that employers are looking for. Plus, they show you're proactive—a quality that stands out. Even if you commit just one or two hours per week to learning, over a few months you'll accumulate a deeper understanding and confidence in key marketing areas.
Important Metrics
Focus on the Metrics That Matter
One thing hiring managers love is impact. Numbers provide concrete evidence that you understand goals, track results, and optimize for success. Don’t just say you "managed social media accounts"—say you "grew Instagram engagement by 40% in three months through a revised content strategy."
Even if you’re working on a personal project or side hustle, look for ways to measure success. Have your website visits increased? Did your open rate improve after testing subject lines? Did a blog post rank on the first page of Google? These metrics tell your story in a way that generic descriptions never could. Always tie your actions to an outcome.
Tailored Resume
Tailor Your Resume to Speak Their Language
Generic resumes rarely make it past the first scan. Employers want to know that you understand their needs and that you speak the same language. Carefully review job descriptions and note the tools, platforms, and results they value. Incorporate those keywords naturally into your resume.
But beyond the buzzwords, your resume should have a clear narrative. Show that you understand digital marketing concepts, that you've applied them in real scenarios (even if informal), and that you’re comfortable using tools like Canva, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, Meta Business Suite, or others. Focus on clarity, structure, and impact. A well-designed, results-driven resume with quantifiable outcomes will speak volumes.
If you’re not sure how to present your skills, we’ve created a Digital Marketing Specialist Resume Template to help you structure your experience effectively.
Networking
Network Authentically and Ask Questions
Networking doesn’t have to feel transactional or intimidating. In fact, some of the most valuable connections come from genuine conversations. Start by joining communities where digital marketers gather—LinkedIn groups, Twitter/X chats, Slack communities, or virtual meetups. Listen, contribute thoughtfully, and ask questions that show your curiosity.
Reaching out to professionals for short informational interviews can also provide insight into the industry and open doors to referrals. You don’t need to ask for a job—just show genuine interest in their journey, and you’ll often find people are happy to share what they’ve learned.
Remember, most digital marketers didn’t start at an agency. Many came from journalism, design, teaching, sales, or other unexpected backgrounds. The more you share your journey with confidence and learn from others, the more visible and connected you become.
You don’t need a traditional path to land a digital marketing job. In fact, many companies today are actively seeking diverse perspectives, fresh ideas, and people who understand marketing from different angles.
So whether your background is in customer service, graphic design, education, or anything in between, you can absolutely make your move into digital marketing.
Need help getting started?
Download our Digital Marketing Specialist Resume Template to organize your experience, present your skills with clarity, and take the next step in your marketing career with confidence.