Key resources

• Overview of the UK’s marketing, advertising and PR sector from Prospects
• Make it in marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

Research the sector and keep up with current issues by reading:

• trade news from Campaign, Marketing Week and The Drum
• social media accounts of marketing, advertising and PR companies, who often post about sector developments

There are many different jobs in this sector, but these skills are common requirements:

• communication
• negotiation
• using your initiative
• problem solving
• time management and ability to work well under pressure
• organisation
• numeracy
• creativity and innovation
• commercial awareness
• IT.

You don’t need a degree in marketing, advertising or PR to work in this sector, as many employers value your skills and experiences over what you’ve studied.

However, a relevant degree, including any that develops your creativity and communication skills, could help you demonstrate your skills and interest in the sector.

Competition for graduate schemes and graduate level jobs in this sector is high, so getting work experience while you study is essential. It doesn't just have to be an internship. Read more about different types of work experience. You could:

• Consider a summer internship - many of the large graduate recruiters in the sector also offer internships, as well as York Internships in Careers and Placements.
• Look into doing a placement year - you'll learn more about the sector and increase you chances of getting a graduate job.
• Send speculative applications to small firms - many smaller companies don’t advertise formal internships but are willing to offer work experience if you impress them with your CV.
• Volunteer in your local community - there are many opportunities to develop your marketing and communications skills.

Jobs are advertised on:

• websites like Campaign, Marketing Week, PR Week, The Drum and Simply Marketing Jobs
• IPA job listings
• Graduates jobs and schemes in marketing and PR (Bright Network)
• on company websites and social media profiles
• through word of mouth, making networking very important.

You will find major graduate schemes advertised on Handshake and other graduate job websites like Target Jobs and Prospects Jobs.

Use your time at York to develop your skills and experience to help you get a job in this sector. You could:

• Apply for an internship through Handshake - York Internships advertise summer internships exclusively for York students.
• Consider volunteering in the local community. We advertise events and marketing opportunities each year for students interested in developing their skills.
• Join a student society and get involved - as well as having fun, you'll be developing skills such as teamwork, organisation, project management and more.
• Keep an eye out for events organised by Careers and Placements, including recruitment fairs and talks by employers.
• Start networking by reading about York graduates on York Profiles and Mentors and sending questions to people working in advertising, marketing and PR. Use LinkedIn and other social media platforms to build your network - see our networking page and toolkit for help.

Connect with York graduates on York Profiles & Mentors

• Digital Marketing Manager
• Marketing Director
• Freelance Marketing Consultant
• Senior Digital Account Manager
• Head of Strategy, PR
• Content Executive
• Senior Social Media Manager

Find the full list of graduate profiles on York Profiles & Mentors.

Keep up to date with the sector and learn about the types of jobs available with these podcasts.

• Relevant episodes of our What do you actually do!? Podcast: 
  
  • John Steel: Life as a CEO: running Cafédirect
  • Luke D'Arcy: Running an advertising firm
  • Adam Smith: Bringing social media to The Economist
    
  • Julia Hebron: Market research summer internship at Make It York
  • Lewis McDowell: Getting onto the L'Oreal marketing grad scheme
  • Tasha McNaught: Marketing in the museum
• Marketing Week podcast
• The Drum Network podcast
• The PR Show

Find a full list of recent event recordings on the Presentations and talks page.

Sessions you might find interesting:

• Experience for your CV - how to get valuable experience by volunteering, getting an internship, exploring enterprise or doing a placement year (2020)
• Using LinkedIn (2020)
• The ins and outs of being a professional: what I didn't know about interviews, professional life and the workplace until I got there (2020)