Marketing has turned into an attractive field for many college students. After all, marketing blends creativity with analytics and truly has something for every professional.
Unfortunately, this also means you need to do a lot to stand out – especially when vying for competitive internships and graduate programs. But as a student, you likely don’t have all the money or time in the world to work on lengthy projects.
Luckily, you can spend a total of zero dollars on several online marketing certifications. Many highly reputable companies, including HubSpot and Google, offer excellent marketing courses at no cost to you.
Once you complete them, you can add the certifications to your resume and LinkedIn. You learn up-to-date marketing trends while boosting your job and internship applications.
Still not convinced? Read on for more information on how certifications can help you get your ideal marketing job.
Certifications teach you concepts not taught in class
You might believe certifications have no benefit since you’re already taking classes. But online courses often offer something a typical college class lacks: up-to-date information.
At college, marketing students learn the ins and outs of consumer behavior, strategy, and research. In other words, you focus a lot on theoretical marketing concepts. Online certifications take this a step further and enable you to understand the world of marketing today.
Consider the HubSpot Marketing Software certification – which teaches participants how to use its marketing automation software. Marketing automation, in which marketers use software to automate processes, has recently surfaced as an extremely important area of marketing. Yet nearly 6 in 10 companies struggle to keep up with the growing technology.
To stay up to date with this critical marketing function, recruiters and companies will look for marketers with knowledge of marketing automation. You can signal to them you understand it by taking marketing software certifications – including the HubSpot one mentioned previously.
Schools can often fall behind on trends in marketing because of how quickly the field changes. By taking these online certifications, you signal to companies you understand the technical side of the industry.
Online courses show you love learning
When you apply for marketing roles, you’ll likely see companies emphasizing your potential and growth. Recruiters know you have little professional experience – but they want to see you have the drive to learn more and grow.
This especially matters when applying for roles that require a bachelor’s degree. After all, every candidate has one – so how can you differentiate yourself? Online certifications represent an easy, effective way to stand out from other potential hires.
Additionally, recruiters view certifications as signs you want to learn more outside of college. They want to hire students who will take time to better understand new concepts. And in a field as volatile as marketing, a love of learning matters a lot.
Some jobs require certifications
That’s right: some postings will require candidates to have specific certifications. Why? Because many companies use certain marketing software that requires technical finesse. Most popularly, a lot of marketing roles expect candidates to have their Google Ads Certifications since the platform dominates paid search.
Beyond Google, other companies also use marketing software – including Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and others – which offer certifications. If a recruiter had to choose between candidates with similar experience, they will likely choose one that requires less training. Having a certification lets recruiters know you already understand how to use their marketing processes.
HubSpot and Google are great starting points
Not all certifications are created equal. To make the most of your time, look into certifications provided by HubSpot and Google first. Websites such as Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare similarly have a plethora of content available – but most marketers recognize HubSpot and Google.
HubSpot offers courses in the following topics, all for free:
- Inbound Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Content Marketing
- HubSpot Marketing Software
- Social Media Marketing
- Digital Advertising
You can find more topics and an overview of HubSpot Academy here.
Google has similar courses in the following:
- Digital Marketing
- Online Advertising
- Content Marketing
- Coding
- Machine Learning
Click here to read more about Google’s free online marketing & career courses.
Include certifications on your LinkedIn and resume
If you managed to secure an online certificate, congratulations! You’ve finished the hard part. Now, you need to add it to your professional materials so recruiters know you have highly sought-after marketing knowledge.
Online courses often have specific instructions for uploading certifications on LinkedIn – so defer to their directions to ensure you post them correctly.
Consider letting your network know about your certification – the hosting company will likely throw some love your way, increasing your professional reach.
To include the certifications on your resume, simply add them at the bottom of the page beneath “Certifications” or “Skills”. Marketing recruiters likely understand the value of these certifications, so you only need to note you completed them.
Of course, getting a job requires a lot of different factors. Luckily, we developed the ultimate guide to securing your dream internship here to help you figure it all out.
College matters a lot – especially if you want to work at some of the biggest companies in the world. But certifications take your education a step further. Consider pursuing marketing courses to make yourself a competitive candidate – and you’ll land any position you want in no time.
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