- Forward Role Recruitment speaks to a host of digital marketing professionals to see how they made their way in the industry
- Consensus is that your choice of degree doesn’t limit your career options if you decide to move into digital marketing
- As tuition fees reach astronomical levels, more youngsters are taking up digital apprenticeships instead
- Findings highlight a raft of new digital hubs emerging outside of London
Your choice of degree doesn’t necessarily determine the direction that your career takes, new findings from digital marketing recruitment specialists Forward Role have shown.
The company spoke to a wide array of digital marketing professionals to see how they made their way in the industry and where they see new opportunities arising. Having heard the intriguing stories of PR Executives who studied Biology at university and Music graduates who went on to become Directors of digital businesses, Forward Role discovered that the industry is made up of people from all manner of academic backgrounds.
Key findings included:
- Many interviewees didn’t choose their degree with a career path in mind, which should allay the fears of youngsters who are feeling pressured into making life-determining decisions
- While a relevant degree in marketing or PR isn’t always necessary, most interviewees felt that transferrable skills learnt studying subjects like History, Creative Writing and Journalism were invaluable
- More people are shunning university altogether, as tuition fees soar and digital apprenticeships become more accessible
- London is still one of the most popular locations for digital marketers to base themselves, but other areas - most notably Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and East Anglia - are proving to be increasingly attractive alternatives
You can read some of the comments from Forward Role’s interviews in more detail on the company’s blog.
Forward Role Managing Director, Steve Thompson, believes the research highlights just how adaptable and dynamic the digital marketing industry is, and he further stressed the point that youngsters shouldn’t put too much pressure on themselves when plotting their route into further education.
“While it’s not a hard and fast rule for all industries, our research shows that a person’s degree doesn’t automatically restrict their career from branching off into different directions,” he commented.
“You can forge a successful career in digital marketing regardless of your academic background. Employers are generally more interested in your experience, personality traits and skills that will help you to make a valuable contribution to their business.
“It’s also intriguing to see how many people are giving university a swerve in favour of honing their craft on the job. University is expensive and it has undoubtedly put more pressure on people to make the right choices early on. It’s important that young people who have ambitions of making it in the digital marketing arena know that there are different options open to them. There’s no rigid blueprint for success in this business, which is refreshing.”