Marketing, advertising & PR graduate jobs & schemes 2025

Marketing is a broad field with different career paths, including:

• Digital Marketing: Focuses on SEO, PPC, email marketing, and social media.
• Brand Management: Develops and maintains a company’s brand identity.
• Content Marketing: Creates blog posts, videos, and social media content.
• Market Research & Insights: Analyses consumer data and trends.
• PR & Communications: Manages media relations and public perception.
• Social Media Marketing: Develops strategies for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Advertising & Media Buying: Plans and buys ad placements for maximum impact.
• Growth & Performance Marketing: Focuses on data-driven campaigns for lead generation.
• Influencer & Affiliate Marketing: Collaborates with influencers and brand partners.

Don’t feel too pressured to choose the perfect field for your first role – it’s very common for marketing professionals to change fields during their career. 

Having a marketing degree might give you an advantage when it comes to applying for marketing graduate jobs, but it’s not always an essential – many marketing professionals have graduated in psychology, economics or journalism. Even if you think your degree isn’t relevant, you’re probably wrong! Marketing is a very wide and diverse field of work, so there’s a very good chance the skills you’ve developed absolutely do apply, even if you haven’t graduated specifically in marketing. 

According to the complete university guide, marketing graduates can expect an entry-level salary between £18,000 and £24,000.  

We’d take these figures with a pinch of salt - how much marketing graduate jobs pay depends on factors like the company and location. For example, a marketing graduate in London may earn more than a marketing graduate in Leeds. 

Marketing salaries increase with experience, and performance-based roles (like digital ads or growth marketing) often lead to higher earnings.

Marketing is highly competitive, especially at top companies. Strong applications include:
✔ Internships or freelance projects – Experience with social media, blogs, or campaigns.
✔ A portfolio – Showcasing campaigns, ads, or social media growth.
✔ Certifications – Google Analytics, HubSpot, Meta Ads, or SEO courses.
✔ Networking – Engaging with marketing professionals on LinkedIn or at events.

• Gain real-world experience – Internships, personal projects and freelance work are all great ways to show initiative.
• Create a strong portfolio – A website showcasing projects, social media growth, or ad campaigns.
• Network – Attend events, join LinkedIn groups, or connect with marketing professionals.

Both have pros and cons:

• In-house marketing (working within a company):
  ✔ More stability and long-term projects.
  ✔ Industry specialization (e.g., fashion, finance).
  ✖ Slower paced, less variety.
   
• Marketing agency (working with multiple clients):
  ✔ Fast-paced and creative.
  ✔ Exposure to different industries.
  ✖ Higher workload and tight deadlines.