AD| 5 Best Tips For Landing A Marketing Job Within The Print Industry

It can be hard enough landing a job in marketing, but landing one in the print industry? That’s another set of challenges. Before you lose hope, though, take a look at these 5 top tips from Mixam, a leading  printing agency, for landing a job in the print industry.

Understand the Company and Industry You’re Interested In

If you’re interested in working in the print industry, you probably already know a bit about it. But if you don’t, then now’s your chance to learn! Even if you won’t be working as Print Technician or Quality Controller, you should still know what the most common jobs in the industry are and how they function. Knowing also about the printing process and the education or skills required to work in printing would be helpful too. Potential employers will notice if you can’t tell the difference between booklet printing and catalog printing!

If you want to work in a marketing capacity within the print industry, then you should also go beyond a basic familiarity with printing. As you set out on your job search, aim to surround yourself with resources from the print industry. Listen to podcasts, read books, subscribe to magazines, watch videos – whatever media is out there about the industry, find it. Find reputable resources and stay up to date on the latest trends in printing. With this deeper understanding, you’ll be in a much better position to market the print industry.

Start a Blog

A great way to demonstrate your marketing skills is by marketing yourself! By starting a blog, preferably about the field you wish to work in, you show you can plan and create content. You could write blog posts on everything you’ve learned about booklets, catalogues, and the printing industry in general as you’re surrounding yourself with industry resources. When you launch a blog or website, you’ll learn valuable digital marketing skills, like working with a content management system, practicing SEO, and content writing.

Maintaining a blog or website is also an excellent way to cultivate a portfolio; think of it as a natural expansion of your CV. If you’re just starting out in either marketing or printing, this can be a big boost. Websites are easy to start and cost little to maintain, so you won’t have to invest much time or money to see results. Remember to promote your blog or website via social media channels like LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram to attract viewers and potential recruiters.

Do an Apprenticeship or Traineeship

In this period, helping in the back office operations might come in handy too. Knowing your machinery needs give you an extra edge. “Is it wise to buy printer ink in bulk?” “Will I use this much?” “How much in bulk exactly” — little questions but crucial moves. Being a starter business, every related question matters.

If you haven’t held a previous position in marketing, it can be difficult landing a first job. Taking on an apprenticeship or traineeship can help you get your foot in the door as well as make industry contacts. Whether you want a printing apprenticeship to learn more about the industry, or a marketing traineeship to improve your marketing chops is up to you.

If you’re not planning to work as a printing technician, however, then a marketing traineeship might be more beneficial. Printing apprenticeships focus more on technical skills, whereas marketing experience is transferable to any industry. You could, therefore, take a traineeship outside the print industry or offer to do some marketing for a friend’s business for free, just to get some experience.

 Create Your Own Experience

Traineeships are a great way to improve your skills, but these can almost be as difficult to land as jobs. If you don’t find a marketing trainee position related to the print industry, then try to make your own opportunities to gain experience. This could involve doing marketing for free for a friend or family member’s business, or offering marketing services for a small local business.

Nobody likes to work for free. But showing that you’re willing to invest the time in yourself to work on your skills will impress prospective employers – especially if you actually have improved your skills! As long as you ask to showcase each project you do for free in your portfolio, then the work you put in will be worth it.

Network

Networking is essential for any industry, not least of all marketing. Making contacts in both marketing and print will go a long way to helping you land interviews. Leverage your LinkedIn account, making connections with people who work at companies you’d like to work for.

In addition, try to attend networking events for the print industry if you can find them. If there aren’t events happening locally, look for virtual ones! There are always opportunities to network, you just have to keep your eyes open.

Final Thoughts

Landing a marketing job in the print industry may seem daunting, but if you stick with these 5 tips, you’ll be on your way to your dream job in no time!

Author Bio: 

Adam Smith lives a life of swashbuckling adventure at Mixam – a little print company with big ambitions! Adam writes for and about Mixam with the mission of helping designers and entrepreneurs make the right decisions when printing, and avoid costly mistakes.