You could study for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

• marketing communications
• digital marketing
• advertising
• business and management

Marketing companies will also take on graduates in other subjects.

Some degree courses are accredited by the The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

With a degree you could apply to join a company's graduate marketing training scheme.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

You could take a college course to help you get a job as a trainee marketing executive.

Courses include:

• principles of marketing
• applied marketing
• digital marketing and analytics
• T Level in Digital Production, Design and Development

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

You may be able to get into this role by applying for an apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships include:

• Multi-channel Marketer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Marketing Executive Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
• Digital Marketer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

You could join a company's marketing department as an administrator or assistant. You could then work your way up to become a marketing executive or digital marketer through training and promotion.

You could get work experience and marketing skills by volunteering for a charity and helping with their social media and events communications.

Look for opportunities on sites like:

• Do IT
• NCVO

You can apply directly to employers if you've got business and marketing skills. You may get these from working in jobs like sales, customer service or public relations. Some employers may ask for a degree qualification though it's not always essential.

You can do professional marketing, digital marketing and communications qualifications, that may help boost your job prospects, through:

• The Chartered Institute of Marketing
• Institute of Data and Marketing
• Chartered Institute of Public Relations

You'll need:

• the ability to sell products and services
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of media production and communication
• business management skills
• persuading skills
• customer service skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

As a marketing executive, you could:

• research customer and market trends to inform campaigns
• develop working relationships with clients
• write and edit content for print and online campaigns
• understand brand guidelines and check they are followed
• organise and promote events
• manage marketing budgets
• keep up to date with competitor activity
• analyse data to plan and evaluate marketing campaigns

You could work in an office, at a client's business or remotely.