Marketing is an ever-evolving and growing field that attracts professionals from a wide range of backgrounds. Due to the broad nature of marketing, it is extremely beneficial to nurture diversity within the industry to reach people from different backgrounds and enhance relatability in campaigns. This diversity can take the form of marketers who join the industry mid-career or pursue digital marketing without a degree. In fact, according to Marketing Week’s 2019 Career and Salary Survey, non-marketing degree holders are finding great success in the field — reportedly only 25% of marketing employees had a marketing degree in 2019.
Diverse Knowledge and Skills
Perhaps the first advantage that comes to mind when hiring a marketer who didn’t get a degree in marketing is that they possess an extensive stock of knowledge and skills outside of the marketing mindset that can be applied to their position. For example, countless areas of study — like English, journalism and communications — hone the necessary researching, writing and even business management skills that prove indispensable in marketing. On top of that, these individuals are often adept at analyzing data, a key tool in creating powerful content, making them ideal for any position — even a marketing manager. For a mix of creativity and foundational skills, you should consider hiring a former English, journalism, communications, political science or even economics major.
Technological Experience is Power
Because technology plays an increasingly significant role in digital marketing trends, hiring an employee with a past in technology or computer science studies will take your business to the next level. Automation can play a large role in marketing — statistics show that email automation campaigns are among the top 3 tactics used by email marketers to improve performance. That being said, a background in technology could lend necessary skills for social media, advertising and digital marketing platforms such as WordPress, Canva, Survey Monkey and more. Additionally, there are several online certificates available for eager students who want to learn the ropes of marketing software and platforms.
Expanded Networks
Because one of the fundamental goals of marketing is to deliver a message to as many people as possible, it is extremely valuable to hire marketers that have varied backgrounds, whether that means a long career in another field, in-depth studies in other subjects, or simply a fully developed network of professional contacts. The bottom line is that effective communicators need to have varied groups of people around them. Your business will reap the benefits of tapping into the numerous fields and past careers of new hires who don’t have marketing degrees.
Tap Into Multilingual Markets
Lastly, you can multiply your marketing business’ reach by hiring employees who are bilingual or multilingual. By thinking outside of the box and pursuing new hires who are passionate about languages, majored in a language or may have grown up bilingual, you will open doors to new markets you would have never had access to otherwise. For example, the Spanish or French-speaking markets can be within your reach with the help of one or two motivated new multilingual marketers. Do your business a favor by maximizing your reach and exponentially growing your audience through multilingual marketers.
Takeaways
To summarize, hiring marketers who don’t have marketing degrees can help your business:
- Tap into a wide range of knowledge and skills
- Boost your digital marketing through employees with technology experience
- Gain access to diverse networks
- Expand your reach to a multilingual audience
Consider the advantages of hiring non-marketing degree earners to take your business’ marketing to the next level. Employing individuals who studied subjects like English, communications, journalism, foreign language and more can prove to be major assets to your growth.
Further enhance your marketing approach by hiring a digital marketing agency such as Ballantine’s helpful team of experts, who come from a variety of backgrounds. Take charge of your business by giving us a call at (973) 305-1500 or emailing our digital marketing specialists at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you and utilizing our diverse group of professionals to boost your company’s marketing success.
I'm the Director of Digital Services and Partner at Ballantine, a family-owned and operated direct mail & digital marketing company based in New Jersey. and started in 1966 by my great uncle!
