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How to Hire a Marketing Intern: Skills, Insights, and Hiring Guide


Siddhartha Gunti

December 18, 2024


In today's fast-paced business environment, the demand for fresh and innovative marketing ideas has never been higher. Companies are recognizing the value of hiring marketing interns to bring new perspectives and assist with various tasks. However, many recruiters and hiring managers struggle to identify the right candidate who can effectively contribute to the team's objectives. A marketing intern should possess a mix of creativity, analytical skills, and a willingness to learn, yet many organizations often overlook these skill sets in their recruitment process.

This article serves as a comprehensive guide for recruiters looking to hire marketing interns. We will discuss the skills and qualifications to look for, how to craft a compelling job description, and the best platforms for finding interns. You'll also learn strategies for screening resumes and structuring interviews to select the ideal candidate. For more insights, check out our Marketing Intern Job Description.

Table of contents

Skills and Qualifications to Look for in a Marketing Intern
How to write a Marketing Intern job description?
Top Platforms to Find Marketing Interns
How to Screen Marketing Intern Resumes
Recommended skills tests for assessing Marketing Interns
How to Structure the Interview Stage for Hiring Marketing Interns
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Marketing Intern?
What are the ranks of Marketing Interns?
Hire the Best Marketing Interns for Your Team

Skills and Qualifications to Look for in a Marketing Intern

Hiring the right marketing intern can be tricky because the role often requires a blend of technical skills and creative flair. Recruiters might struggle to distinguish between necessary skills and those that are simply nice to have. It's important to clearly define what's required versus what's preferred to ensure you attract candidates who meet your business needs.

When building the ideal candidate profile, consider the role's demands and your company's specific marketing strategies. While a basic understanding of SEO and content marketing is typically required, familiarity with tools like Adobe Creative Suite might just be a bonus depending on your team's focus.

Required skills and qualificationsPreferred skills and qualifications
Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Marketing, Business, or a related fieldPrevious internship or work experience in marketing or related field
Strong written and verbal communication skillsKnowledge of graphic design software such as Adobe Creative Suite
Familiarity with social media platforms and digital marketing toolsExperience with marketing analytics tools such as Google Analytics
Basic understanding of SEO and content marketingUnderstanding of CRM systems like Salesforce
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment

How to write a Marketing Intern job description?

Once you have a clear candidate profile, the next step is crafting a job description that attracts the right candidates. A well-written job description serves as an invitation to potential applicants and sets the tone for the kind of talent you're looking to engage.

  1. Highlight Key Responsibilities and Learning Opportunities: Clearly outline the tasks and projects the intern will handle. Emphasise aspects that offer valuable learning experiences in marketing strategies and campaign management. For more details on roles, refer to Marketing Intern Job Description.
  1. Balance Skills with Industry Exposure: While listing the necessary technical skills, such as proficiency in social media platforms or basic graphic design, don't forget to highlight opportunities to work across various marketing functions. This attracts candidates eager to gain broad exposure.
  1. Showcase the Company's Unique Selling Points: Share what makes your organization a great place to work. Whether it's guidance by industry experts, networking opportunities, or involvement in impactful projects, these details distinguish your internship from others.

Top Platforms to Find Marketing Interns

Now that you have a well-crafted job description, it's time to list your marketing internship on job posting sites to attract potential candidates. The right platform can significantly boost your chances of finding qualified applicants. Let's explore some of the best options for sourcing marketing interns.

LinkedIn Jobs

Ideal for finding full-time marketing interns from a large pool of candidates. Offers detailed profiles and easy application process.

LinkedIn Jobs screenshot

Indeed

Great for posting part-time marketing internship positions. Reaches a wide audience and allows for easy filtering of candidates.

Indeed screenshot

WayUp

Focuses on early career professionals and students. Excellent for finding entry-level marketing interns with fresh perspectives.

WayUp screenshot

Other notable platforms include Handshake for college-specific recruiting, ZipRecruiter for AI-powered matching, and Freelancer for short-term projects. AngelList is great for startups, while SimplyHired works well for remote positions. Remember to tailor your approach based on your specific needs and conduct thorough screening to ensure you find the best fit for your marketing team.

How to Screen Marketing Intern Resumes

Resume screening is an important step in identifying potential candidates for a marketing intern position. Given the volume of applications, it's crucial to efficiently filter out resumes that don't align with your requirements before moving on to deeper evaluations.

Ideal skills required for Marketing Intern

First, become familiar with the key keywords to manually screen resumes. These include top-level skills like Digital Marketing, Data Analysis, and Communication. Look for candidates with relevant educational backgrounds, strong communication skills, and familiarity with marketing tools.

Utilizing AI language models can complement manual screening by automating the process. Tools like Claude or ChatGPT can be programmed to identify specific keywords, making it easier for recruiters to sort through resumes and focus on more promising candidates.

Here's a handy prompt example for AI tools:

TASK: Screen resumes to match job description for marketing intern role

INPUT: Resumes

OUTPUT: For each resume, provide following information:
- Email id 
- Name
- Matching keywords
- Score (out of 10 based on keywords matched)
- Recommendation (detailed recommendation of whether to shortlist this candidate or not)
- Shortlist (Yes, No or Maybe)

RULES:
- If you are unsure about a candidate's fit, put the candidate as Maybe instead of No
- Keep recommendation crisp and to the point.

KEYWORDS DATA:
- Digital Marketing (SEO, Social Media Management)
- Data Analysis (Google Analytics, Excel)
- Communication (Copywriting, Presentation Skills)

For more insights, you can explore the marketing intern job description and check out our skills assessment tools to enhance your hiring process.

Recommended skills tests for assessing Marketing Interns

Skills tests are a great way to evaluate Marketing Intern candidates beyond their resumes. They help you objectively assess the practical abilities needed for the role. Here are five key tests we recommend for screening Marketing Intern applicants:

Digital Marketing Test: This Digital Marketing test evaluates a candidate's understanding of core digital marketing concepts and strategies. It's useful for gauging their familiarity with various online marketing channels and best practices.

Marketing Aptitude Test: Use the Marketing Aptitude test to assess a candidate's overall marketing knowledge and problem-solving skills. This test helps identify interns who can think strategically about marketing challenges.

SEO Assessment Test: The SEO Assessment test measures a candidate's understanding of search engine optimization principles. It's valuable for identifying interns who can contribute to improving website visibility and organic traffic.

Content Strategy Test: Content creation is often a key responsibility for marketing interns. The Content Strategy test evaluates their ability to plan, create, and distribute effective content across various platforms.

Google Analytics Test: Basic data analysis skills are important for marketing interns. The Google Analytics test assesses their ability to interpret website traffic data and derive insights for marketing decisions.

How to Structure the Interview Stage for Hiring Marketing Interns

After candidates have passed the initial skills tests, it's important to proceed to the interview stage to evaluate their hard skills and suitability for the marketing intern role. Skills tests are excellent at filtering out unqualified candidates, but interviews provide a more in-depth insight into the candidate's practical knowledge and potential fit for your team. During this stage, asking targeted questions can help you identify the most suitable candidates.

Here are some recommended questions to ask during the interview: What marketing strategies have you found most successful in the past? This reveals their prior experience and understanding of effective marketing techniques. How do you stay up-to-date with the latest marketing trends? This assesses their commitment to learning and growing in the field. Can you describe a challenging marketing project you worked on and how you managed it? This provides insight into their problem-solving capabilities. What role do you think social media plays in a successful marketing campaign? Given the increasing importance of digital presence, this question tests their awareness of modern marketing dynamics. Lastly, consider asking what skills they hope to develop as a marketing intern, which highlights their career aspirations and readiness for the role. Learn more about the skills required for marketing interns.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Marketing Intern?

Hiring a marketing intern can vary significantly based on location and experience. In the United States, the average annual salary is around $49,904, with figures ranging from $23,496 to $83,127. In Canada, salaries range between $28,000 and $65,286 CAD, with a median of $41,612 CAD. Keep in mind these numbers can shift depending on the city, with urban areas typically offering higher compensation.

Marketing Intern Salary in the United States

The average salary for a marketing intern in the United States is approximately $49,904 per year. Salaries can vary widely depending on location, with the lowest reported figures around $23,496 and the highest reaching up to $83,127. For example, interns in cities like San Francisco can earn between $24,227 and $45,195, while those in Philadelphia may see salaries ranging from $14,500 to $33,981.

Marketing Intern Salary in the United States

Marketing Intern Salary in Canada

In Canada, the average salary for a marketing intern ranges from $28,000 to $65,286 CAD annually. The median salary sits around $41,612 CAD, while the mean is approximately $44,263 CAD. City-specific averages vary, with higher figures reported in urban centers like Greater Sudbury and Halifax.

Marketing Intern Salary in Canada

What are the ranks of Marketing Interns?

The marketing intern role can often be misunderstood, as many people conflate it with other entry-level positions in the marketing domain. However, there are distinct ranks within marketing internships that cater to different skill sets and responsibilities.

Marketing Intern: This is typically an entry-level position where interns assist with various marketing tasks, such as social media management, content creation, and market research. They gain hands-on experience while supporting the marketing team.

Senior Marketing Intern: A senior marketing intern usually has prior experience or specific skills that allow them to take on more complex projects. They may assist in strategy development and lead smaller teams of junior interns.

Marketing Intern Coordinator: This rank involves a blend of intern duties and some supervisory responsibilities, such as mentoring other interns. They may be responsible for coordinating intern schedules and ensuring project deadlines are met.

Marketing Project Intern: This role focuses on specific marketing projects, such as a product launch or campaign. These interns usually possess stronger analytical skills and work closely with the marketing manager to ensure project goals are achieved.

Hire the Best Marketing Interns for Your Team

We've covered the key aspects of hiring marketing interns, from identifying necessary skills to writing effective job descriptions. We've also explored where to find candidates, how to screen resumes, and conduct interviews. Remember, the right mix of qualifications and cultural fit is key to finding your ideal intern.

If there's one takeaway from this guide, it's the importance of using well-crafted job descriptions and skills tests to make your hiring process more accurate. By incorporating these elements, you'll be better equipped to identify and onboard marketing interns who can truly contribute to your team's success.

Digital Marketing Test

40 mins | 28 MCQs
The digital marketing test evaluates a candidate's ability in SEO, inbound marketing, email-marketing, distribution channels, paid ads, analytics and end-user insight using real-life scenario based questions.
Try Digital Marketing Test

FAQs

What skills should I look for in a marketing intern?

Look for skills such as creativity, analytical thinking, basic knowledge of marketing concepts, proficiency in social media, and excellent communication abilities.

How can I write an effective marketing intern job description?

To write an effective job description, clearly outline the responsibilities, expected skills, and any specific qualifications or experiences you require. Visit our job description page for more tips.

Where can I find marketing interns?

Top platforms for finding marketing interns include university career pages, online job boards like LinkedIn, and platforms dedicated to internships such as Handshake and InternMatch.

How do I screen marketing intern resumes effectively?

Focus on candidates' educational background, previous internship experiences, and any relevant projects or extracurricular activities related to marketing.

What are some recommended skills tests for marketing interns?

Consider using skills assessments like digital marketing tests, content strategy tests, and SEO assessment tests to gauge the candidate's expertise. Explore our skills assessment tools for more information.

How should I structure the interview process for marketing interns?

Structure the interview to include a mix of behavioral and situational questions, along with practical tasks or case studies to measure their problem-solving capabilities and creativity.

What are the common ranks or roles of marketing interns?

Marketing interns are typically entry-level positions assisting with tasks like market research, content creation, social media management, and supporting marketing campaigns.


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