Table of contents
Introduction
Imagine this: 76% of hiring managers struggle to find candidates with the right skills. Yet, international students in Australia often face rejection, with only 46% landing a job within six months of graduation. That’s a steep gap compared to their domestic peers. But here's the kicker—this gap isn’t just about resumes or interviews. It’s about skills. The right skills.
In marketing, where practical experience speaks louder than the degrees, how do you bridge that gap? It starts with knowing exactly what employers are looking for and taking strategic steps to meet those demands. In this blog, we'll break down the must-have skills, explain why they matter, and show you how to stand out—even when the odds are stacked against you. Let's dive in!
Why is Closing the Skills Gap Important?
Many international students in Australia struggle to land marketing jobs despite sending numerous resumes. Often, they receive polite rejections, not realizing how much recruiters struggle to find candidates with the right skills. In fact, 76% of hiring managers admitted that attracting suitable candidates was their biggest challenge in 2022.
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This skills gap can be especially daunting for international students. According to a survey conducted by the Australian Government, six months after graduation, the employment rate for undergraduate international students is around 46%, while for undergraduate domestic students, it's 70%. We can see that international students are less likely than their local peers to secure professional or managerial roles.
So, how can you stand out? By closing the skills gap.
What Skills Are Recruiters Looking For?
We analyzed job postings for three common marketing roles—Event Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator, and Brand Coordinator. Below are the skills most sought by recruiters in these positions.
Event Coordinator Role
Table 1: Most wanted skills for Event Coordinator role
Hard Skills: Event management experience, customer service, technical skills.
Soft Skills: Organization, communication, teamwork, attention to detail.
Marketing Coordinator Role
Table 2: Most wanted skills for Marketing Coordinator role
Hard Skills: Digital marketing proficiency, social media management, experience in marketing and content creation.
Soft Skills: Organizational skills, time management, communication, analytical thinking, and attention to detail.
Brand Coordinator Role
Table 3: Most wanted skills for the Brand Coordinator role
Hard Skills: Marketing experience, digital asset production, social media management.
Soft Skills: Communication, organizational skills, teamwork, time management.
Summary of Required Skills
Table 4: Most Wanted Skills for 3 Marketing Roles
The tables show that both hard and soft skills are essential. However, most hard skills, such as digital marketing and event management, cannot be learned in a classroom. They come from practical experience.
Do You Have These Skills?
If you’re like most international students, you may find that you only possess some of these skills. It’s important to accept that universities may not equip you with all the tools required in the workforce. While polishing your resume by hand or using AI to improve it, there’s no substitute for real-world experience, especially when it comes to hard skills. Some people may also ask, how about skills learned from student clubs?
Q1: Why Skills Gained in Student Clubs May Not Impress Recruiters?
You might think the experience you gained in student clubs is valuable, but recruiters often don’t agree. This is because the student club environment is vastly different from a real business environment. Clubs don’t have the same pressure to generate profits or capture attention as companies do.
For instance, in the real world, social media management isn’t just about posting content—it’s about understanding your audience and engaging them from the first moment. That consumer-centric mindset is rarely developed in student societies, making it hard for students to transfer those skills to the workplace.
Q2: Why Hard Skills Matter More Than Soft Skills For Landing a Job?
From a recruiter’s perspective, hard skills are more valuable during the job search because they’re easier to evaluate. You can prove hard skills through certifications, portfolios, or previous experience. Soft skills, on the other hand, are difficult to measure on a resume or in an interview.
While soft skills become crucial once you’re hired, hard skills are often the key to landing the job in the first place.
Q3: How to Gain Hard Skills Employers Want?
Finding a dedicated mentor is more important than just participating in many internships.
Many international students assume they’ll learn these skills through internships, but that’s not always the case. Most internships are short-term (around three months), and companies may not invest time in training students who won’t be there long-term. Without a dedicated mentor, you may leave your internship without developing the necessary skills.
This is why finding a mentor can be crucial. A mentor not only teaches you the hard skills you need but can also provide valuable industry insights.
The following success stories are examples of international students who found jobs during difficult times, thanks to mentorship programs:
One thing these students have in common is their participation in a mentorship program with Dr. Theresa, a marketing expert with over 15 years of practical experience. Dr. Theresa, who also teaches at UNSW, provides her mentees with personalized marketing career development plans, tailored to their strengths and weaknesses.
Let Mentorship Program Unlock Your Marketing Potential
Bridging the marketing skills gap is crucial for international students seeking jobs in Australia, with practical experience and hard skills, often gained through mentorship, being more valued by recruiters than classroom learning alone.
If you’re looking to acquire the hard skills needed for a marketing role, consider joining a mentorship program. Dr. Theresa’s program at MARKCubator offers international students the opportunity to develop real-world marketing skills. Her guidance has been instrumental in helping students land their first marketing jobs, even during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can book a 1-on-1 consultation with Dr. Theresa to discuss your career path and receive customized advice on how to bridge the gap between your current skills and what employers want.
For more information, visit MARKCubator to start your journey toward a successful marketing career in Australia.
Author: Ziduan Qin
Date published: 25/10/2024
Updated: 5/12/2024
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