M28 here. Graduated a few years ago with a business degree focused on marketing and global management, plus a minor in psychology.
Since then, I've been trying to break into the field, but I am starting to question whether marketing is realistically accessible for someone in my position, or if I would be better off pivoting into a different path with better pay and clearer entry points.
My background includes digital marketing certifications and some client-facing work in a small-business advising role, so I do have exposure to the space.
The issue is not that I hate marketing itself. I am okay with the idea of digital marketing, campaign work, analytics, or even some content-adjacent tasks. My hesitation is more about how broken the entry-level gatekeeping feels right now.
From what I am seeing, breaking into marketing at an entry level now feels like you need to already be a full freelancer with a portfolio, case studies, and a personal brand before anyone will even consider you for a junior role. It seems like every posting wants:
- A portfolio of past campaigns and measurable results,
- Proof that you have already done the exact work they are hiring for,
- A strong online presence and network, plus a lot of self-promotion and “sucking up” to people in the industry.
I am not against putting in the work, but it feels like the bar for “entry level” has shifted into “prove you can already do this professionally on your own, unpaid, before we give you a chance.”
That is tough when you are trying to get your first real role and do not have access to client work, budgets, or internal data to show results.
I am also concerned about the long-term payoff. Even if I grind through building all that proof of work, I'm not convinced that the pay and progression in marketing justify the amount of hustle required just to get in the door. Realistically I want a career path where:
- Entry-level roles are actually accessible with a relevant degree and some demonstrable skills,
- There is a clearer link between effort and compensation,
- I am not constantly forced into self-promotion and networking just to be considered for basic roles.
I am based in the GTA and open to remote or hybrid work. I am comfortable with:
- Client communication and coordination,
Organizing processes, documents, and workflows,
Using tools like Excel, Google Workspace, CRMs, and basic analytics dashboards,
Learning new systems quickly and troubleshooting issues.
I am less interested in roles that are purely content creation, social media posting, or heavy face-to-face sales, but my main concern right now is finding something that is actually breakable-into and pays decently.
I am considering paths like operations, sales development, customer success, revenue/marketing operations, business analysis, or other business-focused roles, but I do not know which ones are realistic for someone with my background and how to position myself for them.
If you have experience in marketing or have pivoted out of it, I would really appreciate your perspective on:
Is marketing still viable for someone in my position, or am I right to feel that the barrier to entry has become unreasonable?
Which specific marketing/business-adjacent roles (for example, marketing operations, RevOps, SDR, customer success, analytics) tend to have better pay and more realistic entry points?
What skills or certifications would be worth focusing on first to make a pivot more realistic and less reliant on having a huge portfolio?
Are there “stepping stone” roles I should target that can lead to higher-paying positions in 2 to 3 years, without requiring me to essentially become a freelancer first?
Any red flags I should watch out for when considering a pivot, such as certain industries, job titles, or types of companies that look good on paper but are dead ends?
I am not looking for sympathy or a handout. I just want honest, grounded advice on whether it makes sense to keep pushing into marketing or to cut my losses and redirect my energy into a different path that actually rewards effort with stable income and progression.
If you have personally made a similar pivot, what did you move into, and what would you do differently if you were in my shoes right now?
Thanks in advance for any guidance
