What do marketing agencies look for when hiring?

Thinking about your next role in a marketing agency?

Hiring in an agency isn’t quite the same as hiring for every other business.

Yes, experience matters. Yes, your CV matters. And yes, having the right skills for the role is important.

But agencies are often looking for a little more.

They need people who can think creatively, understand clients, communicate well and fit into a team that might be juggling five different briefs before lunch.

So, what are marketing agencies looking for when hiring?

1- A strong portfolio

For many agency roles, a CV can only tell you so much.

A portfolio can show how you think, what you’re capable of and, most importantly, the work you’ve actually delivered.

For creative roles, that’s an obvious one. But portfolios can also be valuable for strategists, marketers, copywriters and other agency professionals.

Agencies want to see the thinking behind the work, not just the finished product.

What was the brief? What was your role? What did you come up with? And what happened as a result?

If you’re applying for an agency role, make sure your portfolio tells that story.

2- Creative thinking

You don’t have to work in a creative role to be creative.

Agencies need people who can look at a problem and approach it differently. Someone who can question the brief, bring a new idea to the table or find a better way of doing something.

That could mean developing a campaign concept, finding a new angle for a client or simply coming up with a solution when the original plan isn’t working.

Creativity isn’t just about having ideas. It’s about knowing which ideas are worth pursuing.

3- Commercial understanding

Great marketing isn’t just about making something look or sound good.

Agencies ultimately need to deliver results for their clients.

That’s why commercial awareness is becoming increasingly important across agency roles. Employers want people who understand what the client is trying to achieve and how their work contributes to that.

Can you connect an idea to a business objective?

Can you understand the client’s challenges?

Can you think about budgets, deadlines, and results?

Being able to show that you understand the bigger picture can make a real difference when you’re looking for your next agency role.

4- Communication skills

Agency life involves a lot of people.

Clients. Designers. Copywriters. Account teams. Strategists. The list goes on!

Being able to communicate clearly and confidently is essential.

That means explaining your ideas, listening properly, giving constructive feedback and adapting your communication depending on who you’re speaking to.

It’s one of those skills that sounds obvious, but it can make a huge difference to how well you work in an agency environment.

So, what makes someone stand out?

There isn’t a single checklist that guarantees you’ll land a role in a marketing agency.

Every agency is different. Every role is different. And every hiring manager will have their own priorities.

But the strongest candidates tend to bring a combination of skills, experience, creativity, commercial thinking, and personality.

And that’s why finding the right agency role can sometimes be tricky.

It’s not just about whether you can do the job. It’s about finding an agency where your experience, ideas and way of working fit and where you can see yourself developing.

Looking for your next marketing agency role?

At Konker, we recruit across the marketing agency sector, connecting with opportunities across creative, strategy, account management, marketing, digital, and more.

Whether you’re a Creative Strategist, Account Director, Designer, Marketing Manager or another agency specialist, we can help you understand what’s out there and find an opportunity that fits what you’re looking for.

Thinking about your next move? Get in touch with the Konker team.