If you're applying for your first job in influencer marketing, it can be hard to know what hiring managers are really looking for. Do you need to have campaign experience? Should you have your own following? Is it all about creativity, or are there hard skills involved?

As someone who's hired, mentored, and worked alongside early-career talent in influencer marketing, I can tell you this: it's not about being perfect. It’s about showing potential, awareness, and curiosity.

Here’s what hiring managers are actually looking for:

1. Curiosity About the Creator Economy

Do you follow influencers across different niches? Are you paying attention to how brands are activating creators on different platforms? Can you talk about a recent campaign you admired—and why it worked?

Curiosity signals you’re tuned in and genuinely interested in the space, not just looking for “any marketing job.”

2. Digital Savviness

You don’t need to be a TikTok star, but you should understand how creators build communities, how platforms work, and how trends spread. Hiring managers love candidates who:

• Understand what makes content perform.

• Know the difference between reach and engagement.

• Have an eye for strong creator-brand fit.

Pro tip: Use your own social presence to demonstrate you understand digital storytelling—even if you’re just sharing content on LinkedIn.

3. Strong Communication Skills

Influencer marketing is relationship-based. Whether you’re reaching out to creators, crafting campaign briefs, or collaborating with internal teams, clear communication matters.

Hiring managers look for candidates who write clearly, can present ideas confidently, and understand the value of tone and voice.

4. Willingness to Learn the Tools

Influencer marketing uses a mix of software platforms, analytics dashboards, and workflow tools. You don’t need to be a pro on day one, but showing that you’re ready to learn goes a long way.

Even just mentioning them shows initiative.

5. Campaign Awareness and Trend Spotting

Great entry-level candidates can spot emerging trends or explain why a specific campaign worked. If you’ve written about influencer campaigns on a blog, in a class project, or even a LinkedIn post—include it in your application.

Hiring managers are impressed by people who already think like marketers.

6. Culture Add, Not Just Culture Fit

Influencer marketing teams tend to be collaborative, creative, and fast-paced. Show who you are, what excites you, and how you bring fresh perspective. You don’t have to fit into a mold—just demonstrate that you’ll add something to the team dynamic.

Final Thought

Hiring managers aren’t looking for polished perfection. They’re looking for energy, curiosity, and a willingness to grow.

So if you're passionate about creators, excited about social trends, and ready to learn the ropes—you're more prepared than you think.

And if you're applying soon? Here's your cheat code: personalize your application, show off your curiosity, and be ready to talk about why influencer marketing lights you up.

That’s the stuff we remember.