How we helped an Economics graduate to get a job in PPC

Nov 3, 2020

Are you an analytically-minded graduate, eager to launch a challenging and exciting career?

In this post, we share the inspiring story of how an Economics graduate that we coached landed a PPC job and went on to become an entrepreneur!


I worked with Chris after getting a degree in Economics from Durham University in 2014.

I had no idea what I wanted to do with my career, and Chris quickly identified digital marketing as an area that would suit me well. I’d never even heard of digital marketing at that point, but within a month I’d started a new job at a fantastic small marketing agency!

I worked for a year at that agency, and then another year at another leading agency, before setting up my own freelance digital marketing consultancy.

As of October 2020, I’ve been running my business for 4 years and am now organically growing it into an agency.

What’s more, I’m currently merging my business with another small agency, owned by a friend of mine, and we have some big plans!

I also run a lead generation website, HomeSage, and coach some grads with Chris to give something back by helping others into their own careers in digital. In fact, I recently hired one of Chris’s grads myself!

In less than six years, I’ve gone from being a directionless fresh grad, working part-time as a waiter and living with my parents, to having a hugely fulfilling, engaging and rewarding career that I know is for life.

Much of that is down to a lot of hard work, and even more luck, but it certainly wouldn’t have happened without Chris’s mentoring, encouragement and guidance!


Want to follow in this grad’s footsteps?

We can help you here at Graduate Coach to get a good graduate job. We offer one-to-one career coaching and interview coaching services.

We also offer online courses and books designed to help you to get a job!


Leveraging your Economics degree

An economics degree offers a distinctive combination of analytical skills, strategic thinking, and a thorough understanding of market dynamics. These qualities are essential in today’s rapidly evolving digital environment, where careers in Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising and entrepreneurship rely heavily on data-driven decision-making and creative problem-solving. Here’s how you can leverage your economics education to pursue meaningful careers in PPC and entrepreneurship.

Why Economics Graduates Can Excel in PPC Advertising

Wondering what to do with your Economics degree? Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising involves managing paid online campaigns to drive traffic and achieve specific business goals. Here’s how an economics degree prepares you for this field:

  1. Analytical Thinking and Data Interpretation
    PPC success hinges on interpreting metrics like click-through rates (CTR), cost-per-click (CPC), and conversion rates. Economics graduates are trained to analyze data and derive actionable insights, which is a critical skill in optimizing ad performance.
    • Example: Your experience with econometrics can help you interpret A/B test results to decide which ad copy resonates best with the target audience.
  2. Budget Management
    Understanding how to allocate resources efficiently is second nature to economics graduates. Managing PPC budgets, setting bidding strategies, and maximizing ROI are directly aligned with economic principles like opportunity cost and marginal analysis.
  3. Market Understanding
    Knowledge of market dynamics helps PPC professionals anticipate consumer behaviour. Economics students study demand, supply, and market trends, which are directly applicable when designing campaigns to meet audience expectations.
  4. Problem-Solving Skills
    PPC advertising often involves addressing complex challenges, such as increasing ad relevance or reducing costs. Economics training hones your ability to tackle problems methodically, a crucial skill in campaign management.

From Economics to Entrepreneurship

Having an Economics degree is incredibly advantageous for entrepreneurs, as it lays a solid groundwork for various elements of running a successful business. Entrepreneurs must effectively analyse markets, and a background in economics provides them with the necessary tools to spot market gaps, comprehend consumer behaviour, and strategically position their products or services.

By utilising concepts like supply and demand, they can develop offerings that meet market needs. Moreover, financial planning and resource management are essential for any business, and those with an economics education are skilled at handling budgets, understanding cash flow, and evaluating risks. This expertise enables them to formulate sustainable business plans and attract potential investors.

Strategic decision-making is another crucial area where economics is influential; entrepreneurs apply the analytical skills honed during their studies to assess trade-offs, compare costs and benefits, and plan for future growth.

Additionally, a grasp of macroeconomic trends, such as inflation, interest rates, and trade policies, helps entrepreneurs foresee external challenges and adapt their strategies accordingly. Ultimately, the insights gained from an economics degree empower entrepreneurs to make well-informed decisions, manage resources effectively, and navigate the complexities of the business landscape.

From PPC to Entrepreneurship

As an economics graduate, starting your career in Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising provides a strategic way to enter the digital marketing field and lays a solid groundwork for future entrepreneurship.

Your analytical skills and insights into market trends, consumer behaviour, and resource allocation—developed during your economics education—are directly applicable to managing PPC campaigns, where budget optimisation and performance analysis are crucial for success. After gaining experience in PPC, you might think about launching your own PPC agency to help businesses enhance their online presence and boost sales.

Alternatively, you could use your PPC expertise to foster growth in a startup or e-commerce venture that you create.

The data-driven mindset you’ve cultivated as an economics student will empower you to make informed choices, monitor ROI, and effectively scale your campaigns. With your knowledge of digital marketing and financial management, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the challenges of entrepreneurship, from overseeing cash flow to spotting market opportunities.

The blend of your economics background and PPC skills positions you to thrive in both areas and transition smoothly from digital marketer to business owner.

Conclusion

An economics degree lays a solid groundwork for a career in Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising. The analytical skills, market insights, and financial knowledge acquired during your studies are directly relevant to managing PPC campaigns, where data analysis, budget management, and strategic choices are crucial. Starting your career in PPC allows you to gain practical experience in digital marketing and understand how to drive measurable business growth.

After developing your skills in this area, your economics background will be a valuable asset when you decide to venture into entrepreneurship.

Whether you choose to launch your own PPC agency or leverage your marketing expertise to expand a personal business, the combination of your degree and PPC experience will prepare you to tackle the challenges of business ownership, including effective decision-making, resource management, and scaling operations.

Your economics education not only opens pathways into the PPC sector but also equips you with the skills and mindset needed for sustained entrepreneurial success.

Similar post:

How we helped a History graduate to land a job in Shipbroking

Featured Photo by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels

Online course

Turn Your Degree Into A Career

Download your FREE copy of our Key Employability Skills guide to help you determine what kind of skills you possess.

  • Learn the 9 imperative skills you should be including on your CV to beat ATS!
  • Gain a deeper understanding about the skills you should be discussing during interviews.
  • Submit your email and receive immedidate access!

    Our latest posts

    How to Secure a UK Remote Job and Relocate to Spain After Graduation
    Mar 2, 2026

    How to Secure a UK Remote Job and Relocate to Spain After Graduation

    The period after graduation can be difficult. On the one hand, you feel as though you need to get a job straight away, but on the other, you want to...

    Read post
    The Small Touches That Make Graduate Applications Look Professional
    Feb 25, 2026

    The Small Touches That Make Graduate Applications Look Professional

    Graduate applications rarely succeed on qualifications alone, given the competitiveness of the job market. By the time a recruiter opens your...

    Read post
    Accepted the wrong job? Here’s what to do
    Feb 24, 2026

    Accepted the wrong job? Here’s what to do

    Starting a new role is meant to feel like progress. And sadly, sometimes it does not. You might sense it on the first morning, or weeks later, when...

    Read post
    See All Blog Posts