Festive Hiring 2026: Ad-Tech Fresher Jobs in Demand, Says Report

In the national capital, Programmatic Advertising Associate has emerged as the top in-demand fresher role, with a hiring intent of 50 per cent. In Mumbai, Digital Marketing Executive leads demand at 48 per cent.

bolt Latest News Updates for You

Festive Hiring 2026: Ad-Tech Fresher Jobs in Demand, Says Report

NEW

Navratri 2026 Auto Sales: 11.23 Lakh Units, EV Share Hits 10.5%

SBI Data Breach: 3,897 Customer Records Exposed on Dark Web

Both roles feature among the top five fresher roles nationally, showing how important digital skills have become for entry-level jobs.

What Is Programmatic Advertising?

Also Read

Rapid AI Rollout Raises Job-Loss Concerns in China AI

Programmatic advertising is the automated buying and selling of online ad space using software and data. Instead of manually placing ads on websites or apps, companies use technology to show ads to the right people at the right time, often in real time. During festive sales, when brands spend heavily on online ads, this skill becomes especially valuable.

A Slight Dip, but Still Strong

Fresher hiring intent in the marketing and advertising sector stood at 59 per cent in HY2 2026, slightly lower than 62 per cent in HY1 2026. Despite this moderation, the report says demand for specialised entry-level roles remains strong, especially for candidates with hands-on knowledge of ad platforms and campaign performance.

Overall Fresher Hiring Improves

Across sectors, India’s overall fresher hiring intent rose to 75 per cent in HY2 2026, up from 73 per cent in the first half. “This broader improvement underscores the importance of aligning education and training with evolving industry requirements,” the report said.

Skills Employers Are Looking For

Employers want freshers who can apply what they have learned, not just know the theory. Key skills include:

• Campaign optimisation: Improving ad results while controlling costs
• Audience targeting: Reaching the right customers
• Media planning: Choosing where and when ads should run
• Search marketing: Ads and visibility on search engines
• Performance analytics: Reading data to measure what works

The report also highlighted performance marketing analytics as an important domain skill.

How Freshers Can Prepare

The report advised freshers to focus on industry-aligned certifications and applied learning. In practice, that can mean:

• Completing recognised digital marketing and ad platform certifications
• Running small practice campaigns or internships
• Building a portfolio that shows real results
• Learning basic data and spreadsheet skills

Why It Matters

With brands moving more of their marketing budgets online, digital advertising has become a strong entry point for graduates from many backgrounds, including commerce, arts and management. It offers a path where practical skills can matter as much as degrees.

What Comes Next

As festive campaigns peak around Diwali, demand for digital marketing talent is likely to stay high, giving prepared freshers a valuable window to start their careers.

With inputs from IANS.