Have you ever looked at a billboard and thought you could do better?
Are you always coming up with snappy slogans, interesting lines of copy or informative research? Do you own Mad Men on box set? OK, maybe not the last one, but you get the idea.
If you’re looking for an exciting and rewarding career in the marketing industry, here are some roles you could consider, and our top tips to help you get there:
Account Manager
What they do: Manage the relationship between a company (e.g. a marketing agency) and its clients. They work to ensure all of a client’s needs are met, that they’re happy with the service and identify any areas in which improvements could be made. In smaller businesses they may also be responsible for identifying new clients.
What you need: You will be representing and reflecting your business at all times, so the ability to maintain effective relationships with your clients and excellent interpersonal skills are absolutely essential. Other desirable attributes include good negotiation and communication skills. A degree may help, but is by no means a necessity.
What you can earn: £20,000 as an entry-level salary, however, successful Account Managers will earn in excess of £30,000 relatively quickly. Big bonuses are also a distinct possibility.
Perfect for: People who like to talk.
Our advice: Many sales jobs incorporate a good level of account management. So if you’re struggling for a response from employers, start with an entry level sales position and sharpen your skills. Once you have a good level of experience and a few glowing testimonials under your belt, your CV will start to sell itself.
How to become an Account Manager
Digital Marketing
What they do: Digital Marketing positions encompass all marketing which is carried out online to help compliment and measure your offline campaigns. This could range from managing your messaging on social channels and improving Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), through to budgeting and analysing traffic.
What you need: Creativity, good communication skills and an excellent knowledge of up-to-date digital trends. Technical jargon busting is also a must. A degree is not essential, although experience counts when it comes to career progression.
What you can earn: Around £30,000 on average, but the position can prove to be extremely lucrative with some good experience within the industry.
Perfect for: People who understand what CTR is.
Our advice: Getting to grips with Google is our biggest tip to help you get a career in digital marketing. Everything from AdWords to Analytics are all managed through the search engine, and knowing all about ranking best practices will certainly help when it comes to application time. There are a number of blogs and articles online to help you get started. Just search for Penguin or Hummingbird. Seriously…
How to become a Digital Marketing Executive
Eight tips to help you get a career in digital marketing
View all Digital Marketing jobs
Events Management
What they do: Plan and organise a range of events, from product launches through to fashion shows, music festivals and more. If you want your event to be bigger and better than anyone else’s, you definitely need to get a good Event Manager.
What you need: To be successful as an Event Manager, excellent communication and interpersonal skills are absolutely essential. If you hate going out and meeting new people, this may not be the role for you. There are no specific qualifications needed to get started.
What you can earn: If working for an events company, starting salary will be around £16,000. However, it’s also possible to work in a freelance capacity, and the bigger events will pay tens of thousands of pounds for the right Event Manager.
Perfect for: People who like putting on a show.
Our advice: In this industry, experience will count a great deal. Begin building your reputation locally by putting on your own events where you live, or offering to help other people. With a good portfolio of work and a network of suppliers built up, employers in the industry will soon begin to take notice.
How to become an Event Manager
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Marketing Executive
What they do: This will vary depending on the size of the business, but the role will usually include public relations, copywriting, event organisation, product development, email creative and distribution, and a range of other tasks. Can sometimes be an entry level position into marketing.
What you need: As with most marketing roles, communication is key. Drive, creativity and the ability to work well under pressure are also definite strengths when looking to become a Marketing Executive.
What you can earn: The average salary is around £18,000, rising to the £30,000 level with the right level of experience.
Perfect for: People who want to forge a career in the marketing industry.
Our advice: Work experience and internships for Marketing Executives are fairly commonplace (although extremely competitive), and are an excellent way to learn the ropes and gain some knowledge in the industry.
How to become a Marketing Executive
View all Marketing Executive jobs
Market Research
What they do: Collect, and potentially analyse, valuable information on behalf of their company or clients. This could include collating customer opinions, competitor analysis or using specific software to gain insights.
What you need: An analytical mind and methodical approach to your work. If the thought of extrapolating and analysing data fills you with a quiet dread, this might not be the job for you. A degree is generally a prerequisite, although a wide range of subjects will be accepted.
What you can earn: Initial salary may start at around £20,000 or so for Market Research Executives just starting out, rising to well over £50,000 for management positions.
Perfect for: People who love quantitative or/and qualitative data.
Our advice: Do your research. Let’s face it, it’s kind of implied for this one. Make sure you know what surveying tools are out there, for example, what your prospective employers current methods are, pros and cons etc. Even basic research into the business should never be overlooked when it comes to interview time.
How to become a Market Research Analyst
Other jobs in marketing to consider: Content Manager, Copywriter, SEO Executive, Social Media Assistant, Marketing Analyst, PR Executive.
Top tips
Here are some of our top tips for finding a job in the marketing industry:
- Get hands-on – Experience can be vital to break into the marketing industry. If you’re just starting out, work experience and internships are both great ways to begin your journey. Entry level marketing positions are also achievable, with the right transferable skills.
- Demonstrate your skills – Pick out the most relevant attributes from the job description and tailor your CV to emphasise them.
- Keep up-to-date – Marketing is a fast-paced industry, so it’s important to make sure you’re always in-the-know when it comes to the latest developments. Signing-up to marketing magazines, online marketing publications, or simply following some of the better digital news sites, are all good starts.
- Get qualified – If you’re finding it difficult to gain experience an industry-recognised marketing qualification could be the solution. A CIM certificate, for example, is a great way to learn the fundamentals and can help you qualify for a number of entry-level Marketing positions (Marketing Assistant and Social Media Assistant are just two examples).
- Know the ‘lingo’ – CTR, B2C, CPC, TTFN. If you don’t know these acronyms, start learning. There is a lot of terminology specific to the industry, so make sure you know the basics before you start applying. Your competition almost certainly will.
- Sell yourself – Finally, never underestimate the importance of your ‘personal brand’. Creating a strong online presence could be the difference between you and another candidate, so start blogging and tweeting right away. (N.B. Always keep it professional. That disheveled profile picture may not be as endearing to employers as you think. At the very least, go private).
Ready to find a position in marketing? View all marketing jobs now.
