Do you want a varied workload? Have you got creativity and organisational skills oozing out of every pore? Are you aware that working as a marketing executive is all about promoting goods and services, rather than bellowing something like “git yer bananas ere, pound of banaaannnaaas” from the comfort of a market stall? If you answered ‘yes’ to all these questions, then you’re in the right place!
In their quest to develop and implement innovative marketing campaigns and promotional strategies, marketing executives undertake a particularly broad range of tasks and have many varied responsibilities, involving a combination of aspects from advertising, public relations, campaign planning, events management and market research.
Furthermore, you may be in charge of securing sponsorship deals, buying media space and distributing marketing materials.
If you enter this profession, you’ll have tons of opportunities at your fingertips, since all kinds of organisations require dedicated marketing personnel to promote their products, services and concepts. These institutions can be anything from government agencies and multinational corporations, to charities and small web companies.
Marketing is not about wading in willy-nilly, sending emails left, right and centre, plastering posters everywhere and running around the streets with a megaphone shouting the name of the brand you’re representing. In fact, planning, networking and administration tasks make up a large part of a marketing executive’s job.
In order to implement effective marketing schemes, you’ll need to interact with your colleagues, clients, patrons and target audience to determine what needs to be done, how it will be achieved and when everything can start kicking off.
Moreover, once campaigns have been launched, you’ll be responsible for assessing the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and making changes and improvements where necessary.
Essentially, working as a marketing executive is all about strategy, planning, organisation, administration and communication. You’ll most likely be working as part of a dynamic marketing team, so it’s all about getting your heads together, understanding the brief, organising everything and then cracking on and getting it done. Then, and only then, will your marketing campaigns be a success.
Salary & benefits
Annual salaries for marketing executives in the early stages of their careers generally range between £20,000 and £30,000, while marketing professionals with a wealth of experience can earn between £30,000 and £50,000 per annum. Senior marketing executives with more than ten years’ experience can earn up to £60,000 and beyond.
Working hours
Marketing executive roles are primarily office-based, though some travel is required when it comes to meeting with clients and business associates. Normally, you’ll be working a standard nine-to-five, though you should expect to work extra hours when campaign deadlines and product launches are imminent.
Entry
A good undergraduate degree in any discipline is acceptable for entry into this profession. However, studying marketing may give you an edge over other candidates, and you could even do a postgraduate degree in marketing to really enhance your employability.
Many trainee marketing executives are humanities graduates – but don’t let that put you off if you have a science or numerate degree. In fact, some employers in niche industries may prefer candidates with this kind of background.
This profession is incredibly competitive to get into, so building a solid foundation of relevant work experience with different organisations is advisable for graduates looking to break into the profession.
Training & progression
Larger, well-established organisations may offer graduate schemes for entry-level marketing executives, while smaller organisations are more likely to recruit candidates as and when they are needed. Either way, the majority of your training and development is likely to be ‘on-the-job’ under the supervision of senior marketing executives.
Some employers may sponsor their junior executives to study towards professional marketing qualifications, which are administered by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), though this is fairly rare.
Career progression is based on individual performance and contribution to your organisation’s success. As you climb the ladder, you will most likely become a senior marketing executive, then a marketing manager and finally a marketing director.