Have you ever thought about working in marketing? Here’s a blueprint for how you could make that happen. In this article, I’ll go through some of the key steps for launching a marketing career.
Is Marketing a Suitable Career for You?
As you may be aware, marketing is one of the essential business activities that can make or break a company. Marketing and sales professionals run campaigns to help businesses sell their products and services. No marketing would often mean no sales and, therefore, no business.
Because it’s so integral to business success, marketing covers a great deal more than just taking out ads. A marketing professional can be involved in product design and branding, customer relations and surveys, commercial partnerships, business analytics and investor pitching.
To succeed in marketing, you need to possess some essential skills or least be able to develop them. You could have potential in marketing if you can:
· effectively communicate your ideas and knowledge, both verbally and orally
- solve problems creatively and make decisions based on numbers
- understand how to capture the consumer market of a company
- be confident in presenting ideas to the rest of the team and welcoming of feedback.
Marketing blends analytics, psychology and creativity. If you are strong in all three areas, the field may be a good fit for you.
Get a Marketing Degree, MBA or Other Qualification
The good news about starting a marketing career is that plenty of educational opportunities are available. Business is one of the most popular study fields. And marketing is a popular business major. Just about everyone who does a business course studies marketing as a core part of the program.
Generally, it is recommended that you get a business degree with a marketing major. It can be a Bachelor of Business degree. You can also do postgraduate studies, such as a Master of Marketing degree or an MBA where you take marketing units.
You may be able to gain entry to a postgraduate marketing course even if you don’t have an undergraduate business degree. For example, most MBA programs provide entry pathways where you are admitted based on professional experience.
If you think you are too busy to attend university or college classes, online courses are available. The flexibility of online programs allows students to keep working full-time or part-time while they complete their studies. An online MBA offers significant advantages in terms of job benefits and ease of education, which is why it is one of the most popular degrees worldwide.
Internship Experience
Whether or not you have a background in the field, you can go for an internship to gain knowledge and training on how marketing works in a particular company. Even if it isn’t paid, an internship allows you to gain job-relevant experience, bolster your resume and perhaps be hired by the employer.
Build Real Relationships
Marketing involves building relationships with different kinds of people. Consequently, it is a field where connections are a common way to gain job opportunities.
In your path of turning towards the marketing industry, try to widen your connections. Try to find people who are already involved in the industry and seek their counsel. You always learn something new from them, especially regarding how what specific steps you should take to get a career foothold.
Start Applying and Consider Freelancing
When you think you are ready to compete for marketing jobs, even at just the entry-level, start applying. If experience is a barrier to getting interviews, you could do some freelance jobs.
Many companies hire freelancers as a way to keep overhead costs down. These can lead to permanent job opportunities. At the very least, they allow inexperienced marketers to build expertise and a solid marketing resume.
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