Marketing Executive
Job Description:Marketing executives promote a company's products, services or brand.
Job Category:What you will do:
Day-to-day tasks
In your day-to-day tasks you may:
- research customers and market trends to inform campaigns
- develop working relationships with clients
- write and edit content for print and online campaigns
- understand brand guidelines and check they are followed
- organise and promote events
- manage marketing budgets
- keep up to date with marketing trends and competitor activity
- analyse data to plan and evaluate marketing campaigns
Working environment
You could work in an office, at a client’s business or remotely.
Skills:
You’ll need:
- knowledge of media production and communication
business management skills - the ability to sell products and services
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
As well as:
- excellent verbal communication skills
- creative skills
- the ability to use your initiative (ambition/drive)
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- persuading skills
- customer service skills
Entry Requirements:
To become a Marketing Executive, you don’t typically need specific GCSE (or equivalent) subjects. However, having a well-rounded education and developing certain skills can be beneficial for your career in marketing. Here are some recommended subjects and other considerations:
- English: Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for marketing, as you’ll be creating content, advertisements, and communication materials.
- Mathematics: While not always required, a basic understanding of mathematics can be helpful for analyzing marketing data and metrics.
- Business Studies or Economics: These subjects can provide you with insights into business operations, consumer behavior, market trends, and economic principles, all of which are relevant to marketing.
- Information Technology (IT): Proficiency in using computer software, digital marketing tools, and data analysis software is crucial in the modern marketing landscape.
- Art and Design: If you have a creative flair and are interested in design aspects of marketing, courses in art and design can be valuable. They can help you understand graphic design principles and visual communication.
- Media Studies or Journalism: These subjects can provide insights into media channels, advertising, and content creation, which are relevant to many marketing roles.
- Foreign Languages: Depending on your career goals and the industries you work in, knowledge of foreign languages can be an asset, especially in global marketing.
Post School
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
- specialist courses run by private training organisations
University
Marketing and digital marketing roles are open to graduates of all subjects. You could choose a specialist foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in subjects like:
- marketing communications
- digital marketing
- advertising
- business and management
Some degree courses are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
Other particularly relevant courses that will give you some of the skills that are important for a career in marketing include:
- psychology
- humanities
- media, art and design
- English language or literature
- languages
- computer studies or IT
With a degree you could join a company marketing graduate scheme.
College
You could take a course to help you get into trainee marketing executive roles.
In the UK, for example, courses include:
- Certificate in the Principles of Marketing
- Certificate in Digital Marketing and Analytics
- Digital Production, Design and Development
Apprenticeship
You may be able to get into this role through the following apprenticeships:
- marketing assistant advanced apprenticeship
- digital marketer advanced apprenticeship
- marketing executive higher apprenticeship
- digital marketer degree apprenticeship
Work
You could join a company’s marketing department as an administrator or assistant. This could give you enough experience to work your way up to become a marketing executive or digital marketer.
Volunteering
You could get work experience and marketing skills by volunteering for a charity and helping with their social media and events communications.
Direct Application
You can apply directly to employers if you’ve got business and marketing skills. You may get these through jobs like sales, customer service or public relations work. Some employers may ask for a degree qualification though it’s not always essential.
Other Routes
You can do professional marketing, digital marketing and communications qualifications that may help your job prospects, through, in the UK for example:
- The Chartered Institute of Marketing
- Institute of Data and Marketing
- Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Working Hours and Environment:
A typical week consists of 37-39 hours of work. You could be required to work evenings/weekends occasionally.
Career Path & Progression:
You could specialise in digital marketing.
With experience, you could become a: marketing manager, online marketing manager or director of marketing.
You could also become a freelance marketing consultant, work in advertising, sales or public relations and communications.