Marketing is a fast-paced, constantly evolving role that is perfect for an ambitious and organised individual looking for a new challenge. If you’re fresh out of university and considering a role in marketing, this is what you can expect from your first marketing role.
Creativity everywhere!
Joining a team of marketers is exciting. You’ll be surrounded by individuals with a wealth of experience, and this is a big bonus for you. Ranging from marketing assistants to marketing directors, these people have likely planned and executed a plethora of strategies and campaigns. Listening and learning from them will be a big part in your development as you come to grips with the realities of design, strategy, data and so much more.
Learn to organise and prioritise
As we said previously, marketing is not a role for the faint of heart. It’s a busy role that requires you to divide your attention at times. Learning how to organise your day/week and prioritise your tasks accordingly is the biggest hurdle. Failing to do this could result in missed deadlines, and tasks and campaigns not being executed to their full potential. Organise yourself before you do anything else.
Hot tip: Start your week by creating a ‘To do’ list. These will be your main priorities for the week, and help you maintain your focus.
Networking
This is a big part of the industry and you may end up combining your work and social lives. Today, it’s not just about networking in person, but online too. Opportunities can introduce you to new people as well as new projects, so be open to discussing ideas with others, and get to know what sort of opportunities are better suited to your organisation.
Stay hot on the mark
Marketing requires you to stay up to date on the latest trends. Set up alerts to popular marketing blogs and social channels so you can see the latest trends as and when they are revealed. Following industry leaders and popular news sites like the BBC will also help. Continuous learning is essential to maintain a competitive advantage.
Develop commercial awareness
An understanding of the market, consumer wants and needs and the company’s requirements for the client are essential for success in marketing, hence the importance of market research. Trade publications and company press releases, as well as keeping an eye on the relevant markets, can help to build up this knowledge.
Round-the-clock learning
Skills and contacts built up outside your work or university can really help you to blossom in your marketing career. Organising events for a society or department, writing newsletters and managing budgets will help you to develop your skills for a successful marketing role.
Agency or department
Whichever you choose to work for, you’ll learn the difference between working for an agency or a marketing department. Agencies are typically a more high-pressured environment. There is more riding on success, but there is more variety available in terms of brands you could work with. There is also a stronger sense of teamwork.
Working in-house for a company means your work will be much more consistent. You could end up performing the same tasks every year, because you’ll be expected to respond to the needs of the business. On the plus side, you get to understand the company more intimately, which arguably means a better insight. Investing your time and effort in a company you really like means your marketing should be more passionate and focused.
There are different types of marketing roles available, but generally graduates can apply to graduate or assistant roles or internships across businesses. There are different careers you can move in to, including marketing, e-commerce, buying, merchandising, studio design and so much more. The route you wish to go down will eventually become clearer as you begin to develop in your graduate role.
If you are looking for a graduate role at the moment, we have a number of them available on our website. You can also search by location for your next opportunity.
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