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How to find the perfect Marketing role

Kate Allen, Executive Chair and Marketing Director, Allen Associates

In 2018, job review site Glassdoor published research in which they revealed the 25 happiest jobs in the United Kingdom.

Taking into account career satisfaction, possible progression opportunities and potential salaries, jobs in Marketing came out on top as the clear winner.

However, it takes a certain skill-set and level of expertise to lead a strategic Marketing plan to success. Those equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to drive results are in high demand – be they specialists with a proven track record in their particular discipline or managers boasting a history of highly productive teams.

If you fall into this category, it’s likely you won’t have to look hard to find a company in search of your skills. Nevertheless, Marketing professionals in search for the next step in their career should tread carefully. After all, the last thing you want is to jump out from the frying pan and into the fire.  

While your idea of the perfect Marketing role will ultimately depend on your unique career aspirations, you may want to take the following points into consideration before starting your search:

Choose a side

Generally speaking, your experience in Marketing – whatever stage of your marketing career you are at - will usually influence your decision to apply for in-house roles or positions within an agency. Perhaps you seek change or to add another string to your bow; maybe you’re eager to switch industries but stay on the Client-side of the fence.  

Of course, both have their advantages. For instance, working for a Marketing agency in a Client-solutions team sees a professional in this function enjoy a degree of variety in their routine. What’s more, agency-side Marketing executives have the opportunity to work on exciting Client projects that they can later lay claim to in future job applications.

That said, in-house Marketing professionals often cite ability to influence change and autonomy to experiment as preferable aspects of their career development and day to day tasks. What’s more, managers and executives alike can gain a sense of reward from building a brand and growing the profile of the business. Of course, the freedom to experiment will all depend on the size of the company.

Size up your targets

It goes without saying that life within the Marketing department of a large corporate firm will differ greatly to the experience in a small to medium enterprise. Within big business, for instance, Marketing managers are fortunate in that they are generally surrounded by a team of specialists: strategic thinkers, designers, copywriters, PR, social media and ad executives all collaborate in their efforts to achieve monthly targets. Whether agency or in-house, these executives will have the space to build on their specialism and the opportunity to excel in their craft.

In a small to medium sized business, lack of resource means marketeers will have to be a Jack or Jill of all trades; they must understand the many concepts within the discipline and implement a multi-faceted strategy almost singlehandedly. These roles can require marketeers to put on a different hat daily and operate in a number of positions - all in the space of eight hours. One day you may be writing copy for an award ceremony, the next you could be planning your automation strategy.

If variety is the spice of your life, a smaller company might tick your boxes. But be warned: being responsible for the entire company’s Marketing efforts may be rewarding when you succeed, but if for any reason your efforts should fail, you’ll be alone in the line of fire.

Make connections

Arriving on the jobs market without a professional network is a daunting prospect. What’s more, some agencies will even get prescriptive over hiring those without 500+ Linkedin connections. Fortunately for a Marketing professional, networking should come as second nature. If anything, connecting with leaders in your industry should be less challenging than repeating an elevator pitch over a thousand times at a trade show.

The key to building a great professional network is having a willingness to play the game. Just like a pool of prospective Clients, a rich network of potential Employers takes time to grow, and requires nurturing. Make it a prerequisite to catch up with familiar faces at events, industry shows and even online. A few years from now, you may have sowed the seeds long enough to harvest a business partner, a new career or simply a referral bonus.

Get help from a specialist

Torvill had Dean, Lennon had McCartney and you might just need a little help from a friend when it comes to finding your dream Marketing role. Going it alone will take time and commitment, and when you’re working five days a week, it’s not always easy.

Choosing to work with a specialist Marketing Recruiter gives you the peace of mind knowing that you have someone in your corner at all times. While you’re working to enhance your skills, a dedicated professional will be working to match your preferences and priorities with only the best Employers of the industry.

Over the last 20 years, we have grown as a business to become one of the leading independent Recruitment agencies in Oxfordshire, and in 2018 have opened our first London office, to service Clients in the capital.    

Can we help you? Click  here  for more information.