Marketing When you think about the marketing industry, you probably picture hip, young people sitting around in ridiculously stylish offices. Their job responsibilities appear to include: beard stroking, doodling, ‘bouncing’ ideas around the office, and drinking passion fruit and wheatgrass smoothies. Ok, while that might be the case in some agencies, a career in marketing will usually involve a lot more than ‘being creative’ and making sure you get your five-a-day. The marketing industry is not completely dependent on creativity. True, creativity is important, but the industry would not be able to function without research, planning and strategy. If you decide to pursue a career as a marketing executive, marketing assistant, account manager or brand consultant, you will spend your professional life delivering successful and innovative marketing solutions. To thrive in this dynamic and constantly evolving industry, you will need to be a highly organised and energetic individual, with excellent communication skills and the ability to build relationships with clients and customers. Marketing is a multifaceted beast. Budding marketeers can enter many different specialist areas of this exciting industry, from digital, face-to-face and direct marketing to experiential, guerilla
p. 40
to find out more, visit
ALLABOUTCAREERS.COM and relationship marketing. Other people who join established graduate schemes with integrated marketing agencies, or the in-house marketing teams of large companies, however, may get the opportunity to work in various departments before eventually specialising in one area of marketing. An internship or placement is the ideal way to get your first taste of the marketing industry, and most integrated agencies, boutique agencies and inhouse marketing departments offer work experience opportunities to enthusiastic students and graduates. FACTS • There were 25,810 marketing students studying in the UK in 2011 (HESA). • 38% of the top graduate employers in the UK recruit graduates into marketing roles. (High Fliers). • 2.7% of the graduate vacancies in 2011-12 were in marketing (AGR). • The median starting salary for graduates in marketing roles in 2011-12 was £25,000 (AGR).