Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager Overview
Marketing managers are some of the most important employees at any company. Individuals in this field are in charge of creating and implementing effective marketing strategies, a process that will likely include advertising, sales, promotion, product development, and public relations activities. Marketing managers are usually heavily involved in many different aspects of the company and must have a clear understanding of all facets of the business. Marketing managers can move up quickly in companies. Obtaining a position as a CEO or CFO is not out of the question for these individuals.
In order to develop an effective marketing strategy, data must be gathered from customers and retail outlets, competitors must be strongly and closely evaluated, and a clever and effective means of marketing a product must be developed. This means that marketing managers must pay excellent attention to detail, be good with people and communication, and have a flair for creativity.
Marketing Manager Training and Education
There are hundreds of different paths to becoming a marketing manager, but for an increasing number of applicants the most important qualification is recent experience in a relevant field. For undergraduate students, a course of study that leads to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in marketing, communications, or business administration can be helpful. Because a great deal of the marketing manager’s responsibilities involve analyzing sales trends and marketing data, some classes in statistics, mathematics, economics, and accounting can be very helpful.
Depending on the company where you wish to work, some study in a relevant field may be helpful. For example, someone who wants to be the marketing manager for Microsoft may seek out education in computer science and information technology, while someone who wants to work for Novartis or Eli Lilly may find some biology and chemistry classes to be beneficial.
Most companies promote their marketing managers from inside the company, so another important prerequisite is hard work in the job you have, whether it is as a sales rep or divisional manager. Many companies offer continuing education and in-house certification and training in marketing management, so be sure to take advantage of these opportunities if they present themselves.
Marketing Manager Career and Salary Outlook
There were about 167,000 marketing managers working in the United States in 2006. By 2016, that number is expected to increase by about 12 percent, which is about average for all occupations in the market today. Although growth is predicted to be about average overall, certain sectors of the economy are expected to grow faster than others (especially professional and scientific services companies) and will be in great need of qualified marketing managers. There will be stiff competition for these spots, and those with the best education and experience credentials will be in the best position for success.
In May 2006, marketing managers made a median annual salary of $98,720. However, certain fields tend to pay significantly more than that. Marketing managers working in computer systems design and relates services make a median of $119,540, while those in depository credit intermediation make only $91,420. Salaries are vary widely depending on the size of the marketing manager’s department and the scope of his responsibilities. For example, firms that actually manufacture a physical product tend to pay more than ones that do not.
Article Resources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics