Advertising, Marketing & PR

Marketing

The general idea with Marketing is that you have a product of some kind that you want to sell to people. This product could be physical like a can of coke or a chocolate bar or it could be an idea or an image you want to promote and that you want a particular group of people to buy into.

Within Marketing you will be involved in a wide range of activities such as planning, promotion, product development, direct marketing, advertising, public and media relations, sponsorship and research (to name but a few).

The responsibilities of the role tend to vary from job to job dependent on the size of the organisation, the sector you work in and what role marketing plays within the company.

Jobs within the sector are often challenging, varied and exciting and you're unlikely to find any two days the same. Due to the increased relevance of marketing across industries there are plenty of marketing roles around but you can expect a large proportion of these to include a direct sales responsibility as part of the package.

Competition is high so employers will be looking for graduates who have a proven interest in the industry and having knowledge of the market is often essential. Skills required include strong interpersonal skills and analytical skills, creativity, teamwork, initiative, commercial awareness and IT skills.

A few added extras on you CV are often a great way to show a prospective employer you're genuinely interested in the sector. A work placement of volunteering with you Student Union's marketing and promotions team can make good additions and more and more companies are using Student Brand Managers such as The Guardian and Jack Daniels to promote their products on campus which can be a great way to get a taste of the industry. Find out more from your University job shop or if they can't help you, a quick Google search can bring up opportunities within your area.

Industry knowledge is essential and if you want to work in marketing you need to take an interest in campaigns in the media and keep up to date with changes in the market. It's a good idea to subscribe to a trade publication such as The Drum, for everything marketing outside of London, or popular industry weekly's Marketing or Campaign.

As many organisations have marketing departments, marketing roles can be found in both the private and public sectors, from banking, retailing and media industries to voluntary and not-for-profit organisations.

Entry to the profession is open to all graduates but as the area is becoming increasingly competitive gaining a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) qualification may improve your chances. However it doesn't guarantee a job or replace the personal qualities and experience that employers in this sector often look for!

 

Useful links:

The Chartered Institute of Marketing

The Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM) 

Marketing Week

The Marketing Handbook 

The Drum

News for the media and marketing industries outside the London bubble with stories, job search resources, events listing, and features.

Brand Republic

UK marketing news which is updated daily.