Career Spotlight - Marketing Management

What Is A Marketing Manager?

The main role of a Marketing Manager is to plan the best way to promote your employer’s product, service or message to a specific target audience. In order for you to do this, various strategies need to be considered, namely media advertising, promotional events, mailing as well as internet exposure. Also known as a Brand or Account Manager, you as a Marketing Manager would often specialise in certain products or markets, whether it be financial services, consumer goods or special events.

In this line of work, you would need to research and analyse market trends as well as identify your target market and how best to reach them. You would also need to come up with marketing strategies, plan campaigns around these and manage budgets accordingly. Seeing to the production of your promotional material (posters etc) and attending various trade related meetings and conferences is a must. A successful Marketing Manager attends to finer details like making sure deadlines are met and budgets stuck to, as well as keeping your client in the loop as to the effectiveness of the various strategies and campaigns. You might also have to manage a team of marketing executives and assistants if your organisation is large enough to warrant it.

What Skills Do I Need?

As with every job, there are specific skills and personality traits that make you more successful in that particular position. Excellent spoken and written communication skills is an absolute necessity as a Marketing Manager. You should be a creative thinker who is not afraid to find a solution outside the box and have good organisational and planning skills. As you will be in charge of a team of marketing people, the ability to motivate and lead them is essential. A career as a Marketing Manager is a rather stressful one, so the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines is a good trait to possess. You should be able to take initiative, be motivated, pay attention to detail and have the confidence to sell your ideas.

What Qualifications Do I Need?

In order to advance to the position of Marketing Manager, you will need to have a solid grounding as a Marketing Executive first. Although by this stage of your career a prospective employer would be more inclined to view your track record, industry knowledge and skill set as the major draw card, some would like you to have a professional marketing qualification. Courses to research would be a Marketing Management Diploma or an IAC ( Institute of Administration and Commerce ) recognised management course. If you are just entering into this field of studies and would like to aim towards becoming a Marketing Manager, a good starting point is a to attain a Bachelor of Commerce specialising in Marketing Management which is usually achieved in three years.

What are the Working Hours and Conditions Like?

As a Marketing Manager, generally speaking, your working hours will consist of an ordinary 8 – 5 day. You should however expect to work extra hours during major campaigns or when deadlines need to be met. Some after hour and weekend time might also be expected if there are any special events to see to. Your job generally be office-based, but some travel might be expected in order to meet with clients.