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Covid has made an awful lot of people question what they want out of their lives. Some people have opted to move house, town, or city. Some people have chosen to end relationships; some have chosen to bind their relationship by getting married legally. The realisation most people have come to, however, is about their jobs and want a change.
Are you considering a career change into the world of marketing? This brief guide will hopefully help you with that decision.
What is marketing?
Marketing is an umbrella term that refers to a company’s actions to promote the buying/selling of a product/service. It includes the advertising, selling, and delivery of products. Some companies outsource their marketing to others on their behalf. Marketing is about grabbing the attention of a key demographic, usually through advertising. Promotions are specifically targeted to catch the attention of those that the product or service is geared. For example, gambling adverts are often seen during football matches as many of their wanted audience watch football.
What jobs are there within marketing?
The range of jobs available in marketing is too innumerable to mention individually instead, let us stick to key areas. First and foremost, market research. It is somewhat self-explanatory; it involves reaching out to the correct target audience – whether that be other companies, certain groups within society, or individuals. To reach the targets, it is vital to understand the market you are selling in, such as the needs of the intended consumer and whether there are any similar products available. Market research can be carried out in several different ways, including studies and surveys. Once market research has been conducted the advertisements can be tailored to reach the right audience.
How to know if a job is right for you
It is not simply about whether you are right for a job or company but whether they are right for you. Needs will vary from person to person, but it is essential to consider what you would like from a company before accepting a job from them. For example, is the salary right for you? Are they offering you what you feel you are worth? Do they have a good benefits package? This can be difficult, especially for people who work from home; however, there are ways around this. For example, some companies use resources such as Zest, which is an online benefits management platform that allows people to manage their entitlements themselves, making it easier for remote and part-time workers to receive the perks they deserve.
Is Marketing a Good Fit for You?
Before you enter into the marketing world, you need to work out if it’s right for you. Here are some of the main characteristics that a marketer needs:
- Are you an innovator? Great marketing is all about innovation. Making something new, improved, or fixing, or finding a solution for an inconvenience or impatience is what drives change.
- Do you have an eye for what the customer wants? Are you empathetic to their needs? Being able to identify these needs and wants is key as well as utilising their feedback for the betterment of the project.
- Personality is also important people want to be told the truth and so marketers who are more straightforward tend to excel.
- From this, it should be obvious that you need to be a tip-top communicator. Marketing at its crux is all about communication. Communicating ideas internally and then with the public in order to sell something.
- Finally, are you creative? You should be. Marketers are ideas people, constantly coming up with concepts, brainstorming, thinking about the aesthetics of an advertisement.
If you possess these traits, there is a strong likelihood that you could excel in a career in marketing. So what do you have to lose?
You may also like: What is Digital Marketing and How to Become a Digital Marketer
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