By this same framework, a career in marketing should be also the same way. Given that the vocation itself is geared towards the building of powerful and memorable products, it is inevitable that it should also mirror what it tasks itself to create. Simply put, for anyone who wants to pursue a career in marketing, they must keep in mind of the brand that would essentially become the focal point of their careers: their own.
The formation of a personal brand would entail the augmentation of various competencies that would enable a person to fit in the industry and stand out at the same time. These competencies can be categorized in the following manner: (1) high-level competencies that include capabilities for brand management and customer relationship management; and (2) mid-level competencies composed of marketing design and implementation skills and what they call ‘marketing mix variables’ that also capitalizes on market research. Career experts at SolidEssay.com, which is a college paper writing service, speak of the importance of what could be deemed ‘soft skills’ or, the general skills that are heavily involved with fostering relationships and establishing roots in the industry – it may even be argued that these soft skills may hold a higher tier than the technical marketing skills learned in formal education.
Given this competency mix, so to speak, it is then arguable that the processes for developing them would also entail varying experiences and degrees of involvement. Paramount would be getting a formal marketing education for certified technical competency is still a requirement for the industry. Although it holds true that there are some avenues by which a person could learn ‘on-the-job’, rising through the ranks, with competence, would not be possible without a formal education. It is then important to finish a university degree focusing on marketing.
While in the midst of obtaining a formal education, it would also be worthwhile to apply for an internship within a company to acquire real-world experience. It would be a good choice to apply at a start-up or a small business to enable a person to have first-hand experiences with the ins and outs of the company. It is understandable that the tasks given at the beginning would be mostly clerical, but this creates the opportunity for interacting in a formal job setting, something that will be very useful later on. Applying for an internship would also be useful in an environment where mentorship is being provided for aside from acquiring actual experiences, tacit knowledge would be imbibed by the learner from an expert. One would venture doing so by still going through the start-up approach, especially if the person leading the start-up has incubated other companies in the past. It would also be important that, at this stage, to obtain a membership at a university-related marketing organization that would also help foster competencies for the field.
Immersing one’s self in the above experiences would certainly put a person in a position to get in the industry, but standing out would be different matter. In the quest for a personal brand, the author’s sights are currently targeted on human behavior, market research, and how these would closely intertwine in the greater marketing picture. It has been the fascination of the author to do so and this would not only be a quest for a personal brand but the fulfillment of a vocation. The added value then, is also focusing on formal education, mentorship, internship, and membership experiences that would allow opportunity to learn more about the dynamics between marketing and market research. For this, it would be a good idea to focus on companies that have their own research division, a marketing agency, or, as is the case before, a startup. It would also be helpful to fashion ePortfolios – online portfolios – that would showcase one’s marketing-related work and bolster one’s online presence.
At this point, these are plans and blueprints for a career in marketing with an emphasis on market research and behavioral modification. One could argue that these are what marketing is – influencing human behavior –but there are angles to the topic that could also be well-pursued. This is where the author’s mind is set, and hopefully, a portent of good things to come.
Author bio
At SolidEssay.com, Jeffrey teaches students how to write different types of essays and research papers. Read more here.
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