Marketing executive
Marketing executives promote a company's products, services or brand.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a marketing executive, you could:
- research customer and market trends to inform campaigns
- develop working relationships with clients
- write and edit content for print and online campaigns
- understand brand guidelines and check they are followed
- organise and promote events
- manage marketing budgets
- keep up to date with competitor activity
- analyse data to plan and evaluate marketing campaigns
Working environment
You could work in an office, at a client's business or remotely.
Career path and progression
You could specialise in digital marketing.
With experience, you could become a marketing manager, online marketing manager or director of marketing.
You could also work as a freelance marketing consultant in advertising, sales, public relations and communications.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- the ability to sell products and services
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of media production and communication
- business management skills
- persuading skills
- customer service skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
- specialist courses run by training organisations
You could study for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:
- marketing communications
- digital marketing
- advertising
- business and management
Marketing companies will also take on graduates in other subjects.
Some degree courses are accredited by the The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
With a degree you could apply to join a company's graduate marketing training scheme.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More Information
You could take a college course to help you get a job as a trainee marketing executive.
Courses include:
- principles of marketing
- applied marketing
- digital marketing and analytics
- T Level in Digital Production, Design and Development
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
More Information
You may be able to get into this role by applying for an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships include:
- Multi-channel Marketer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Marketing Executive Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
- Digital Marketer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
You could join a company's marketing department as an administrator or assistant. You could then work your way up to become a marketing executive or digital marketer through training and promotion.
You can apply directly to employers if you've got business and marketing skills. You may get these from working in jobs like sales, customer service or public relations. Some employers may ask for a degree qualification though it's not always essential.
You can do professional marketing, digital marketing and communications qualifications, that may help boost your job prospects, through:
Career tips
Developing your own online presence or 'brand' can be useful to raise your profile with potential employers. You could:
- create a blog or podcast
- set up your own website
- network with marketing influencers or high profile companies through social media channels
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a marketing executive from The Chartered Institute of Marketing.
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