Marketing executive

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

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Business - Marketing executives need to understand how businesses operate, including how products are positioned in the market, how pricing strategies work, and how marketing fits into a company's overall goals. They manage budgets, work with clients, and make decisions that directly affect a company's revenue and growth.
• English Language - Marketing executives write and edit content for campaigns across print, social media, email, and websites. They need to craft persuasive, clear copy that appeals to specific audiences, and they communicate daily with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.
• Mathematics - Marketing executives analyse data to plan and evaluate campaigns, working with metrics like conversion rates, return on investment, and customer acquisition costs. They also manage marketing budgets, so being comfortable with numbers and interpreting statistics is essential.
• Psychology - Marketing executives need to understand what motivates people to buy products or engage with a brand. Knowledge of consumer behaviour, decision-making, and how emotions influence choices helps them design campaigns that genuinely connect with target audiences.

Also relevant

• Media Studies - Marketing executives plan campaigns across TV, print, online, and social platforms. Media Studies helps them understand how different channels reach and influence audiences – so they can choose the right formats and craft messages that connect.
• Art and Design - Marketing executives work closely with designers and often brief creative teams on visual campaigns. Having an eye for layout, colour, typography, and brand consistency helps them evaluate designs and ensure marketing materials look professional and appealing.
• Economics - Marketing executives research market trends and monitor competitor activity to inform their campaigns. Understanding supply and demand, consumer spending patterns, and how broader economic conditions affect purchasing behaviour helps them make smarter strategic decisions.
• Sociology - Marketing executives research different customer groups and tailor campaigns to specific demographics. Understanding how social trends, cultural influences, and group identities shape people's preferences helps them target the right audiences with the right messages.
• Computer Science - Marketing executives increasingly work with digital tools like website analytics platforms, email automation systems, and content management software. Understanding how these systems work – including basic data handling and how algorithms affect things like search rankings – helps them run more effective digital campaigns.