Career Resources in Marketing

Advertising / Promotion
Client companies employ personnel to create advertising campaigns for their brands or to supervise the creative services provided by advertising agencies. Duties include identifying target audiences, selecting appropriate media, communicating an exciting, effective message to consumers, and assessing the impact of the message on sales and communications goals. The media (television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and electronic sites) employ individuals to provide advertising services to customers.
Job titles include: assistant account executive, account coordinator, assistant media buyer, advertising sales representative, and research assistant.

Marketing Research
Professionals facilitate the gathering and interpreting of accurate and timely information for management decision-making such as identifying marketing opportunities and problems, monitoring marketing performance, and assessing marketing activities. Positions are available within companies or market research agencies for individuals to design research studies; gather, tabulate and analyze data; and communicate research information to management.
Job titles include: research analyst, assistant market analyst.

Product / Brand Management
Product or brand managers plan and direct the overall marketing activities for a particular brand or product. These managers coordinate marketing functions such as sales, advertising, sales promotions (coupons, free samples, in-store displays), market research, and physical movement of merchandise.
Job titles include: marketing or sales trainee, assistant product manager, brand assistant.

Sales
Many top executives of major corporations started their careers in selling because successful salespeople must develop effective communication skills, extensive product knowledge and account management skill. Many individuals remain in sales because it is one of the highest paying positions in most companies and allows for flexible work schedules. Business-to-business sales involve selling goods to businesses for resale to others as well as selling products to businesses for their own use. Retail sales include direct selling of goods and services to consumers.
Job titles include: sales representative, manufacturer's representative, and field salesperson.

Data Base / Web Base / Direct Response Marketing
Direct response marketers communicate directly to potential customers by broadcast media, telephone, the Internet, or mail. Companies “mine” extensive customer records to identify frequent customers and to encourage repeat sales. Positions in CRM (customer relations management) are readily available at most organizations.
Job titles include: database coordinator, research assistant, CRM associate, web marketing analyst.

Retail Management / Small Business Owner
Retail managers select and order merchandise, control inventory, coordinate advertising and promotion, and manage sales. Large retail chains provide management training in general store operations. Managers may progress from single store management to regional and corporate levels of responsibility. Retail management knowledge and skills are extremely useful to anyone desiring to run their own businesses.
Job titles include: management trainee, merchandise trainee, assistant manager, assistant buyer, and department manager.