It’s crucial to consider all your alternatives when thinking about a marketing communications career. Numerous occupations in fields including promotion, events, and marketing fall under the category of marketing communications careers. You can decide on one or more occupations to build your career on by investigating various marketing communications careers, their requirements, and their expected salaries.
One of the numerous advantages of being employed in marketing is that it allows you to use your experience or education in a marketing communications career in almost any area, from tech to traditional industry to the disciplines of medicine, and everything else in between. After all, almost all businesses have to convey the worth of their goods and services to their target audiences.
In recent times, there has been an increasing demand for qualified marketing specialists. As a result, those wishing to enter the profession have a promising employment future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an eight percent employment increase for marketing managers from 2018 to 2028, which is higher than the nationwide average for all professions.
Knowing exactly what opportunities are accessible to you and what credentials you need to secure your ideal job can be challenging if you’re just getting started in the marketing sector or wish to enhance your marketing career. Localized understanding of these elements may be considerably more difficult.
It’s a good thing that marketing communications careers are a widely relevant field because it gives professionals freedom in choosing their career path. In this piece, we define the term “marketing communications careers” and examine 18 positions in the field.
What are marketing communications careers?
Marketing communications careers span a broad spectrum of positions in the sales, advertising, market research, marketing, event organizing, social media, and online content creation industries. These occupations support businesses’ attempts at marketing communication. The process through which firms promote their goods, services, or concepts to consumers using various channels of communication and tactics is known as marketing communications.
Duties and obligations of a marketing communications career
The entire process is embodied in marketing communications, including client relations, public relations, marketing tactics, and the artistic aspect of promotional materials, advertisements, and artwork.
Marketing communications career, or Marcoms as it is more commonly called, is a fairly large field that includes numerous disciplines. Your job in this industry could need you to perform a variety of tasks, such as:
- Developing marketing strategies
- Organizing trade exhibitions
- Client events
- Budget management for marketing
- Creating promotional items to attract sales leads
- The creation of press releases
If you possess a creative inclination, you may also be creating brochures for customers or, if project management is more your style, producing text for them.
You’ll have to stay current with industry advancements because markets are constantly evolving, so you can stay a step ahead of your competitors.
Career opportunities in marketing communications
Below are some samples of marketing communications career occupations, along with a description of each position’s unique responsibilities, educational qualifications, and anticipated average salary:
1. A marketing communications expert
Average national wage: $27,929
To generate advertising messages for product releases and advertising campaigns, marketing communication experts in marketing communications career conduct market research and draw on their understanding of the company’s goods, services, and brand image. Candidates for the position of marketing communication specialist must hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as advertising, public relations, or marketing.
These professions frequently combine great communication skills with a variety of creative abilities, particularly strong writing abilities. Most often, hiring managers look for applicants with at least a bachelor’s degree in marketing communications or a closely related discipline as well as relevant professional experience.
2. Brand Ambassador
Average national wage: $39,804
The main responsibilities of brand ambassadors in marketing communications careers are to represent businesses’ goods and services. They participate in promotional activities, produce content, and give marketing specialists knowledge of the firm’s target markets. Most brand ambassadors hold a high school diploma or higher. However, organizations also use brand ambassadors with associate’s or bachelor’s degrees.
3. Social media supervisor
Average national wage: $44,643
Social media managers’ main responsibilities in marketing communications careers include managing all of a company’s social media profiles. They organize collaborations with influencers, create content, and reply to comments. An undergraduate degree in social media, communication, marketing, or public relations is required to work as a social media manager.
The ability to comprehend the many social media platforms may not require formal schooling, but professionals in this position frequently have a bachelor’s degree in advertising, communications, or a strongly linked discipline. Understanding the tactics that direct a firm’s social media efforts, as well as other crucial tasks like analysis and reporting requires a strong educational foundation.
4. Promotions director
Average national wage: $45,404
Promotions coordinators in marketing communications careers collaborate closely with advertising and marketing experts within an organization to generate marketing items and event concepts that support the sale of firm goods. Coordinators of promotions typically have an undergraduate degree in either marketing or advertising. The option to obtain a psychology degree is also available.
5. An associate in marketing communications
Average national wage: $45,511
Creating content, developing marketing campaigns, and promoting events are just a few of the main responsibilities of a marketing communications associate in a marketing communications career. To choose the most efficient channels of communication for sales promotion, they also work cooperatively with the marketing and advertising teams. A bachelor’s degree in corporate communications, advertising, or communications, together with a few years of specialized experience in marketing, is often required for becoming a marketing communications associate.
6. A public relations assistant
Average national wage: $47,374
Public relations assistants in marketing communications careers do advertising and administrative tasks for customers while employed by PR agencies. To ascertain a customer’s needs, they consult with senior PR specialists. They then provide content, such as media releases, memoranda, or infographics, to enable their customer’s products or service lines to be promoted. To be eligible for their positions, public relations assistants must possess a bachelor’s degree in communication, public relations, or marketing.
PR professionals frequently have a bachelor’s degree in an area like marketing or communications due to the complexity of managing a brand’s image. Additionally, candidates with PR expertise are sought after by employers.
7. An advertising professional
Average national wage: $47,911
An advertising specialist’s main responsibilities in marketing communications careers are to build original marketing and advertising campaigns in collaboration with marketing experts and content producers. At their place of employment, they could also be in charge of recruiting and training marketing specialists. A bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, or public relations is required for the position of advertising specialist, as well as a few years of relevant professional experience.
8. An event planner
Average national wage: $50,744
Event coordinators’ main responsibilities in marketing communications careers include assisting clients in meeting their event demands while working for businesses, venues, or event planning firms. In addition to meeting with customers, they oversee the event crew and choose décor that fits the client’s budget and style. Event planners specialize in planning product releases and other advertising schemes for marketing communications. Event planners can become certified with an associate’s degree, but they often complete a bachelor’s degree program in a related field, such as communications, hospitality, or event planning.
9. A marketing and communications director
Average national wage: $51,648
The primary responsibilities of a marketing and communications director in marketing communications careers are to support their company’s marketing initiatives by using their understanding of media platforms and content production. They consult with the marketing and promotional divisions as well as outside media outlets to determine which platforms are most effective for their target market. Candidates need a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or a related field, as well as a few years of relevant work experience, to become marketing communications coordinators.
10. A market research analyst
Average national wage: $56,083
A market research analyst’s main responsibilities in marketing communications careers include reviewing market trends, consumer feedback, and other significant data to draw accurate conclusions about a firm’s brand recognition or target customers. Their research aids marketing communication specialists in determining which communications channels are most effective for promoting their goods. Analysts in market research have bachelor’s degrees in marketing, statistics, or data analytics.
11. Social media strategist
Average national wage: $56,959
Social media strategists’ main responsibilities in marketing communications careers are to help companies create social media plans that complement their marketing and advertising objectives. They collaborate closely with specialists in social media marketing to set up posting schedules, profile designs, and marketing initiatives that can increase sales. Candidates need to have a bachelor’s degree in marketing or communications, accompanied by a couple of years of work experience in digital marketing, to become social media strategists. To be eligible, applicants must also hold a master’s degree in social media or communication.
12. A brand marketing expert
Average national wage: $57,137
A brand marketing specialist’s main responsibilities in marketing communications careers include assisting businesses in creating marketing initiatives and materials that complement their brands. Additionally, they supervise marketing and social media staff and offer direction on how to guarantee that their promotional and advertising endeavors retain the reputation of their organization. Those with experience in brand management with a bachelor’s degree in communications or advertising are often considered brand marketing professionals.
13. Advertising consultant
Average national yearly wage: $59,765
The main responsibilities of an advertising consultant in marketing communications careers are to advise organizations on developing distinctive marketing materials and choosing the best distribution methods. Most people need a bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or advertising to operate as an advertising consultant. Additionally, they have some advertising industry knowledge that enables them to engage other experts.
14. Marketing campaign manager
Average national wage: $62,596
Marketing campaign managers’ main responsibilities in marketing communications careers include managing a wide range of initiatives, including email marketing, inbound marketing, brand building, and brand advertising and promotion. Marketing campaign managers possess a few years of work experience in marketing and hold undergraduate degrees in communications or marketing.
15. Marketing communications manager
Average national wage: $63,048
Managers of marketing communications in marketing communications careers are primarily responsible for supervising all marketing communication initiatives for a company. They closely coordinate with the advertising, sales, and marketing departments to identify the channels of communication that will assist marketing initiatives the best. A bachelor’s degree in public relations, marketing, or communications is required to work as a marketing communications manager. A professional job history in marketing and communications is also required for them to be eligible for a leadership role.
16. A media buyer
Average national wage: $71,855
Media buyers in marketing communications careers assist clients in purchasing ad spots on television and radio shows as their main responsibility when working for advertising or PR agencies. Additionally, they aid clients in acquiring media spotlights and poster rights to promote their brands. Media buyers have bachelor’s degrees in journalism, marketing, public relations, or advertising.
17. Web programmer
National average yearly salary: $77,157
Development of mobile apps and websites for organizations is one of the main responsibilities of web developers in marketing communications careers, who are knowledgeable in coding standards and coding languages. By building modern websites and applications, web developers assist customers in expanding the channels of connection with targeted customers in marketing communications. One can obtain a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or web design to work as a web developer.
18 SEO manager
National average yearly salary: $80,178
SEO managers’ main responsibilities in marketing communications careers include optimizing online content and utilizing their knowledge of SEO to raise website engagement. To perform research and guarantee that digital marketing initiatives acquire the greatest amount of web user engagement, they work cooperatively with the marketing division and SEO experts. SEO managers typically have a marketing bachelor’s degree and a couple of years of relevant professional experience.
19. Customer Relationship Manager
National average yearly salary: $63,015
Typically, the responsibility of a customer relationship manager in marketing communications careers is to keep good ties with the clients and customers of a firm. In this position, the client relationship manager efficiently serves as the organization’s point of contact with its customers to satisfy their demands and encourage long-term business relationships.
These experts must possess outstanding communication and interpersonal skills in conjunction with having a thorough understanding of the industry because this function is mostly focused on developing strong partnerships. As a result, the majority of employers look for applicants who have a business, marketing, or related degree in addition to relevant experience.
Professional experience
Due to its popularity, the marketing industry can be quite cutthroat. Therefore, any extracurricular relationships and talents you develop can be a significant advantage for you.
Use any work-based learning opportunities your course offers to network with marketing professionals and hone your practical marketing abilities. Future benefits of taking the initiative now may be substantial.
Planning departmental or society events, newsletter authoring, budget management, and membership on committees are all ways to hone your project and communication management skills. All of these will demonstrate that you have the qualifications for a position in marketing. Showing how you combined your schooling, social life, and part-time work helped you build organizational and time-management abilities would also aid your application.
Your hobbies and interests may also provide a path to a career in marketing. For instance, if you have a strong interest in music, sports, or the environment, one of these may become your specialty.
Think about jobs in marketing or public relations for specialized organizations. For instance, even if you lack marketing skills, charity, sports, or arts organizations may recognize your passion and dedication to the field.
Common employers
Not all of the top companies that hire marketing grads are specialized marketing, advertising, and PR organizations.
There are positions available in every industry sector because marketing is a component of all organizations. Opportunities range in size and quantity, but there are positions available everywhere from commercial and consumer firms to not-for-profit institutions like nonprofits and local governments.
In addition to using more conventional marketing strategies, many businesses are now focusing on marketing through social media and digital channels.
Skills for your resume
You can learn to predict client demand, identify target audiences, and interact successfully with them with the aid of a marketing degree. You delve into topics including corporate management, human resources, culture, and the psychology and behavior of customers, as well as how their use of IT and interactive technology affects marketing.
You need the following qualities to succeed in a marketing communications career:
- Good knowledge of the market and the product
- Excellent organizational and planning abilities
- Exceptional verbal and nonverbal communication
- The capacity to handle several projects at once
- The capacity to operate under strict deadlines and duress
- Solid IT abilities
- Good understanding of marketing strategies
- Own initiative
- The capacity for teamwork
- High levels of creativity
Additionally, you gain a crucial set of practical business abilities, such as:
- The capacity for crystal-clear communication in written and spoken communication
- Strategic thinking and proper planning
- Knowledge of research, analysis, and presentation
- The capacity to act independently and think creatively.
The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) offers professional certifications, some of which can be waived for graduates of certain courses.
What credentials are required for a position in a marketing communications career?
There aren’t any prerequisites for a career in marketing communications, however, it depends on the position you want.
Graduates might benefit from having a degree in an appropriate field, like marketing, mass communication, or media. Numerous employers are on the lookout for strong personal traits like self-assurance and great communication abilities. You’ll need to showcase your abilities and have a body of work to draw on if you’re applying for creative roles.
For executive jobs and higher, experience in a similar sector is sometimes helpful and frequently needed. You can add work experience, short-term assignments, and volunteer work to this list in addition to any relevant employment you’ve held.
Since there is a lot of competition in this field, obtaining a proper credential like a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) certification may significantly increase your chances. The personal characteristics and experience companies look for in every applicant are not replaced by extra qualifications, even if they can be helpful.
As you advance, you may receive individualized coaching while being shadowed by senior or more seasoned staff members. On-the-job training, internal or external courses, and other things are also possible.
Additionally, employers might choose to put you on a Certificate, Advanced Diploma, and Postgraduate/Trainee Certificate in Marketing with the CIM.
Also available is a qualification comprised of several units from the Communication, Advertising, and Marketing Foundation (CAM). It includes:
- Media
- Marketing
- Public relations
- Advertising
- Behavioral studies
- Research
Successful candidates may pursue a Diploma Course in Communication Studies.
Further studies
Postgraduate marketing programs typically fall within the purview of business schools and focus on a deeper conceptual understanding of marketing, including topics like consumer behavior, planning, and branding, in addition to covering topics like global marketing and social media marketing. These kinds of credentials are not required, but they can be useful for graduates in fields other than business.
Candidates for many marketing positions must hold a bachelor’s degree in a subject with a strong communications component. Even though it’s not impossible to land one of these professions without a bachelor’s degree, getting one makes it much simpler to break into the sector and has several advantages for job searchers.
You might also want to take a look at marketing-focused management degree programs that are offered as part of a larger curriculum. Consider your long-term professional goals and whether a certain postgraduate program can assist you to get the job.
The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) offers a variety of marketing vocational certifications and diplomas. They can be completed while you are employed in a marketing position and range from foundational to senior level.
The upward mobility you can achieve in this industry by furthering your education and honing your talents is evident whether you’re thinking about finishing your degree or turning your associate’s degree into a bachelor’s degree. The range of occupations that are open to you increases as a result of finishing your degree.
Working hours for marketing communications
Typically, you would work from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. There may be some travel to meet with clients, attend shows, and participate in photo shoots.
You can advance your marketing profession to more senior roles as you assume additional responsibilities and develop skills. Additionally, you have the choice to form your agency, which is popular in the marketing and creative industries.
Motives for pursuing a career in marketing communications
Nearly every industry, including the public sector, the health industry, business, and retail, recognizes the importance of marketing. As a result, you have a wide range of employment alternatives and can choose a field of endeavor that interests you.
Conclusion
Graduates in marketing and communication courses can find employment in a variety of places. These people frequently work collaboratively with their marketing peers to develop narratives and messages that will resonate most strongly with each client profile within that company. You can work as a social media director, digital advertising manager, copywriter, or editor with this degree.
Frequently Asked Questions about marketing communications career
- Worst aspect of working in marketing communications?
When there are stringent deadlines to meet, overtime may be necessary.
- A marketing communications position is what?
Building connections with new and current clients through social media platforms is the responsibility of marketing communications experts. They oversee occasions like trade exhibits or conferences when they can speak with people directly.
- What are the top 5 marketing communication formats?
The six main forms of marketing communication are direct marketing, digital marketing, advertising, in-person selling, public relations, and sales promotion.
- Is a degree in marketing communications worthwhile?
You can pursue degree programs in communications or marketing to help you acquire the abilities and information required to work in virtually any profession. The word “marcomm,” which alludes to how these two disciplines overlap, has been used to group the two within commercial and professional contexts.