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Tips for Building a Career in Marketing

Marketing is a wide field with a range of diverse opportunities which appeal to everyone interested in marketing. Marketing does not only pay the bills but also allows you to explore and use your creative side. If you are book smart and creative, marketing may be the perfect field for you. With the right education, passion, and consistency, you will be set to build a strong career in marketing. Here are some tips to build a career in marketing.

Be qualified for the job you want

Getting a job in marketing is relatively simple if you have the right qualifications. Job hunting becomes even easier if you have a qualification from a well-established school like the IMM Graduate School. The IMM Graduate School offers a range of diplomas, degrees, and online short courses in the marketing field to equip and further the knowledge of marketing professionals. If you are starting out and would like a marketing qualification, the IMM Graduate School offers a Higher Certificate in Marketing and a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Marketing and Management Science. These qualifications will be a good catalyst to set off your marketing career. Follow this link to view all their marketing qualifications: https://imm.ac.za/academic-qualifications/marketing-qualifications

If you are a marketing professional and would like to gain more knowledge for your desired promotion or better job, the Institute of Marketing Management (IMM) South Africa offers online short courses for this purpose. Consider studying the ‘Digital Approach to Marketing Strategy’, ‘Fundamentals of Marketing’, and ‘Applying Digital Marketing Tactics’ online short courses. Follow this link to view all their online marketing short courses: https://shortcourses.imm.ac.za/online_courses/marketing-advertising-short-courses

Be adept in numbers

Besides being qualified for a marketing job, you may need other skills if you would like to climb the corporate ladder. Marketing is a field that focuses on its professionals using their creative skills, but those who have higher positions in companies may need to use less creativity and be experienced in finance and accounting. Online short courses in marketing basics, like the ones offered by the IMM, will equip you with the necessary marketing measurement skills.

Use all your opportunities to gain experience

Although you need to be book smart and creative to be successful in the marketing industry, you also need the experience to understand the industry. A large part of the marketing industry is keeping the customer happy and knowing how to engage with the target market. You will gain this experience as you work in the industry, but you should also consider shadowing a senior professional or finding a mentor. They will be able to give the tips and tricks they have used to climb the corporate ladder.

Determination

No matter the field or industry you’re in, you need the determination to persevere through the many challenges you will face. True success has never been handed to anyone on a silver platter and requires mistakes, failures, and growth. Always remember: failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Have a critical mind-set

Asking questions is one of the best ways to succeed in the marketing industry. You should constantly ask questions and try to figure out things like “why is there more engagement this month”, for example, to utilise the successes and work forwards from that. The same applies to negative situations. If there is a drop in engagement or if a marketing plan has not been successful you need to figure out what went wrong and how to avoid that in the future.

The bottom line

The marketing industry may seem daunting, but it is easy to conquer if you have the right mindset, passion, and qualifications. As long as you are eager to learn and have the needed consistency, building a career in marketing is a goal easy to achieve.

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