Nine reasons you should work in marketing

Nine reasons you should work in marketing by Amber Rolfe Ready to see advertising in a whole new light? Here’s how…If you’re looking for a career where you can put your creativity, communication skills, and analytical abilities to good use, marketing could be the perfect industry for you. And with a wide range of roles to choose from, there’s sure to be something to suit your skillset.We’ve already covered a few of the best jobs in the marketing industry, but here are nine great reasons you should work in marketing:It comes with excellent career prospectsMarketing is a growing industry.With technology constantly advancing, so are the opportunities to market more effectively. So not only could you be involved with new and exciting marketing techniques, you could also use what you learn to move up within the industry.And with a number of career paths to choose from â€" whether you want to move into management, analytics, product design, or anything else â€" there’s nowhere to go but up.  You don’t need a degree Whilst a degree might be essential for some marketing roles, it’s not always a necessity.In fact, there are a number of ways to start a career in this field â€" whether it’s by gaining work experience through an internship or placement, taking a course, or even working freelance. Keeping up-to-date with industry developments through webinars or conferences is also a good way to demonstrate your skills.Other possible routes include starting out in a sales role and working your way into marketing or pursuing an entry level job as a Marketing Assistant.You’ll be able to use your skills (almost) anywhere Marketing is a vital part of almost every organisation.This means that your expertise will be in demand across a vast range of fields. Whether you want to work for a digital marketing agency, for your favourite brand, or even for a charity â€" you’ll always be able to work on something you’re passionate about.And with marketing roles teaching you everything from commerc ial awareness and critical thinking, through to interpersonal skills and creativity, you’ll be developing an invaluable set of transferable skills for any role you decide to pursue.You’ll get the chance to be creative Not a fan of complacency? You’ve come to the right place.Marketing is one of the most creative industries there is, calling for a constant array of new ideas and innovative ways of doing things. Not only will you be responsible for coming up with fresh and effective approaches, you’ll also need to think outside the box in order to beat the competition.So you’ll get to apply your creativity in a variety of areas, from initial campaign ideas all the way through the small details â€" like choosing copy or imagery.There’s no limit to what you can do The marketing industry is made up of a wide range of career paths, from PR, content, and social media roles, to events organisation, analytics, or account management.But it’s not just the job titles that are varie d. Marketers also have access to a range of media, using a combination of everything from SEO and email marketing to mobile apps, blogs, and press releases,No matter where your strengths lie (and how you want to send a message), there’ll be something to suit you.You’ll learn from your successes (and mistakes)Marketers have the opportunity to drive a high level of success with what they do.Not only could you be making a difference to an organisation’s image, reputation, and sales, you’ll also be able to actually see the results.Using tools like Google Analytics, you’ll gather a wide range of audience insights â€" and understanding and interpreting this data could not only tell you what you’re doing wrong, but also what you’re doing right.You’ll figure out how to be tactful Marketing is all about ascertaining the best way to engage with people.Through a combination of commercial awareness and insights into different personality types, you’ll gain the ability to be ta ctful in your approach â€" something which is extremely useful in every career, not to mention all areas of life.So if you’re interested in gaining a better understanding of what makes certain people tick, along with what drives audience engagement, a career in marketing could be for you.  It’s social and collaborative You know what they say, there’s no ‘I’ in marketi…oh wait. OK, so the letters might be deceiving, but in reality â€" this industry is all about the people.Not only will you spend your day-to-day figuring out how to interact with your audience, you’ll also spend a lot of time collaborating internally â€" in order to come up with well-thought out creative ideas for campaigns.This makes marketing the perfect career for anyone looking to utilise and develop their communication skills, work collaboratively and learn new skills.You could boost your earnings With marketing professionals in high demand, salary expectations are lucrative.Not only do those working in this field have the potential to earn an average of £39,000, salaries are also on the up from last year. If you chose to move up within the industry, they could rise to even more.And if you move on to the highest level? Marketing Directors could stand to earn an average of £80,000.Because, let’s face it, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of ambition…Ready to get started? View all available marketing jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. What job suits me?

3 Tricks of the Trade for a Successful Job Interview

3 Tricks of the Trade for a Successful Job Interview Here are three pieces of advice for your job interview: put your best foot forward, make a good first impression, look your interviewer in the eye. Pretty standard fare, you might be thinking. Youve heard these tips numerous times. But have you considered what they mean and how important they really are? If not, here are some reasons to do so for each one. 1. Put Your Best Foot Forward The wording here is a bit odd. It implies that we have three or more feet. It would make more sense and be grammatically correct to say: Put your better foot forward. But knowing what it means is what really matters: To start on a journey or task with purpose and gusto. In other words walk into your interview with a determined step, a smile on your face, a friendly handshake, and expectancy in your mind and heart. Be your best self and trust that your authenticity will compel the interviewer to take a good look at YOU, in person and on paper. 2. Make a Good First Impression It has been said again and again that the first impression is the last impression. How can that be true? People judge one another by what they see and hear first. It stays with them, regardless of what happens next. So its worth your time to express your true self rather than to try to impress with affectation and showmanship. Hiring managers are looking for authentic individuals who are honest, open-faced, quick to smile and shake hands firmly, ask intelligent questions, and speak openly about their qualifications for the job in question. Be positive and optimistic. Show your appreciation for the opportunity, get to the point of how you can benefit the company with your skill set, and avoid throwing verbal stones at previous employers or co-workers. 3. Look Your Interviewer in the Eye Youve probably heard the saying, The eyes are the windows to the soul. And you know its true when you encounter other people. Our eyes sometimes say more than our words. So when youre in an interview, look the hiring manager in the eye. Listen and focus on what he or she is saying. And when its your turn to respond, hold your gaze and avoid distracting gestures such as playing with coins in your pocket or flicking your fingernails. One way to lose points fast is to look over the interviewers shoulder or glance around the room or stare at the floor when you and he or she are engaged in conversation. Conclusion The next time youre preparing for a job interview, review these three not-so-secret secrets, put them into practice, and the wait for those seven magic words, we’d like to offer you the job”. Related: The Psychology of Job Interviews: How To Prepare Mentally. Image: Shutterstock

The Science of Colours, and How You Can Harness It

The Science of Colours, and How You Can Harness It Everyone knows what colour theory is. Though we might not even be seeing the same thing, the ingrained associations and cultural factors that affect every shade of the rainbow can equally skew our perceptions of it. Take white. To us, it’s a clean slate; a pure background, an inviting blank page. But in China, white is a funereal colour, an accompaniment to death and mourning. And what about the psychological properties of colours, as opposed to cultural? They matter, too â€" more than you might think. Here’s a quick guide to applying colour theory in the workplace, your personal life and beyond. In everyday life Ever heard of ‘thin slicing’? Us neither. It’s a term psychologists use for the small, five-minute window within which we draw conclusions about people we have just met. These judgments include summations of our intelligence, power and health, and are based on style of communication, body language, clothes â€" and yes, the colours we wear. We all know the basics: red is danger, blue is safety, purple is creativity and power Back in 2015, a mini-survey of 1000 people suggested that men and women both prefer the colour black when considering romantic partners. Maybe that’s why the most popular clothing colours on Tinder are monochrome. This is all very well, but a wider appreciation of colour can alter your mood, enhance your style and subtly change the way you are perceived. Shake it up. If you’re a regular goth â€" or just someone who really loves black â€" there are easy ways to put colour theory into practice. And if you’re already a bright spark, it might help to consider whether the colours you’re wearing actually work for you. Next time you’re ‘thin-sliced’, be ready to make the best impression you can. In the workplace If you can do it on the weekend, you can do it in the workplace. And, in the case of bright dressing, it turns out you should. In fact, wearing colour as opposed to going monochrome could help you nab that promotion. An easy way for men to apply colour theory to their career is via that classic workplace stalwart: the tie. This innocent-seeming accessory presents the perfect opportunity to jazz up an otherwise uncommunicative suit. Red gives an impression of power, while the right yellow can connote optimism and approachability. For ladies, similar rules apply. While blue or green might encourage better performance, red can increase attraction and attention in the right circumstances. However, red is a dangerous one, being particular associated with lower intelligence and increased sexuality on a woman. If in doubt, stick to the ground rules. In marketing Colour has long been used to influence sales.  And come on, who hasn’t made a purchase just because they liked the colour the product came in? Shade associations are important and frequently used to reflect ideals and function in branding. For example, green â€" the colour of health, tranquility and nature â€" can be used in stores to relax customers. Orange and yellow encourage brightness and optimism, while blue â€" a popular colour, especially among men â€" promotes trust among more conservative customers. For an example, look no further than your local golden arches. McDonald’s has historically met with incredible success, not least because of its trademark red-yellow branding combination. Red stimulates appetite, while yellow provokes feelings of positivity and childish pleasure. Recently, the company’s move towards a wider colour palette â€" introducing green in particular into branded products â€" has signaled a change in the McDonalds brand. In an attempt to shake off its reputation as an ‘unhealthy’ fast-food brand, it is using colour to subtly re-brand as a progressive, eco-friendly food company. So next time you go to don that grey blouse or that red dress, or flood your business card background with blue, remember the implications that come with those choices. Every colour sends a message. And, as loud as words, your decisions speak for who you are and what you’re selling to the world. Make sure they’re saying something worth hearing. This guest post was authored by Inspiring Interns  Inspiring Interns is a  graduate recruitment  agency  which specialises in sourcing candidates for  internships  and giving out  graduate careers advice. To  hire graduates  or browse  graduate jobs, visit their website. Image credit:  color meeting     Main.  

How To Turn Your Unemployment Into a Gift

How To Turn Your Unemployment Into a Gift Unemployed and discouraged?  If so, you definitely want to read todays post from  Trisha Ingram,  a recent MBA grad and writer of the blog  Cali Girl to Cowgirl. Trisha blogs about her experiences moving from California to Tennessee. You can connect with her on Twitter (@trishaingram).   Its been two months since I entered the unemployment market, a first-time experience for me.   Aside from not working during the first semester in college and a 9-month period of living abroad in Brazil, I have held a job since the age of 15.   Needless to say the thought of unemployment initially scared me but I was determined to make the most of it.   Although unemployment can be draining, I am choosing to take advantage of new opportunities and as well as reflect on things I am thankful for. Here is a summary of what unemployment has afforded me so far: 1) Time and space to explore a new career direction.   Previously, I was neck deep in a fast-paced lifestyle and forgot to leave room for daydreaming, in other words, envisioning the future and figuring out gifts and talents I could use to maximize my career.   Right now looking for a job is my job. But, because I have also taken time to analyze my strengths and be honest with weaknesses, I have discovered a field of work where I strongly believe I will excel.   Now my job search has become more directed and meaningful. 2) Opportunity to network with new professionals.   Weve all heard the saying Its not what you know, its who you know. I personally believe its a combination of both, however, right now I have chosen to focus on the who you know. It lends itself well to my situation because I decided to move to a new city to look for a job, a perfect segue into meeting new people. I have already reached out to a number of professionals in the area and have found that, generally, people do truly want to help. What a source of encouragement especially on days things seems so dry. Classy Career Girl has suggested a guideline format called the 44 Networking Challenge that I have incorporated into my networking efforts.   I find it helps me stay targeted and well-rounded when building relationships. 3) New appreciation for finances.   I have a greater appreciation for managing finances well. All the advice I have ever applied in the past about saving money, staying out of debt, and keeping a monthly budget has never been more important than now.   Its easy to think about preparing for the future in regards to wealth, retirement, and buying toys. But preparation for down times and seasons of transition such as unemployment are just as essential. Having worked hard over the past few years to live on less than I make and avoid debt has made unemployment much less stressful.   For a wealth of resources and knowledge check out Dave Ramsey. 4) Motivation to revamp my health.   For a couple of years I juggled my day job with full-time business school and, in so doing, lost focus of my health. Now that I am finished with school and have some flexibility, I have recommitted to getting in shape.   A daily routine of preparing meals, working out, and getting proper rest has helped create structure, something that a job doesnt provide at the moment. I also find that this healthy lifestyle helps me maintain high energy and a positive attitude toward finding a job. 5) Ability to volunteer more.   I decided to take up something I was interested in but hadnt previously had time to devote to.   After considering several activities and hobbies I realized for me it was volunteering.   So I teamed up with friends who are involved in various organizations and offered to help where needed. Volunteering provides a sense of contribution which adds value to our lives, again something a job doesnt provide at this time. Plus its a break from the daily grind of job hunting and a good way to have fun and socialize. Some of you may wonder why all of this couldnt also happen when employed. Well, it can. However, I believe a season of unemployment provides a new perspective that makes these things more meaningful. Without a job, there is a deeper sense of longing, a broader view of the future, and a greater sense of possibility for what is to come. All of which are good fuel for personal growth. [Related Post:  The 5 Steps to Networking Effectively in Your Job Hunt] I realize that unemployment can be a sensitive subject with a variety of effects on people. For me, it has been a gift.   It has given me a chance to review life, to reset, to brand myself as new again. And I am undoubtedly hopeful of good things to come.

How to Use PayPal to Get Your Resume Ready For a Job Offer

How to Use PayPal to Get Your Resume Ready For a Job OfferResume writing service pay PayPal is one of the latest developments in the digital world. The option to give companies and employers a way to pay via PayPal is a simple, yet effective method of getting a person's resume into a company's hands. Many individuals who have problems with presentation may consider this as an easy way to get their resume polished for potential employers.The most common problem with presenting your resume is the lack of attention to details. Most people write and send their resumes off without properly organizing the information that they have. The amount of information that a resume contains is a reflection of the level of the writer. There are certain mistakes that are made when writing a resume that could be easily avoided.Having the correct layout for each section on a resume is crucial to creating a resume that is considered accurate in a particular job market. It is easy to keep track of differe nt sections by using templates. The length of a resume can also be discussed by discussing this point in relation to the job market that you are looking to go into.After the resume has been properly formatted, it is time to create some sample content for that resume. By creating a list of sample content to put on the resume, a writer can learn how to present a resume to a potential employer. A resume must be a concise and well written document if the writer wants to get a job offer.There are some great sites that offer this service to others. Some of these sites are free, while others charge a fee. Both sites are different, however. PayPal, the online payment processing system, works to create a strong presence for all freelance writers.Many freelancers use PayPal as a tool to advertise their writing services. This is a great way to get a resume into the hands of the people who need to hire people and companies.PayPal has a money back guarantee for writing services. Anyone who signs up for PayPal and then finds that the service they received was not delivered to them in a timely manner will be given a full refund. This includes writers who have paid through PayPal and then received goods that were shipped late or that did not meet their needs.If a person is in need of a resume writing service and cannot afford a service that pays a fee, PayPal is a wonderful place to find one. The only drawback to using PayPal is that they do not pay writers for the entire length of a project. Therefore, it is important to remember that the writer will have to invest some money in order to create the best resume possible.

4 Business Communication Pitfalls to Avoid

4 Business Communication Pitfalls to Avoid One of the key pillars of every successful business is a great communication strategy. When navigating the great jungle known as “business communications” do your best to avoid these common pitfalls that cost businesses millions of dollars annually. Practicing One-Dimensional Communication Communication between both customers and employees should always be a back and forth exchange. Almost all of us have worked for hierarchical businesses and organizations that shared this control based leadership structure where supervisors only deliberate tasks to the employees under them, but neither give time for their employees to provide feedback, nor a comfortable way to do so. Sometimes senior employees even condemn those under them, when they question methodologies or the way in which tasks are being executed. Despite the long history and wide spread use of this type of communication around the world, we know that this system only bolsters employee frustration, fosters a lack of trust and results in greater employee turnover. A company that exemplifies what quality two-dimensional communication should be is Credit Karma. Credit Karma operates with an “open door policy” where the CEO allows any employee, regardless of status, to come in his office and tell him how they think the company is doing, this strategy has increased their morale and employee trust, because it demonstrates that their voices are being heard and the CEO is just another member of the team. Breaking the mold and adopting a 2-dimensional communication style early in your business is great way to start off strong and build a company that makes its employees feel valued. Using an Outdated Communication System According to a Microsoft study, 91% of customers say they would cut ties with businesses that used outdated technology. It is important that your business stays current and integrates new technology to increase productivity and aleve traditional pain points in business. With poor communication costing businesses millions of dollars every year, it is important to make sure you’re using the best communication tools available, to insure that your company’s ability to communicate is one of your strengths, rather than weaknesses. Three ways you can update your communication system are: Implementing an instant messaging tool allowing every employee to instantly message any other employee no matter where they are or what device they are using. A great tool you could use for this is Google Hangouts.Implementing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones as a replacement for traditional landlines. Doing this removes all of the downtime and revenue lost due to high maintenance costs and regular malfunctions associated with legacy phone systems. VoIP phone systems allow for wireless communication experiences, which only require a good internet connection, which means no wires, drastically reduced maintenance costs, little to no downtime, and more revenue. Implementing a unified communications system (UCaaS) which combines instant messaging, VoIP phones and video calling, to create a seamless cloud communications suite. This suite also offers virtual meetings and conference calls, allowing you to stay connected with both the team and your customers even if they are remote. Cloud communications company, 88, has developed a popular UCaaS solution which is known to improve business communication efficiency. Using the Wrong Communication Tool The tool you choose each time you communicate should be based on ‘who’ you are conversing with, but more importantly ‘what’ you are communicating. For example, you wouldn’t want to present a new product idea to the CEO via email, because your tone, goals and overall message would likely get obfuscated due to the limitations of email. A presentation like that would better be communicated in person or via video conference. When communicating with an employee or customer you have a wide array of tools you can choose from. Email, text message, video chat,mobile phone, even Facetime. When deciding which tool to use to connect with customers, you need to consider: Which means of communication does your customer use the most. Which tool does your customer prefer to use when interacting with your business. What your customer wants to communicate: customer service, reviews, etcWhat is the financial cost of using that tool compared to other alternatives. The tool you choose should align with all of those factors.It should allow the customer to use what they feel most comfortable with, be an effective medium for communicating their particular message, and be the most cost effective tool that accomplishes those things. That logic should naturally translate over when deciding what communication tools to use internally. If you haven’t considered all four of those factors when you purchased you last communication tool, you may likely be losing money. Centralizing the Control of Information Senior employees should withhold as little information as possible related to the tasks being executed by employees under them. As the senior or executive member of your team, working in that position for a longtime, it is often easy for your confidence to develop into arrogance and for you to start to believe you are the only one capable of executing certain tasks. Subsequently, you begin to feel that lower ranked members of your team don’t need to know information related to those tasks. While in some industries such as the defense sector, the intentional withholding of information may be a requirement, in most industries this is not necessary, and often limits productivity, innovation, efficiency, employee trust and overall transparency. Sharing as much information with employees, as possible will actually promote productivity, innovation and transparency. Sharing info promotes productivity by allowing employees to have more insight into the ‘why’of their jobs and allows them to be motivated by knowing exactly how their specific job is important and how it impacts the company as a whole. Sharing info promotes innovation because regardless of what position or title they hold, everyone has unique skills, talent and insight they can bring to the table. And sharing as much info with them as possible allows them the chance to identify areas in the company workflow that only they have the specific skillset to improve, which they wouldn’t have been able to do without the information being readily available to them. To sum it all up, the more information that is shared the more employees will trust the organization and feel as though they are able to unify under the company’s goals. Companies like Buffer, are the per fect example of why being open and transparent is the way to go. Now you should be well on your way to successfully navigating the business communication jungle. Avoiding these common communication blunders will give you a leg up on your competition who have to learn the hard way, while also allowing your business to grow even faster as a result of improving your communication.

How To Return To Work After Taking Time Off

How To Return To Work After Taking Time Off Have you ever had to take time off of work for health reasons, or maybe family obligations? Perhaps you know somebody who has, or maybe you are managing somebody who’s going through this right now. Well, this could happen to any one of us at any time; nobody is immune. And the thing is, managing that kind of phased return back to work isn’t always so simple. You may feel that you can’t carry your own weight and that’s troubling to you. You may be worried that your colleagues might be judging you. Or maybe you’re concerned that you’re missing opportunities. If you’re an achiever, you’re probably feeling super frustrated that you can’t push yourself as hard as you always have, that you can’t operate at 120%, that you can’t say ‘yes’ to every project. Well, if you’re feeling this way and managing your return back to work, it’s perfectly normal. There are lots of things you can be doing, but I want to share with you six that I think can be particularly helpful. 1. Job #1 is your health or family obligation Understand that your job number one is to focus on your health, or your family obligation, whatever that is. Only you can make that a priority, only you can make that your focus. Remember that what’s really important at this stage is to just make a sustainable recovery if you’re returning from an illness, or to set up a sustainable situation at home. 2. Set up the deal with your boss You want to be setting up your deal with your boss upfront. What I mean by that is you want to have a conversation with your boss and talk about how you want to phase back in. They’re going to be guided by what you want and what you’re capable of, so you can take some leadership in this regard. At the same time, you want to make sure you agree some check-in points. Arrange to have meetings or conversations that happen on a regular basis. That makes it normal to talk to your boss about how you’re feeling and where things stand, whether that’s at the end of every week, at the end of every month, and so forth. 3. Figure out what you want to communicate Decide for yourself what the message is that you want to give to people at work. What do you want to tell your boss, what do you want to tell your colleagues, and what do you want to tell your clients? It might be the same message for everyone. You might feel comfortable with the same level of transparency with everybody, which makes your life so much simpler because when you tell people what the facts of the situation are, they stop being so curious and can go on with their lives and go about their own business. But if, for whatever reason, you don’t feel that way then make sure you find a small group of people that you can be totally transparent with. I’m not talking about TMI (Too Much Information) here, but just what the situation really is because you’re going to need their support. Ideally that small group would include your boss, maybe one or two very, very close colleagues, and/or your friends and family. Then, decide what you’re comfortable with saying to everybody else. But don’t leave them wondering and guessing because then that’s when things get really messy. 4. Be compassionate with yourself Cut yourself some slack. Be realistic about what you actually can do. In my own case, I fractured a vertebra in a car accident and had to lie in bed for three months. When I started back to work, I could only spend an hour sitting up at first, then an hour and a half, and then two hours. So just be realistic about what it is you can do and don’t strain beyond that. And make sure you factor in commuting time too into how much time and energy you have! 5. Don’t worry about what others are thinking I know, that’s really, really hard. But that goes back to item number one which is: your number one job is to focus on getting better or setting up the situation so that it’s better. Even if people are thinking about you all the time (which, by the way, they’re not because everybody’s got their own stuff to worry about), but even if they are spending every waking moment thinking about you and your situation, then you can rest assured that the reputation you’ve always had can carry you through a long way. We all know how hard it is to change a first impression and when that impression is already really good, then that’s going to carry you on. So don’t worry about what other people are thinking. 6. Focus on the quality, not the quantity When you’re at work, focus on the quality of your work and not the quantity. On a practical basis, when you go into the office or wherever it is you’re doing your work, just decide: what is the one thing you’re going to focus on getting done that day, or maybe two things, or at most three things? Once you’ve identified those one, two or three things, then you can get those done well and feel really good about yourself. So, those are six things that you can do to ease your way back into work after a long absence.   Here they are again, in brief: Job #1 is your health or family obligation Set up the deal with your boss Figure out what you want to communicate Be compassionate with yourself Don’t worry about what others are thinking Focus on the quality, not the quantity Now, I want to ask you: What challenges have you faced in your return to work? Scroll down and leave a comment so that we can all help out.