Companies look for communication, organizational and leadership skills in marketing graduates.
Marketing is one of the most common business degrees. Consequently, competition for jobs among marketing graduates can be fierce. There are certain skills that companies look for in recent marketing graduates. Many of these skills are developed through extracurricular activities and participation in social organizations. Others are acquired through college projects and company internships. Whatever the case, most of these skills will be important throughout a person's marketing career.
Communication
Companies expect marketing graduates to have excellent oral and written communication skills, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Marketing professionals often have careers in sales, marketing management or advertising. Sales representatives will need to be able to speak with all levels of employees in an organization. Additionally, a sales rep will need to explain the benefits of her company products or services to managers and executives. Marketing managers often write reports. For example, marketing research managers convert consumer data from surveys into usable strategic information. Advertising copywriters must write convincing ad copy to attract customers. All marketing graduates will be expected to have excellent presentation skills.
Organization
Marketing graduates must also possess organizational skills to effectively perform their jobs. Marketing managers will often be assigned various projects by their directors or vice presidents. Subsequently, marketing managers will need to divvy projects up into various tasks, delegating some work to subordinates. Ultimately, marketing managers will be responsible for organizing and completing multiple projects before certain deadlines. Sales reps will also need to be well organized. Sales reps must keep track of which clients they visit, complete paperwork and organize their routes.
Leadership
Companies expect marketing graduates to have leadership skills. Marketing managers must be able to effectively manage other marketing employees and support personnel. Often, marketing managers must hire and train new marketing employees. Marketing managers are also responsible for conducting performance reviews for their employees and recommending various development plans. Additionally, marketing graduates are expected to have negotiating skills. Marketing managers must negotiate lower contract rates with vendors such as advertising agencies. Sales reps must be able to come to agreement with customers on price and additional services.
Effects
Marketing graduates who come to work with the proper skills can expect to learn their jobs more quickly. They will usually perform their jobs more effectively than new marketing graduates who lack basic communication, organizational and leadership skills. Consequently, those graduates who come to work with the appropriate skills will likely be promoted into management more quickly. Most companies operate their businesses with rapidity. Only the most highly skilled marketing graduates will be able to keep up with the demands of the job.
Considerations
At times, a marketing graduate will need to learn deal with adversity on a job. For example, marketing employees may need to deal with a disgruntled employee at work. The marketing manager will be expected to resolve the issue in private without disrupting the daily operations. Resolving small crises may take a combination of many skills, such as skills with communication and negotiation. Marketing professionals who can successfully deal with conflict in an organization can expect to become valuable employees.
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