So, you’re a Marketing Executive and you’ve done a few years at that level, maybe even moved to another business to add extra Executive or ‘Senior’ Executive experience to your CV. You’ve gathered the generalist skills including offline, digital, brand, insight, copywriting, SEO, social, PPC, content, CRM and all the rest, but when searching for a ‘Marketing Manager’ position it doesn’t seem to be quite enough. How can you bridge the gap and give yourself a fighting chance of securing one of these managerial positions?
Firstly, ask yourself honestly if you’ve really hit the ‘glass ceiling’ within your role or if you’ve simply just stopped pushing? Employers usually understand your worth and so to keep you engaged they will give you more responsibility, but ONLY if asked/persuaded/influenced, don’t simply expect them to anticipate your mindset or understand marketing & digital enough to suggest new tasks.
Many job descriptions will claim ‘Management Experience Required’ so how can you get that job if you don’t have ‘management experience’? Good question. There are a few pro-active strategies you can implement within your current role to increase your chances of being selected for interview.
Strategy 1: Broaden your role and persuade your employer you need a Marketing Intern/Assistant, a typical tactic for SMEs justified by the minimal cost of a Marketing Intern and the growing importance of marketing & digital within the wider business strategies.
Strategy 2: Manage agencies (multiple agencies). This will test your project management skills and show a future employer you can direct people as well as projects.
Strategy 3: Put your hand up to mentor, even people outside of your department. Yes, this will probably take up a bit more time than you’d ideally like, but weekly catch-ups is the first step to developing another member of staff and will serve as a talking point at ‘manager’ interviews.
Strategy 4: Join a business with a large marketing, digital & communications team. Work hard, dig in and be patient, an opportunity will arise.
This topic seems to be relevant for a large proportion of marketers in the current market, so for specialist advice & support feel free to contact Proximity Recruitment at hello@proximityrecruitment.net to arrange a confidential conversation.
