Apprentice marketing executives use coordinated marketing techniques to boost earnings and promote companies and services.
As a marketing executive, you will contribute to and plan integrated marketing campaigns to promote a product, service, or idea.
You may work in both the commercial and public sectors since many organisations have marketing departments in businesses ranging from banking, retail, and media to volunteer and charitable organisations.
Your job’s specific nature will vary according to the organisation’s size and industry, as well as whether the focus is on selling a product or service or raising public awareness of an issue.
Marketing executives are also known as marketing officers and marketing coordinators.
Responsibilities
Throughout your apprenticeship, you may help:
- research customers and market trends to inform campaigns
- develop working relationships with clients
- write and edit content for print and online campaigns
- understand brand guidelines and check they are followed
- organise and promote events
- manage marketing budgets
- keep up to date with marketing trends and competitor activity
- analyse data to plan and evaluate marketing campaigns.
Salary
- Marketing assistants start on salaries of around £18,000 to £22,000. As a marketing executive, you can expect to earn in the region of £20,000 to £30,000.
- Senior marketing executives (with around five years’ experience) can earn between £30,000 and £45,000, with marketing managers earning up to £60,000.
- Marketing directors can earn from £60,000 to more than £100,000.
Working hours
Working hours are generally 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, 37 to 39 hours a week. However, you may need to work some evenings or weekends when organising or attending events or when working on a big marketing campaign.
Working environment
You could work in an office, at a client’s business or remotely.
Qualifications
Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice marketing executive include:
- Level 4 Marketing Executive – Entry requirements for this level include 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship. This qualification will take 15 months to complete.
Skills
On a marketing executive apprenticeship, you’ll learn:
- the ability to sell products and services
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of media production and communication
- business management skills
- persuading skills
- customer service skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently.
Employers
Marketing opportunities may be found in any industry, including banking, consumer, and information technology, as well as non-profit organisations such as charities, local governments, and higher education institutions.
Another alternative is full-service marketing organisations, which create and execute marketing strategies and campaigns on behalf of their clients. Customers wanting a comprehensive communications package might turn to these organisations for a multidisciplinary solution.
Professional development
Although larger companies may have formal apprenticeship training programmes, most training is done on the job. In addition, employers usually encourage continued professional development (CPD) since it is critical for expanding your skills and knowledge.
Professional qualifications are available from organisations like CIM, and you can complete them with financial aid, study leave, or both from your employer.
If you have the right combination of experience, qualifications, and CPD, you may apply for the CIM Chartered Marketer certification.
Career prospects
After attaining the appropriate experience and talents, you may expect to rise from marketing executive to senior marketing executive.
Obtaining appropriate professional qualifications may increase your job prospects and is becoming more necessary for senior marketing roles.
You may get more experience by rotating across internal departments, working for a marketing agency, or consulting for various clients. You can also switch companies or sectors to progress your career more quickly.
You may work in general marketing or specialise in a field such as event management, communications, or public relations.
Other choices include working as a freelance marketing consultant or pursuing a similar profession in sales, advertising, or public relations.