A Career In Marketing Essay -- Careers Jobs essays research papers

Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Choosing a career in marketing can lead a person in many different directions within the defined roles of marketing. Composed of many facets and activities marketing careers offer a variety of avenues for the career minded to explore while offering growth and opportunities for advancement. A common denominator for many who choose a career in this field is the sense of ownership, or entrepreneurial spirit with regards to the products or services that they are working to market. Marketing requires that an understanding of customers’ needs and desires be acquired and then translated into both product development as well as communications as part of the marketing strategy. This paper will explore what is entailed in a career in marketing, as well as what the future holds for the profession. Because marketing professionals are needed by every company and in every industry, the career potential and chances for finding ones niche within the career field are virtua lly unlimited. Basics of Marketing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A good definition of marketing is the process of the intermediary function between product development and sales. (Reddy ) The field of marketing entails taking a generic product or generic service (the product or services do not have to be â€Å"generic† they may be actually unique to the marketplace) and associating the generic product with a brand name (Petty 2001). Under this generic concept are the activities of advertising, public relations, media planning, sales strategy and so on.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marketing professionals create, manage and/or enhance brands in order to create or bolster demand for the product. A successful marketing plan will help assure that consumers look beyond just the price or function of a product when making a purchasing decision, in part, a well planned marketing effort will create a â€Å"feel good† association about the product the consumer is about to purchase (Petty) A key part of a career in marketing is to understand the needs, preferences, and constraints that define the target group of consumers or the market niche corresponding to the brand. This is done by market research. This is accomplished through market research, essentially using survey techniques, statistics, psychology and social understanding to help gather information on what consumers want and/or need, and then designing products, or services, to hopefully meet ... ...rs per week. (Locke) Those entering the field must be able to work well under pressure and thrive off meeting deadlines and goals that are set. In some positions, substantial travel is not uncommon. In spite of the rigors associated with a career in marketing the outlook for the profession is bright. Marketing is a vital necessity not only for business firms, but is also needed and utilized by governments, educational, religious, social service, and nonprofit organizations or institutions. Perhaps the most alluring aspect of a career in marketing is the fact that it provides a great number and variety of job opportunities, and can offer opportunities to both number crunchers as well as intuitive creative people as well. Bibliography Beckman Theodore N. Davidson William R. (1997) Marketing; Ronald Press Inc. Hills Gerald (1994) Marketing and Entrepreneurship; Quorum Books Locke Christopher, (2001) Gonzo Marketing: Winning through Worst Practices; Perseus Publishing Petty Ross D. Editor's Introduction: The What and Why of Marketing; American Business Journal, Vol. 36, 1999 Reddy C. Allan (1999) Quality Marketing:, Gaining Markets Shares; Quorum Books, 1998