Monday, July 30, 2012

Marketing Manager Job Description & Career Opportunities

Marketing managers coordinate their company’s market research, sales, pricing and product development. They also develop marketing, advertising and public relations strategies. Depending on the size of the company, they may only focus on a few aspects of the marketing or they may be involved in the entire process, including administrative duties and writing and creating marketing materials.

Most marketing postions require a degree in marketing or a related field. These credentials can greatly enhance a marketers career prospects and lead to a higher starting salary and great employment opportunities. Check out the programs below which offer free information to prospective students:

    Associate – Marketing and Sales by Rasmussen College
    B.S. in Business Administration – Marketing by Kaplan University
    Bachelor of Science in Business / Marketing by University of Phoenix
Marketing Manager Job Responsibilities

Marketing managers work with managers in the advertising and promotion fields to promote their company’s products and services. They work with other departments, such as market research and product development, to determine the demand for the company’s products and services and identify potential markets. They also develop strategies to establish prices that ensure customer satisfaction while maximizing profits and market share. Some marketing managers collaborate with sales, product development and other departments to monitor trends and need for new products and services.

Marketing is a broad field organized into many types, including real estate, online, small business and sports. Although the responsibilities may be different for each type, they all have the same goals in mind. These include focusing on the customer, finding vendors, monitoring the competition, owning the brand, communicating internally, effectively managing a budget and planning and executing strategies.

Before developing strategies and marketing plans, marketing managers must conduct extensive research regarding the market, competitors and customer base. Once they have finished research, they can proceed with creating a marketing plan and establish pricing and advertising strategies. Marketing managers must implement strategies to help them find and maintain customers.

High stress, long hours and frequent travel are all part of the job. Marketing managers often have to meet with their teams to ensure projects and goals are completed timely. They may also have to regularly meet with other departments, clients and others within the community. They need flexibility in their schedules to work long hours (often more than 40 hours per week) and change priorities on a moment’s notice.
Marketing Training and Education Requirements

Many educational backgrounds are suitable for employment in the marketing field. However, many employers prefer a bachelor’s or master’s degree in marketing or business administration. A background or education in management, economics, business law, finance, accounting, mathematics and statistics are highly recommended. Those interested in the marketing field are advised to complete an internship during college to gain experience and get their foot into the door of this competitive industry. In computer or electronics industries, employers may prefer degrees in science or engineering, along with a master’s degree in business administration.
Many marketing positions are filled internally through promotions, although the right combination of experience and education can help one from outside the company find a job. Many marketing managers start out as interns or marketing representatives and can work their way up the corporate ladder quickly, depending on company size and job growth.

Computer skills are required for managing data, creating reports and promoting services. There is an increase in online marketing, so Internet familiarity is a plus. Also, foreign language skills, especially in Spanish, are sought after by many employers, since the ability to communicate with other populations helps promote services and open up opportunities in other areas throughout the country.

Marketing managers should be highly motivated, creative and decisive. They need to be able to work well under pressure and focus well enough to complete projects on deadline. Persuasive communication skills and ability to work well with other managers and the public are very important. Marketing managers should also have good judgment and tact.
Marketing Manager Salary and Wages

The average yearly starting salary in the marketing field is $43,325. For marketing managers, the average salary is $108,580. These salaries can vary significantly based on employer size, location, education and experience. Marketing managers in the computer industries earn the most.

Average growth is expected for marketing manager positions, but there is tough competition and high demand for these jobs.
Marketing Certifications

Although certification is generally not required for marketing professionals, there are several available. The most widely-recognized ones are the Certified Product Manager and the Certified Product Marketing Manager. These certifications prove to employers that you have the skills and experience necessary to be considered one of the best in the industry. They cover product life cycles and focus on core thinking, theory and concepts and terminology used in product management. These certifications can be completed online. For Internet marketers, the Certified eMarketer certification covers basic Internet skills, e-mail marketing, e-commerce, website design, search engines and ethics.
Marketing Professional Associations

The American Marketing Association is a full-service organization that offers everything a marketing professional needs to advance their career – library, resources, job board, publications, training and events. The Business Marketing Association is specifically geared toward business-to-business marketers. The Direct Marketing Association stresses responsible marketing and offers members education, research and networking opportunities. The Web Marketing Association is made up of professionals who share a passion for Internet marketing and Web development.

Human Resources Associate Job Description & Career Opportunities

The Human Resources Associate is responsible for the recruitment, hiring and retention of company employees and staff. The Human Resources Associate is also responsible for the managing and operation of the personnel department of the organization, and may assist employees in managing salaries and benefits. The Human Resources Associate plays a large role in the hiring of new staff including posting advertisements for open positions, screening resumes and applications, creating and updating job descriptions, setting interview appointments, and conducting individual candidate interviews.

Most human resources positions require a degree in HR or a related field. Check out the programs below which offer free information:

    Associates – Human Resource Management by Rasmussen College
    Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management by University of Phoenix
    Master of Business Administration – Human Resources by Kaplan University
Human Resources Job Responsibilities
The Human Resources Associate is the main point of contact for employees who are in need of services that help them work more efficiently in their positions. This includes, but is not limited to, conducting performance evaluations, planning employee training courses, offering job appraisals and training or retraining employees. The Human Resources department may also make job recommendations to current employees looking to move into different departments or expand their skills.

The Human Resources department also provides employees and potential employees with information about company offerings such as health benefits, retirement plans, education assistance, flexible spending accounts, paid and unpaid leave, vacation time and other company benefits. The human resources department may also be made up of assistants who serve the administrative functions that accompany the human resources function. These may include processing travel and expense reports, tracking employee time, following up with vendors, keeping logs of incoming resumes, appointment setting, conducting pre-screenings and background checks and filling out employee benefit paperwork.

Human Resources managers must be well versed in the state, local and federal requirements that the company must meet. They must ensure that the company operates within these guidelines and take care to protect the rights of the company’s employees. These regulations may include Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regulations and the Office of Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) guidelines, to name a few.

The Human Resources department is often the point of contact for employees looking for assistance with work conflict and mental health issues. These may include mediation services, binding arbitration, substance abuse assistance, work/life balance issues and crisis intervention. In the case of a major catastrophe or on site disaster, the Human Resources department is often on hand to provide grief and other counseling services.
Human Resources Training and Education Requirements

Training and education requirements in the human resources field may vary widely, depending on the size of the company, the industry, geographic region and level of responsibility. In smaller organizations, the human resources associate may take on more duties and responsibilities, making a college degree with a human resources or business focus a necessity. In larger organizations, several people may function in the hr department with varying education requirements.
Human Resources Assistants

Human Resources Assistants generally are not required to have any specialized education or training beyond that of assistants in any other field. A high school diploma or its equivalent and related administrative experience is the usual requirement for human resources assistants. The ability to work under tight deadlines in high-stress situations is a must for this position. In addition, the human resources assistant should be able to handle sensitive information with discretion.
Human Resources/Benefits Associates

Associates in human resources departments have at least 2-3 years experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a specialization in business or human resources. Although many companies require a business or human resources major for this position, a graduate with mastery of subjects such as sociology, finance, behavioral sciences or law would make a good fit for the human resources associate position.
Generalists

Human Resources generalists specialize in all aspects of the human resources function, including recruitment and training, retention, benefits management and regulatory compliance. This position requires at least 5 years of experience with progressive levels of responsibility and the completion of a Master’s degree in a related field. Experience or knowledge in labor law, collective bargaining, economics, management and organizational psychology is helpful and in some cases, required.
Human Resources Salary and Wages

Salary and wages for human resources professionals vary according to job function. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for compensation and benefits managers is between $64,930 and $113,480. Training and development managers earned approximately $87,700 in 2008. Human Resources managers earned between $73,480 and $126,050 as of May 2008. The salary and wages earned also varies according to geographic location, with associates in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Boston earning significantly higher salaries than those in the Midwest, for example.
Human Resources Certifications

There are many programs for the hr professional looking for certification. The most common is the program that leads to the title of Certified Human Resources Professional. There are many programs both online and in-class that provide this certification. To become certified, the professional must have completed at least two years of professional work and demonstrate supervisory proficiency.
Human Resources Professional Associations

Wednesday, June 13, 2012