Marketing Career Zone

No matter which job in marketing we choose, for most of us the time will inevitably come when we feel that we have gone as far as we can in our current role and we need greater opportunities.  For some, this means seeking out executive jobs with other companies, but for others who are happy with their current employers, it means identifying in-house marketing jobs at a higher level.

Promotion is not, of course, a God-given right, and before putting yourself forward for a higher level job within your existing company, the first thing that you need to ask yourself (and answer honestly) is whether you really deserve it.  Remember, turning up for work on time, meeting deadlines and fulfilling the requirements of your job description are all a given…they are what you get paid for but they are not, in themselves, sufficient to earn you that all-important next step up the ladder.  In such a competitive job market as we are faced with today, it takes much more than doing the basics to really stand out from the crowd, and do not forget that ‘the crowd’ could include external as well as internal candidates.

Whilst it might be natural to think that you, as an internal applicant, should stand a much better chance of achieving a promotion than a ‘newbie’ has of walking into the position, this should never be assumed.  You will still need to demonstrate that you are the best match for the role and this, of course, requires that you properly understand what that role entails.  All too often there is a tendency to think that we could do the job at the next level up with our eyes closed, but how often do we really stop to consider just what the position actually involves and what skills are needed to carry it out?

Another important thing to consider is whether you really want the job at the next level.  This might sound like a strange thing to say, but again, people often accept higher level positions simply because they are higher level positions, or because they pay more.  Sometimes, however, what they fail to take into consideration is whether their skills are suited to the role or whether they would even enjoy it.  Many, for example, move from more ‘hands on’ or creative roles into management positions, only to find that management is not where their hearts truly lie.  Not only do they find themselves unhappy as a result, but because their skills or personalities do not fit, they do not succeed at the job.

Assuming that the position is one that you want though, how do you go about making sure that you and nobody else gets the job?  The first thing to say here is that making a last-minute impression, albeit a good one, on your boss just will not cut it.  You should be striving at all times to make a consistently good impression on him.  From Day 1, you should be seeking to learn everything you possibly can, not just about your immediate role, but about your company, your field and your industry.  You should be thinking at a strategic level, rather than merely about the minutiae of your day-to-day tasks, developing solutions and never presenting your boss with problems.  You should be seeking to become the expert in your area that everybody turns to, and your credibility and your reputation should be impeccable.  Only will this kind of commitment make you stand out as the natural choice for the position.

So, how do you find out if an opportunity for promotion is available?  As we have mentioned, some executive marketing roles may be advertised internally through staff notices or other means, whilst others may, in addition, be advertised externally.  Others still, however, may never be advertised at all.  Many firms use headhunters as a means of bringing in new staff and this is why it is all the more important that you work consistently to make yourself the natural choice by creating a superb personal brand and genuinely adding value to your role.  It is also why you need to use your networking skills and develop connections with the influencers within your organisation.

The recruitment process for internal candidates in most organisations requires the applicant to complete an internal application form, which generally needs to be signed or approved by the individual’s line manager.  Thereafter, the process follows the same route as it would for an external candidate, with suitable applicants being identified through a preliminary sift and being offered an interview.  Notwithstanding that yours is an internal application, your aim should still be demonstrate that you are the best match for whichever marketing jobs you apply for.