Jobs outlook for marketers remains strong
Employment growth in Australia is expected to continue at a solid rate over the next six months, with economic and business confidence remaining at high levels and underpinned by low interest rates. Employer optimism is also at an all-time high, according the latest findings of the Hudson Report, a quarterly national survey of 8177 employers. The July–September report recorded the highest level of optimism since November 2000.
This is great news for talented job seekers, and the demand for professional marketers remains solid. Employers are looking for brand managers and assistant brand managers, while marketers with FMCG experience are always highly sought after and demand for Tier 1 FMCG marketers is particularly strong. Marketers (for both permanent and contract roles) with expertise in direct marketing, advertising, sponsorships, events, segmentation marketing and market analysis are in hot demand, particularly across industries such as IT&T, professional services and financial services.
It is therefore not surprising that marketers’ salaries are rising. The strong demand for experienced marketers, combined with key skills shortages, means that these marketing candidates can command attractive salary packages. In particular, marketers with diversified commercial experience in blue-chip brands have significant negotiating power.
Candidates in marketing professions are keen to align themselves with organisations that demonstrate an innovative approach towards their brand position in the market. Other factors that influence their motivation to join an organisation include greater investment in marketing spend to align their brand with high-profile events.
Organisations are looking for new graduate marketers either informally or through structured graduate recruitment programs. New graduates can typically expect their first role to be as a marketing co-ordinator or assistant, which provide excellent training for more senior roles. Banks and other financial institutions, law firms, some FMCG organisations and larger blue-chip companies have typically been strong supporters of formal graduate programs.
Skills shortage is not a myth
The message for both marketing candidates and employers is that the much talked about skills shortage is no myth. Further, it is working to the advantage of job seekers. Marketers with broad commercial experience in buoyant sectors often get the opportunity to mull over four or five offers of employment at one time.
However, regardless of prevailing market conditions, or whether you are a new graduate or a seasoned marketer, investing time in the career planning process is an integral element of career success.
Hudson’s experience, together with the work of prolific careers researchers over many years such as Donald Super and John Holland, has proven that a structured approach to career planning using a sound theoretical framework and practice can help identify and achieve career goals that lead to satisfaction.
Effective career planning starts by building self-awareness. Our personal values are the source of the career drivers that determine what career satisfaction means to each one of us. Ensuring there is an alignment between your own values and that of the organisation you are working for – or plan to work for – is critical to achieving career satisfaction.
At the end of the day, there is never enough money, status or other enticements to overcome dissatisfaction borne out of a clash of values. These factors, combined with research and opportunity awareness, are rich sources of insight and information to develop your career plan. This involves identifying realistic career options and goals, including potential obstacles and strategies to overcome them, and corresponding action plans.
Your career can and should consist of choices, not chances. It is your career. You owe it to yourself to make the most of it, so start planning today.
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