Marketing Assistant

Education and Training: Bachelor’s degree
Average Salary $22,121 to $44,675 per year
Job Outlook: Faster than average

A marketing assistant helps create and implement marketing strategies. Planning and marketing research are two key components of the marketing assistant’s job. A marketing assistant is under the direct supervision of the marketing manager and helps the marketing manager with most of their tasks. A successful marketing assistant effectively helps the company operate efficiently.

Typical duties of a marketing assistant include: writing and editing marketing materials to include press releases, company newsletters, announcements, presentations, white papers, and articles, processing and tracking requests for marketing material, coordinating and managing marketing and media events, maintaining marketing budgets, preparing invitations, agendas, letters, and trade show passes, helping to create and maintain the campaign lists, running marketing reports, and performing research on marketing projects.

Education and Training Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in business administration or marketing, with previous marketing experience, is a requirement for employment as a marketing assistant. Excellent project management, oral and written communication skills, creativity, and good computer skills are essential for a marketing assistant.

Marketing assistants must stay abreast of new technologies, marketing trends, and other marketing topics such as copyright law. They must also have excellent knowledge of marketing principles. Classes in statistics, English, psychology, speech, advertising, sociology, history, and economics are beneficial for a high school or college student interested in a career in marketing.

The Marketing Research Association offers certification as a Professional Researcher Certification at the practitioner and expert level. The comprehensive exam covers research areas such as questionnaire design and report writing, legal areas such as ethics and privacy, and business areas such as marketing and human resources. Continuing education is required to maintain certification every two years.

The American Marketing Association offers certification as a Professional Certified Marketer. The test covers the following areas: legal, ethical and professional issues in marketing, relationship, information and resource management, assessment and planning of the strategic marketing process, use of the marketing mix, and marketing evaluation. Continuing education is required to maintain certification every three years.

Getting the Job

Many marketing positions are filled from within by experienced staff. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for employment and most employers prefer a bachelor’s or master’s degree with previous marketing experience. A college internship or certification can give the less experienced marketing professional an advantage in regards to employment.

Job Prospects, Employment Outlook and Career Development

Employment opportunities will increase by 13 percent between 2008 and 2018. Job opportunities are good for marketing assistants. As older workers retire and other workers leave the field, positions will open up for individuals interested in employment. Marketing consultants who perform well can expect promotion to the position of marketing manager or marketing coordinator.

Professional organizations such as the Association of National Advertisers and the Direct Marketing Association, offer classes, seminars, and webinars for individuals who want to keep abreast of new marketing technologies.

Most companies offer management training to help those interested in advancing. In addition, obtaining certification from one of the many organizations that offers marketing certification will let management know that you have obtained a high level of knowledge in the marketing field.

Working Conditions and Environment

The marketing assistant works 40 hours a week. Overtime to accomplish deadlines or to attend events or promotions is a part of the job. Travel is also a part of the job as marketing assistants will need to travel to fulfill some of their duties. Stress from multiple and changing deadlines and overtime is to be expected.

Salary and Benefits

Payscale.com lists the salary range of a marketing assistant from $22,121 to $44,675 per year. Standard benefits such as paid vacation, sick leave, and 401K plans, life insurance, and disability insurance, are the standard benefits package offered to marketing assistants.

Where to Go for More Information

American Marketing Association
311 S Wacker Dr., Ste. 5800
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (800) AMA-1150
Fax: (312) 542-9001
American Marketing Association

Association of National Advertisers
708 Third Ave., 33rd Fl.
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 697-5950
Fax: (212) 687-7310
Association of National Advertisers

Direct Marketing Association
1120 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-6700
Phone: (212) 768-7277
Fax: (212) 302-6714
Direct Marketing Association

Marketing Research Association
110 National Dr., 2nd Fl.
Glastonbury, CT 06033
Phone: (860) 682-1000
Fax: (888) 512-1050
Marketing Research Association

Northwestern University (Kellogg)
2001 Sheridan Rd.
Evanston, IL 60208
Phone: (847) 491-3308
Fax: (847) 491-4960
Northwestern University (Kellogg)

University of Phoenix
4615 E Elwood St.
Mail Stop: AA-K101
Phoenix, AZ 85040
Phone: 800-866-3919
Fax: (480) 303-5832
University of Phoenix