Although marketing assistants work in an entry-level position, their activities are essential to the marketing organization as a whole. While they may have a variety of duties, their primary purpose is to support the marketing manager or director (or assistant marketing manager) in researching, creating, and implementing marketing plans.
Since the effects of the recession have continued to freeze hiring at upper levels, support staff members, such as marketing assistants, are becoming increasingly important. In addition, marketing assistants have a key part to play in helping their more senior colleagues navigate the ever-more-crucial digital world.
Job responsibilities may include performing research, helping to develop presentations, coordinating campaigns, monitoring response data, and communicating information among various departments. Marketing assistants may also have financial duties, such as tracking invoices, and may perform production roles such as managing the circulation of creative content among various departments.
The marketing manager may also require assistants to help schedule meetings and events, manage data and track inventory, such as physical marketing materials.
Because so much of their time is spent coordinating among various departments, marketing assistants need to have superior interpersonal and organizational skills, as well as an attention to detail. The ideal marketing assistant is comfortable wearing many hats, as they will be called upon to assist marketing managers in various capacities.
The advantage of the role lies in learning a variety of administrative, creative, and technical skills, as well as experimenting with a variety of roles, which can help individuals narrow down their future career paths.
Education and Degree Options
Marketing assistants may have a variety of backgrounds, but employers often prefer to hire an assistant with at least an associates or bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or business. Courses in economics, accounting, management, finance, business law, mathematics, and statistics are also beneficial, according to the Department of Labor. Completing an internship is also recommended.
A 2010 survey published by the American Marketing Association and staffing firm Aquent found that marketing professionals expected their firms to increase focus on the following topics in the year ahead. Prospective marketing assistants would be wise to become familiar with these platforms and tools:
- Social media/social networking: 80% (predicted this would be an area of focus)
- Mobile media: 64%
- Blogs: 59%
- Email campaigns: 58%
- Search Engine Marketing (organic): 55%
- Webcasts: 51%
- Public Relations: 50%
- Grassroots promotions: 50%
- Search Engine Marketing (paid): 48%
Newspapers, magazines, and radio were all expected to be area of declining focus.
Job Outlook and Salaries
According to Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide, marketing assistants and associates often hold the title of account coordinator or marketing coordinator, which come with an average salary $51,000 and $42,250, respectively.