Should you get a job in marketing? In Singapore, the marketing industry has proven to provide a promising and thriving career, especially in recent times, as many businesses work on bouncing back from the stagnancy of the past two years.
Among small-medium enterprises (SMEs), marketing and advertising posted the highest industry growth among other sectors, with the highest salary increase percentage – 8.3% or $250, according to the 2022 JobStreet Salary Report.
All levels in the Marketing & Advertising industry landed on the top salary growth list — but managers and senior managers had the highest jump, enjoying a sweet pay bump of as much as 15 per cent and 17.9 per cent, respectively. Entry-level marketers (less than a year of experience) saw a 3.7 per cent increase; junior-level executives’ (one to four years) salaries rose by 8.3 per cent, while senior executives were the only position that maintained the same compensation.
But while the prospects of joining a high-paying marketing industry can be alluring, there are certain skill sets and personalities suited to this sector. Whether you’re a fresh marketing graduate or looking at a lateral career shift to this industry, you should first assess whether this field is really for you and is best suited to your interests.
Working in this field means being in charge of the company’s marketing initiatives. Depending on your position, the role may require you to strategise or carry out the organisation’s marketing implementation plans to meet its various goals. The job demands a balance of planning, foresight, and creativity. Hence, marketers are usually highly analytical and creative at the same time, employing a mix of magic and logic to formulate and execute memorable campaigns.
Expect a marketing executive or manager to work regularly with internal stakeholders, vendors, and media partners to ensure alignment on brand messaging and strategies, facilitate smooth working relationships while carrying out marketing executions, and produce desired results.
While no two days are alike for someone who works in marketing, the job requires some sense of structure and organisation. Here are just some of the daily responsibilities expected from a marketer:
Should you choose a career in marketing? If you possess a good mix of creativity and analytical thinking, an eye to see the bigger picture and create a strategy, and a love of fast-paced projects, then a marketing career may be for you. Marketers are highly proactive, quick on their feet, and have foresight – simply sitting back, waiting for things to unfold and reacting without a plan is a quick way to be lacklustre in your job.
If you enjoy a dynamic and exciting environment, check out marketing. As technology, business and consumer trends shape and shift industries, marketing is a globally focused and competitive field. Hence, even a marketing job 10 years ago or more may not look the same or have identical expectations today. Now, sectors such as digital marketing have gone from a sub-category of marketing or a niche in the industry. You can see this in the case of digital start-ups such as new apps where marketing is embedded in the product experience itself. In certain instances, marketing can even shape consumer expectations and experiences, not the other way around. As brands typically cross borders, you could even work on regional campaigns deployed in countries other than Singapore. Isn’t that exciting?
Even other adjacent sectors in advertising, public relations, sales, and branding have integrated themselves into marketing jobs, further blurring the lines.
Getting hired for a marketing job can be one of the most fulfilling and lucrative professional experiences you may have, especially in Singapore.
But before reading about the most sought-after marketing careers, look at the most recent data on marketing salaries at various job levels.
The 2022 JobStreet Salary Report reveals that Marketing & Advertising was in the top 10 industries that enjoyed pay raises across its positions. In this industry, entry-level workers receive an average of $3,350, junior executives $3,250, senior executives usually $4,150, and managers $6,000.
Are you convinced that a marketing career is for you? Here are the different career choices you can explore within the Marketing Industry.
Public relations managers deal with communicating information about a brand to the larger public, which means usually dealing with the media. Like all other related marketing careers, the role of a public relations manager has expanded and changed over the years, even involving other tasks such as influencer marketing and content management. These changes shape the rapidly evolving tech and consumer landscape. Ultimately, working in public relations means being able to communicate and generate (usually good) publicity for your brand or client and keeping them in the news cycle.
Salary: Between $4,000 to $6,000
Check out public relations jobs here.
As mentioned earlier, the sphere of digital marketing has developed into an entirely different industry of its own and is no longer just an afterthought. Its simplest definition refers to dealing with marketing activities carried out online.
However, with the growth of digital avenues and tools today, as well as consumers’ growing reliance and prioritisation of digital channels, this marketing type continues to grow in scale, scope, and impact. Like any marketer, they will need to strategise and create a 360 plan while understanding how to utilise each digital channel, from social media ads to SEO.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of specialities and channels a digital marketing manager may deal with:
Salary: Between $3,000 to $6,000
Check out digital marketing jobs here.
Account executives can be found in almost any marketing track – whether public relations, digital marketing, media planning, or even in a branding agency. Account executives are the key to managing clients and assuring all expectations and assignments within the team are aligned. Account executives must regularly update clients or stakeholders on the progress of specific projects or campaigns. They also handle project management, working with the necessary team members to carry out these campaigns. Marketing professionals who excel in communication, are highly organised, and are adept at analysing data and metrics can consider the role of an account executive.
Salary: $3,000 to $5,000
Apply for account executive jobs here.
As a holistic and high-level role, a brand manager merges the different skills and abilities of a marketer, a product manager, and even a public relations expert. Ultimately, a brand manager is concerned with developing and managing a brand’s messaging, positioning and reputation in the market. Experienced with analysing consumer insights, brand managers work on developing strategies and identifying new opportunities to strengthen the brand and translate certain brand elements into campaigns.
Salary: $5,000 to $8,000
Check out brand manager jobs here.
As they say, find a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life. Working in a career you like and pays well are also a nice side benefit. #SeekBetter in all aspects of your life and find fulfilment in a lucrative marketing career that indulges your creative and energetic side. For more expert insights on the best industries to work in, visit the Career Resources page. Discover more marketing job options through JobStreet’s app on the App Store and Google Play.