For many, marketing is the dream job. With a seemingly endless array of products and services emerging every day, the scope for marketers is enormous. However, with employment figures at an all-time high, and the role of Marketing Manager named as the best job in the UK, competition to find the best jobs, and get the best promotions, is rife.
For many marketers who thrive on challenge, this can all be a part of the job; indeed, some find it an enjoyable test of their abilities to fight for the best projects, products and promotions. However, for some people, this constant pressure to perform -and to out-perform their competition- can result in difficulties. If you’re struggling to keep up, find yourself getting passed over for promotion or simply don’t know where to go next, then your career may well have stalled.
How can you tell if you need to make a change? Here are some sure-fire signs that you need to address your career.
You’ve lost your marketing mojo
You need to be passionate to work in marketing, and on the whole, most marketers are. From coming up with the perfect campaign to hitting their targets, they love what they do, and thrive in high-pressure, fast-moving environments. After all, successful marketers will be able to channel that passion into finding new, authentic and exciting ways to reach new audiences.
If, however, you’re finding that the job doesn’t excite you as much as it used to, and that you’ve lost the buzz that comes from knowing you’ve done a good job, then it’s a clear sign you need to look at what’s making you unhappy in your role- and with job satisfaction currently lower than ever, this needs to be addressed before it affects your results.
You’ve not had a pay rise in a while
Though it shouldn’t be the focal point of your job, it’s true that money talks. Last year, two thirds of UK workers were denied pay rises and promotions- with the result that only 12% felt ‘fully engaged’ in their roles. Don’t let yourself be a statistic: if a company values you, you should be paid the right amount for it.
You should also take a look at the promotions taking place in the office. Are people being promoted above you- and why? If you feel underappreciated at work, then there could be a reason for it: it’s time to re-examine your role, what you’re getting from it and what you’re putting into it.
You’re not coming up with new campaign ideas
75% of people think that they’re not living up to their creative potential. Could that be you? And could it be affecting your workload?
People who love what they do- as many marketers do- are always coming up with fresh, exciting ideas to put into their work and give it that something extra- as they care about the product that they’re selling. If you’re struggling to do the same, however, then it might be a sign that you’ve stalled, especially as that lack of passion has started to affect your job performance.
You’re not getting excited by marketing tech
Technology is moving at pace, and the software and tools that marketers have at their disposal are better than ever before, allowing users to schedule and automatically send emails or social media posts and even create campaigns that are tailored to the individual. Things are changing: 59% of companies are planning for conversational commerce, which involves using chatbots to engage users and steer them towards a sale. With such fluid, evolving boundaries, marketing is an exciting sector to work in- but if you’re not excited by that, and by the chance to experiment and play with these new tools, then it could be a sign that it’s time for a change.
You’re not reading around
Teams with high employee engagement rates are 21% more productive than their counterparts, as engaged employees are much more likely to make an effort when it comes to their work and role. If you don’t want to learn more about your profession, and you’re not willing to take the time to do some ‘reading around’ your job and new trends in the industry, then it indicates that you’re not as engaged as you once were. Marketers are competitive people, and if you’re not doing your research, or looking for ways to get ahead and incorporate new ideas into your marketing strategy, then it could be a sign that you have indeed lost your ‘marketing mojo’.
Sales aren’t coming to you for help
When sales and marketing teams work together, companies see, on average, 36% higher customer retention and a 38% increase in sales wins. Working effectively with your company’s sales team is beneficial to both of you, so when salespeople stop coming to you for help it could be a sign that they don’t see what you’re doing as valuable to them, or the company. Relationships take work, so invest time into building up yours with the right people- and if you can’t be bothered to do so, then it’s probably a sign you need to take a closer look at your role.
Kick-start your marketing career with BMS Performance
A good marketing team needs productive and engaged employees to contribute to the company. What’s keeping you back? Take a look at our Performance Blog for more insights, or get careers guidance and advice from our team of recruitment experts.
