Personal Development in Marketing - Assignment Example

Professional Development in Marketing University’s Name: Submitted By Name: Tutor: Date: Part 1: About Myself My name is Samia from China. I am a university student pursuing a degree in business, accounting option and I am looking forward to complete my undergraduate study in two years. I have a lot of interest in people and commercial awareness, which makes me believe that I can excel in the marketing field, as these are the basic requirements for every marketer. I am also an analytical person who has the ability to analyze and interpret complex information that has helped me in solving various problems that I encounter in my academic journey and in the real life situation. Besides, I am also a creative person because, as I am able to come up with new ideas and execute them. In addition, my academic achievement since I joined the university makes me believe that I am a hardworking individual who is not easily distracted with the obstacle or challenges that come on the way. Moreover, I believe in teamwork, which is essential in enhancing performance and productivity. I am an active member of various academic and social groups. Therefore, marketing is the career that I would like to pursue because it is an interesting business field that enables a person to interact with consumers and to understand the emotions and behavior of customers. It is also an area that needs high level of creativity and teamwork, which are my key strengths as a professional. As a result, I would like to end up as a Chief Marketing Officer in one of the reputable international companies, which will enable me to optimize my marketing skills and experience. I am greatly inspired by Wenzhou people who are found in the Republic of China due to their excellent business and money-making skills. These are the people who live in Wenzhou city situated in the extreme South East of Zhejiang province in China. The people have the natural culture of starting the business and connecting with parts of the world. I am particularly inspired by the Wenzhou business persons who are the leading market pioneer groups due to their diligence and the ability to overcome stiff competition in any business environment. Many people refer to them as business expert maneuvers, as they control and hold and control key in the international economy. The Wenzhou business people do not fear starting small, which has seen many of them start their businesses from scratch and end up controlling the market. For instance, they individually own about 240,000 industrial units and many of their companies are found in the China’s top 500 enterprises. In addition, Wenzhou people are also good marketers because they are not always afraid of hit the wall, as their primary goal is to promote and sell their products and services. The people are good at smiling and paying lip service, which make them good marketers in the world. Therefore, I am personally and professionally inspired by the Wenzhou people because they are natural business people who are ready to start from nothing to build a business empire. They are determined to succeed regardless of the conditions, the competition in the market, and the challenges that they face. Accordingly, my career aspiration is to promote and develop my knowledge and skills in the field of marketing to be able to work in some of the leading international companies in the world. I specifically would like to work at Coca Cola Company because of its creative marketing campaigns like “Open Happiness” that have enabled it to dominate soft drink industry in the whole world. First, I will like to land in the position of marketing manager within the first year after my graduation. Secondly, I would like to be a Chief Marketing Officer in one of the big companies before the end of fifth year after finishing my undergraduate degree. However, to realize my career aspiration, I have to develop the knowledge, skills, and expertise that is required in the job market. The top five skills that I must have to get marketing managerial positions include analytical skills; the ability to have a holistic approach to issues; critical thinking; technical skills, especially in ICT; and project management skills (Schlee and Harich, 2010). In addition, I must also have professional marketing qualifications by taking post-graduate marketing courses like MBA and other short marketing courses like the ones offered by Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). I will start with Introductory Certificate in Marketing, which I will do alongside my undergraduate course. The additional professional qualifications will give me a competitive edge in the job market. My career aspiration has remained intact because of the passion I have in marketing. I still believe that my interests, skills, and knowledge will make me an excellent marketer. However, I have realized that a marketer needs to have various knowledge and skills beyond class work. A successful marketing professional should attend various marketing seminars and training, and do marketing professional courses to sharpen his or her marketing skills. Part 2: Self-Assessment of Skills Communication Skills Marketing is one of the areas that need effective communication skills, as it fundamentally determine the success of a marketer and that of the campaign. Studies have shown that individuals with good communication skills enjoy better interpersonal relationship with colleagues, especially in teamwork that is common in marketing. I believe I can be an excellent marketer because I am relative good in communication skills. I possess some of the important feature of a good communicator such as the ability to listen, I can understand other people’s emotions, empathetic, and I have courage. I read a lot of books, journals, and general literature that have helped in sharpening my oral and written communication skills. I also engage in a lot of oral presentations like group discussions and other informal discussions with friends where we tell stories, which have positively contributed to my oral and written communication skills. Besides, I have taken my time to learn about non-verbal communication cues and practice them. The ability to interpret body language has helped me to understand other people even if they are now orally communicating with me. In addition, I have learned that the only way to get a better deal in any negotiation is to know what the other party wants before engaging in the negotiation. Marketing is about understanding what consumers wants before persuading them. As a result, I have been able to improve my negotiation skills through adequate preparation before engaging in any negotiation. I have also learned not be sidetracked in negotiations, as I am able to maintain the conversation on the issues being negotiated. I have involved in various negotiations with friends and family members, which have taught me that patience and self-confidence also contribute to successful negotiations. Constructive feedback is important in maintaining a relationship and I have learned to remain objective and shun personal feelings when giving any feedback. I always strive to be specific and share the information rather than giving an advice. I also ask questions and seek clarifications before giving any feedback to ensure that my feedback is beneficial to the receiver. Therefore, try to give solicited feedback and not imposed feedback that can ruin a relationship. At the same time, I strive to give a timely feedback that is open and offer suggestions. Self-assessment Knowledge: Before engaging in actual marketing practice, a person must have wide knowledge in content marketing theory and applications, which I have learned my undergraduate level. My marketing course has also helped me to possess knowledge in tenet traditional marketing and I am able to manage content development and publishing. The modern marketing also requires that one must have enough knowledge in ICT. Therefore, my proficiency in many computer programs like Excel, Powerpoint, marketing software, and content management programs can enable me to use the modern technology to conduct a successful campaign. Analysis: Analysis majorly involves comprehension and critical thinking skills, which I believe I possess. As a marketer, I am required to analyze the market and consumer behaviors that require one to be creative and think critically to generate new ideas. I have done a lot of assignments that require content analysis and I excelled in them and I believe I can transfer the experience to marketing. Judgment: Throughout my life I have been engaged in decision-making and problem solving. I have also been engaged in conflict resolutions involving friends and relatives. As a result, I have learned that a person needs to acquire the necessary information and facts to be able to come up with good judgment. In addition, I have been able to exercise humility and creativity when making any judgment, especially in a complex situation. Social Responsibility: I have also been able to understand how other people react and be able to understand the motives behind their actions. Consequently, I am able to understand the emotions of other people and be able to respond to their needs without creating conflicts. I have been able to maintain the ethics and moral standards set by the university administrations and the various groups that I belong. Therefore, I am able to adhere to the marketing ethics and moral requirements. Overall Analysis of Skills Johari Window Open Area Confident Self-assertive Hardworking Humble Blind Spot Friendly Caring Logical Patient Intelligent Accepting Extrovert Hidden Area Independent Calm Unknown Area Loving Proud Sympathetic Energetic Responsible SWOT Analysis Strength -Excellent interpersonal skills -Excellent oral and written communication skills -Adequate analytical knowledge -Creative and innovative -Team player -Excellent negotiation skills -Computer skills Weaknesses -Inadequate practical marketing experience -Poor data visualization skills -Weak marketing technical knowledge Opportunities -Numerous marketing seminars and training programs -Technological advancement in marketing -Acquisition of relevant marketing skills required in the job market -Increased demand for marketers due to increased competition in the job market Threats -Stiff competition in the job market -Need of advanced qualifications like MBA to hold managerial marketing position -constantly changing marketing due to technological changes and emerging trends in consumer behaviors Part 3: Career Management Plan Career Goal My career goal is to acquire the position of Chief Marketing Officer in one of the leading international companies within five years after my graduation. However, I would like to start with the position of a marketing manager, which I expect to get within the first year after my graduation. Areas for Development I feel I have the required skills to end up as a successful marketer and I believe my skills will help me reach my career aspiration. However, due to the stiff competition in the job market, I need to sharpen my skills to gain a competitive age. At the same time, I need to work on my weaknesses like data visualization, technical knowledge in marketing, and the required practical marketing experience. In addition, I need to get the right marketing professional qualifications that are needed in marketing. Planning For Career Management Activity Action Steps Evaluation Duration Certificate in marketing I will enroll for the Introductory Certificate in Marketing that is offered by CIM. I will do the course before I graduate. Successful completion of CIM course assessment 1st Aug-30th Oct (2016) Widening of my of data visualization I will do a certificate Digital Analytics for Marketing course to improve my data visualization techniques. Successful completion of the course 1st Jan-30th March (2017) Developing Leadership skills Attend various leadership trainings and seminars organized within and outside the university. Acquire at least two leadership positions in the university, especially in the student associations. Successfully leading two student associations During my Fourth and Third year in the university Developing my creativity skills I will come up with at least two alternative solutions to the problems that I encounter on my daily life. I will also take some of the ads and try to create new ideas that can make them better. In addition, I will try to create something new every day. Finding alternative solutions to various problems and coming of new ideas out of the already existing adverts During and after my graduation. Internship In order to gain practical marketing experience, I will seek marketing internship in my final year in the university. The ability to apply the knowledge I learned in class in the practical field During long vocation in my fourth year Post-graduation internship I will apply for post-graduation internship immediately after my graduation before getting a job. I will use the opportunity to improve my marketing technical knowledge. Ability to easily implement marketing practices. Immediately after graduation First employment Landing in the position of a marketing manager in a large company. I will aggressively search and apply for a job in the position. However, I will majorly concentrate on companies with well-structured marketing department where I can easily get promotion. Nevertheless, I will also accept the position of assistant marketing manager, which I believe can help in getting the position of Marketing Manager. Getting employed as a Marketing Manager in a large company. Within the first year after my graduation. MBA in marketing I will enroll for MBA (Marketing) within six months after getting a job. The MBA will prepare me for the position of Chief Marketing Officer. Successfully completing my MBA within the required time will take two years Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) I will strive to the position of CMO in the company that I will be employed. I will get the required experience, skills, and qualification for the position. In addition, look for opportunities in other companies that will advertise the position. Landing in the position of CMO in a large company Within five years after graduation. Reference List Schlee, R.P. and Harich, K.R., 2010. Knowledge and skill requirements for marketing jobs in the 21st century. Journal of Marketing Education. Appendix Advertisement for the Position of a Marketing Manager Read More