Characteristic of Professionalism Needed for a Career as a Marketer - Essay Example

Professional Development (PD) By Presented to 0., Introduction Many have taken education platform as the key to success. Its every parent’s believe that they take their children through this process of education to have responsible citizens. At the tertiary levels, many graduate with an aim to get well paying careers and grow them to highest level in the society, whereas others aim to start their own businesses and create employment. When this has been achieved, it all brings a bundle of joy to the graduates and the society as well, (Davies, 2008). All this can’t be achieved without a well laid out plan. Professional development comes into place and it can be defined as a continuous process, which many organizations across the globe continue to seek and quench their thirst for yields in their line of business. This is a combination of high valuable skills and competencies, (Eugene 2010). To start with, businesses are set up with a main objective of achieving the best results possible. Human resource and managerial personnel have re-worked and thought of ways and means to stay afloat in their line of business. They have spent sleepless nights re-thinking of the best practices to achieve high profiles of professional development packages and strategies. This paper wills to purview the dynamics of professional development. To procure the best professional development, the cleavage will be addressed in details. This paper has some of the main areas to tackle; namely ethics, integrity, motivation, values and attitude just to mention a few. To achieve the best career one has to have a professional development plan. In business line after graduating, I have always dreamt of being a world-class marketer, rising to the highest level in the industry, (Handy, 1997). I will not rest till I hit the regional Director in Marketing, something I have passion doing. 1.1., Bird’s eye view on the characteristic of Professionalism needed for a career as a Marketer. Many scholars have done recommendable work in terms of marketing field is concerned. Tiana Warner has mastered the art of marketing and will be my role model. As I venture to the marketing world, I take this golden opportunity to have an open mine of the best possibilities in my dream career. Many organizations across the globe are looking forward to have an outstanding marketer to market their products and services. This includes the Microsoft, insurance industry, telecommunication, CBC, hospitals and learning institutions a like. 1.2., What will my career demand from me? a) Finding a specific audience. To be a world-class Marketer, I will have to give out all my thoughts and beliefs that will propel me to this level. From my graduate studies to the personal observations, the mass marketing strategies no longer hold much value. From the diagram below, the bell curve is melting away. Most people fall out-side the normal range unlike the inside. I will target the ones outside the normal range (what Seth Godin referred to as weird people). Diagram from ((Davies, 2008) above this will enable me to find a specific audience. b) Build network. Two, I will need to build a strong network. With the emergence of the ever dynamic social media, this will be spring board in my Marketing career. Marketing does not really depend on the broadcasting details to any Mary and Jack out there. It involves well laid out plans and identifying an audience that will be able to propel you to the next level, (Whetten, 2007). Making a list of the people to connect with will be the baby step in marketing. The passion I have with my career will enable me to create an emotional connection with the right people. By creating a deep loyal relationships with readers will enable me to have a genuine caring attitude towards my peers, customers, consumers and line managers. It a task that has many challenges but with my positive attitudes will be in a position to turn the challenges into solutions, (Gallagher, 2010). I always get inspired by the two marketers that had been sent to Africa to study the ability of a certain shoe company to sell their shoes. Two of the marketers so that no one has a pair of shoe, when they returned back home they had different reports from Africa. The first marketer saw no opportunity as there was anyone with a pair of shoes. The other marketer saw a big opportunity as there was no one with a pair of shoe, (Lee-Davies,2007).The Managers followed the second report and introduced the pair of shoes in Africa and the Company had booming results for taking positive results. It’s from this humble beginnings’ that I base my arguments that no organization that will survive this hard economic times without making great strides in the field of sales. Marketing is a challenging and interesting career that has a great future potential. It’s from record that the last people to be laid off in any given organization are the marketers and sales personnel, (Robbins, 2007). c) Earning trust Earning trust should be done professionally and at personal level. By earning my market trust, people will trust me and the end results will be they will be able to listen to me. I will market to the personnel’s that show interest on my products and services. John Jantch has severally talked about ‘the Marketing Hourglass’; this all about trusting, liking, trying, buying, repeating, referring and knowing how to mitigate in the Marketing field, (Robert K. Throop, Marion Castellucci 2010). To me this is a much unified process that every Marketer needs to keep on their fingertips. d) Being generous No one wants to relate to selfish people. Being kind to others is one value that the rich have mastered and has worked for them. We all know of Bill gates and his philanthropic motives. It’s beyond doubt that his mighty wealth has everyone attention and no one would not like to be like him. In the marketing field I will be willing to share and give resources at my disposal, (Pegues, 2009). I will offer rewards to my advocates. This will be done with a lot a lot of passion such that my follower would really miss my presence if I didn’t show up tomorrow. I will also abide to these philanthropic motives without expecting anything in return. I do also believe that generosity is the key foundation of very strong followers, (Robbins, 2007). Which three skill areas do you plan to improve / develop over this academic year? In this academic year, it has been a great year for me and my tutors as well for the valuable support they have given from the start of this course, (Carter, 2008). I have well laid out plan on skills that I plan to improve. It would not go un-mentioned they have played a great role in bringing out the best out of me, (Tillman, 2012). However, I still feel I will not leave any stone un-turned. Some of the key areas that will be in my top list are namely; Attitude Character Competency Professional Development Plan (PDP) Skills Area Chosen Objectives for Improvement Action Planned Resources Planned Measures Actions to be Taken Target Completion Date 1 Attitude 1.1 Improving attitude skillset Reading motivation journals, watching and listening to motivation DVD in my car, during traffic before and after lectures 30th XX 2014 30 Days to a Great Attitude By Deborah Smith 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue By Deborah Smith Weekly Review Monthly Review Annual Review Feedback from Tutors and my Peers Regular assessment results Making deliberate efforts to take online written attitude tests 1.2 Improving IQ skills Enroll on IQ classes Participate in regular tutorial discussions/debates Dedicating some time for social media responses Being active in Social sites i.e. twitter, Facebook, and what sup 30th xx 2013 Journals, Tutorials, Lectures, Slides Community IQ and Aptitude Tests: Assess Your Verbal Numerical and Spatial Reasoning Skills By Philip Carter Weekly Review Monthly Review Semi- annual Review Annual Review Feedback from Teachers and Peers Taking an Online Verbal Ability Test 2 Character 2.1 Who you are when no one else is looking Take leaderships roles while conducting group discussions and assignments Enrolling on an online courses for leadership /managerial developments Reading the book Creative Character Design by Tillman Bryan 30th xx 2014 Lectures, Tutorials Various Societies Workshops and seminars Valuable online Courses Creative Character Design by Tillman Bryan Weekly Reviews Monthly Review Quarterly Reviews Feedback from tutors, lecturers and Professors 2.2 Understanding the tribe and team members that will give an upper hand in the marketing field Active Listening to others’ ideas Ensuring that in each meeting peers come and presents their creative ideas and practice active listening during such forums 30th xx 2014 Creative Character Design  By Bryan Tillman Team assignments Books, Journals ,blogs and internet materials Sports & indoor games Monthly Review Feedback from tutors, lecturers and Professors 2.3 Understanding, recognizing, and fostering the right leadership qualities Taking E-learning course on ‘Leading Across Generations’ 30th xx 2014 E-learning, University site Books Monthly Review Feedback from tutors, lecturers and Professors 3 Competency 3.1 Being very organized Assigning myself tasks and accomplishing them in good time Setting Deadlines Using student planner to list down all the tasks 30th xx 2014 Competency-Based Training Basics by William J. R., James M. G Making use of the reminders and have a checklist, Calendar Weekly Review Monthly Review Feedback from tutors, lecturers and Professors 3.2 Prioritizing tasks as Urgent, Urgent and Important Making a list of my KPI’s ( Key Performance Indicators) Working with speed Working with simplicity Working with trust 30th xx 2014 Use of grid analysis. Urgent/Improvement Analysis, the Action Priority Index, Time Management Index Feedback from tutors, lecturers and Professors Weekly Review Monthly Review 3.3 Effectively use list Big task list, to note down every task A daily to do list of all the tasks that I need to do Always avoid time wasting tasks 30th xx 2014 Mail calendar, Apps on Phone, Notepads, I-pads, tabs, wrist watch & Laptops Weekly Review Monthly Review Feedback from tutors, lecturers and Professors Conclusion From the start of my undergraduate in business field I have gained a lot of knowledge and skills that will enable me be an asset to the organization that will hire me. My acquired skills and knowledge have assisted me in gaining the relevant expertise to suit both product and service industry. As a marketer I believe I will be able to inspire others and transform their performance positively to have a recommendable career path. I take this opportunity to ones again thank all my friends, parents and tutors for supporting me in great mile stone, (Davies, 2008). I could not have done it alone. May my tutors be blessed for having faith in me and delivering the best, I would kindly urge them to continue inspiring others like they did with me. Biography Carter Philip (2008) IQ and Aptitude Tests: Assess Your Verbal Numerical and Spatial Reasoning Skills Davies, L (2008) Informal Learning: A New Model for making Sense of Experience, Gower Publishing Limited Eugene, Oregon Kay, S (2010) Professionalism – The ABC for Success, Professionalism Books Gallagher, K (2010) Skills Development for Business and Management Students, Oxford University Press Handy, C (1997) the Hungry Spirit, Random House UK Limited Holroyd, C., (2000), ‘Are assessors professional?’ Active Learning in Higher Education, 1:1, 28-44 Hopkins, T.H., (2009), ‘Ten Essential Leadership Skills for Managers’, 2009 Hopkins Associate Lee-Davies, L (2007) Developing Work and Study Skills, Thomson Learning Megginson, D & Whitaker, V (2007) Continuing Professional Development, 2nd edition, CIPD Moon, J A (2006) Learning Journals: A Handbook for Reflective Practice and Professional Development, 2nd edition, Routledge Pegues Smith D., (2009) 30 Days to a Great Attitude Published by Harvest House Publishers Rees, W D & Porter, C (2008) Skills of Management, 6th edition, CEngage Learning Robbins, S (2007) CD ROM Self-Assessment Library, Pearson Education Robert K. Throop, Marion Castellucci (2010) Reaching Your Potential: Personal and Professional Development  Tillman Bryan (2012) Creative Character Design Published by Focal Press, Elsevier 225 Wyman Street Waltham, Ma 02451, USA the Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1GB, UK Webster, M., (2013), ‘Professional’, Accessed on 13th June 2013, Available on: http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/professional Whetten, D A & Cameron, K S (2007), Developing Management Skills: International Edition, 7th edition, Pearson Higher Education William J. R., James M. G., Jim G., (2010) Competency-Based Training Basics Published by STD Press Read More