Are you interested in learning what it takes to become a marketing director? If you have done your research and determined that marketing is the field that you would like to pursue, the next step is learning which occupations exist and what type of education is required to get your feet wet in the field. As a marketing director, you will be a top level executive who oversees large marketing departments in public or private firms and corporations.
Educational Requirements to Becoming a Marketing Director
The very first steps to becoming a marketing director has to do with higher education. Like most upper level occupations, candidates who want to be considered for director positions within any marketing firm or large multi-national corporation must possess a degree from an accredited institution. With a degree, candidates can show that they possess the knowledge that they need to succeed and the drive necessary to complete a very long-term goal. The type of degree that you will need to pursue will depend entirely upon the type of company you would like to work in.
Typically, smaller or mid-sized public or private companies will require marketing directors to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in marketing. For prospective directors of larger and richer companies, you may need to possess a Master’s degree or an MBA with a concentration in marketing to even have your resume reviewed. By completing a Master’s or graduate level program, you can show that you are an expert in the field and that your expertise will be valuable. With so many marketing professionals with a Master’s degree actively searching for positions in upper level management, having your Master’s should be considered more of a requirement than going the extra mile.
Related Resource: Marketing Director Average Salary
Professional Experience Requirements
It is not common for marketing graduates to leave school and immediately find a director position without first gaining on-the-job experience. Once you graduate from school, it’s common to be expected to climb up the ladder before you will be hired as a director. You may enter the field as a entry-level marketing assistant or a mid-level analyst or supervisor. Once you gain two to five years in these positions, you want climb up the ladder to a management role, and then gain your footing for three to five years to submit your resume in hopes of being hired as a marketing director. While directors are often hired from the outside, most companies start with an internal hiring process unless there is a candidate with years of experience to select.
Marketing directors are compensated with a very competitive benefits packages because of all of the responsibilities that they possess. The average marketing director salary reported by Glassdoor is $135,000 per year, taking into account the highest and lowest salaries reported in the nation. If you would like to earn a salary in the upper percentile of the nation, earning your degree and then starting your career with a respected company will get you to the finish line. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the marketing industry will grow in the next decade, which has estimated growth of 12% by 2022. Arm yourself with a map, and then become a marketing director the most direct way possible.