Editor’s note: Andrew Dalglish is managing director, Circle Research, London.
As managing director of Circle Research, a B2B market research company, I have the chance to get up close and personal with those at the top of their game on a daily basis. As part of a recent study with B2B Marketing Magazine I took the opportunity to delve into the experiences of 70 senior B2B marketers to uncover the top five factors contributing to their success. Their advice is relevant for anybody looking to forge a career in the marketing services industry, including research.
Here’s the low down.
1. Invest in life-long learning
Seventy percent of marketers feel that knowledge and a university education has been an important factor in the success of their career. However, the subject of the degree appears to be unimportant as many leaders working at top firms studied fine art, philosophy and other courses unrelated to marketing at university.
After formal education, if you’re looking to develop your career even further, vocational qualifications are a must with most of those in senior roles investing in life-long learning.
2. Gain diverse experience
Sixty-eight percent of the senior marketers we spoke with have been in the profession for more than 15 years and during this time held positions in five different companies. They advise that when applying for positions, look for businesses with a positive culture, a supportive team and an inspiring boss. This type of environment will help you thrive and provide you with plenty of opportunities for progression.
And before you enter the workplace full-time, they suggest that you take advantage of work experience placements, internships and any experience you can gain within the industry as these will inevitably show your interest and enthusiasm.
3. Develop core skills
Successful senior marketers work hard developing some core skills which they feel are essential to success, these being expertise in personal communication followed by strong emotional intelligence. They also show an adaptable mind-set and outstanding problem-solving skills.
You too should focus on these essential soft skills alongside the hard, practical skills necessary to do the job day-to-day.
4. Invest time and energy into yourself
Successful individuals invest time and energy into developing your brand and actively promote themselves so that new opportunities open.
Almost all senior marketers use LinkedIn to promote their professional profiles and half use Twitter to the same end. Creating a strong sense of personal brand enables these successful individuals to attract the most suitable opportunities.
By posting industry related content and keeping your profile up-to-date, potential employers can obtain their first impressions about your personality and expertise before meeting you. This will also help you to be linked to the most suitable and relevant opportunities available across the industry.
5. Value your personal life
To become a successful marketer, you must put value on your personal life during your quest for success. On average, senior marketers work 47 hours a week with 65 percent believing that working longer than contracted hours has no bearing on making it to the top or not.