Career-sustaining marketing jobs

Career-sustaining jobs often require more education, training, and experience than entry-level jobs and usually provide full-time employment. Jobs in this category require an understanding of marketing functions as well as knowledge of the products or services being marketed. These jobs involve greater responsibility than entry-level jobs. They are held by individuals who have a commitment to a career. Successful performance at the career-sustaining level may lead to a higher level position and increased earning power. Examples of job titles in this category are full-time retail salesperson; hotel (motel) front desk manager; automobile salesperson, parts salesperson, or leasing agent; display person; waiter or waitress; cashier or checkout person; route salesperson; supermarket department manager; restaurant host or hostess; loan collection clerk; bank teller; door-to-door salesperson; and travel agent. Typical job descriptions for several career-sustaining job titles follow.

• Hotel-motel front desk manager. Performs a variety of duties for guests of hotel, motel, motor lodge or condominium hotel. Registers and assigns rooms to guests. Dates, sorts and racks incoming mail and messages. Transmits and receives telephone messages. Gives information about hotel services. Computes bill and collects payment from guests. Makes and confirms reservations. May supervise several other workers.

• Travel agent. Plans travel schedule and arranges accommodations for customers or travel agency. Gives the customer travel information and makes suggestions and recommendations. Calculates cost of travel and accommodations using business machines, computer terminals, tariff books, and hotel rate books. Makes transportation and hotel reservations. Writes tickets and collects payment.

• Retail salesperson. Sells merchandise to customers and answers questions about products and prices. Accepts payment and makes change or writes up charge sales. May demonstrate products. Handles item? and exchanges merchandise. Keeps work area neat and shelves adequately stocked. Responsibilities vary with the type of merchandise being sold and the type of retail business.

• Display person. Displays merchandise such as clothes, accessories and furniture in windows, showcases and on the sales floor of retail stores to attract attention of customers. Constructs or assembles displays and arranges mannequins, furniture, merchandise and backdrop according to predetermined plan.

Specialized marketing jobs

Specialized jobs in marketing involve the performance of tasks that require extensive technical knowledge of the products or services. The jobs also require training and experience in specific marketing functions such as merchandising, advertising, or management. These jobs often involve supervisory responsibilities, and persons employed in specialized marketing jobs usually are partially responsible for the success or profitability of the business. Examples of job titles in this area are manufacturers’ representative, real estate agent, insurance sales agent, retail department manager, fashion coordinator, mortgage loan counselor, retail buyer, industrial purchasing agent, restaurant manager, advertising specialist, marketing researcher, specialty store manager, and securities sales agent. Typical job descriptions for several specialized marketing jobs follow.

• Securities sales agent. Buys and sells stocks and bonds for individuals and organizations as the representative of a stock brokerage firm. Uses knowledge of securities, market conditions, government regulations and customers’ needs to advise them about investments. Sends buy or sell order to securities exchange or dealer. Uses quoted price to calculate charge for service.

• Retail buyer. Buys merchandise for resale. Inspects merchandise and estimates resale value. Orders goods from manufacturers’ representatives or directly from manufacturers. Arranges for transportation of goods. Authorizes payment of invoices or return of merchandise. The buyer generally concentrates on a product area and develops a plan for proper styles, assortments, sizes and amounts of the product. Analyzes suppliers on the basis of quality, style, availability, fit, flexibility, reliability, and price.

• Insurance sales agent. Sells insurance to new and present clients. Analyzes client’s situation and recommends amount and type of insurance coverage. Explains policies to clients. Calculates and quotes premium rates. Finds and contacts prospective clients.

• Marketing researcher. Develops the research methodology, evaluates the accuracy of different sample sizes, analyzes information (data), and assesses statistical errors in relationship to solving any type of marketing problem. Conducts research following appropriate data collection techniques and draws conclusions and makes recommendations based on the findings of the research.