Senior Marketing Manager 

How did you get your current job?
I applied for one job they offered me this instead. It was a random newspaper ad.

What was the application process?
Resume online through the official University website.

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
There were three interviews. The first was with a director, someone else and the CFO who also handled human resources. The CFO suggested I meet with the marketing team, I met with that director, a writer, had a take home assigment to create a marketing plan, create ad’s and an e-mail solicitation. Finally, I met with the Executive Director.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
I don’t remember specifics. Typical questions no surprises.

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
No one feels properly prepared where I work. It’s the nature of the beast, I don’t know why. You’re thrown into the deep end and sink or swim. The people are nice, you go around asking questions trying to figure out who knows what about anything. You get a little info here a little there in about a year it all makes sense.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
I had some background. There was no formal training. I attend conferences once or twice a year, take classes, do what I can to stay ahead of the curve.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes, I had a strong knowledge base to reference.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
n/a

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Keep up with marketing trends. More importantly, be hard-working, flexible and people oriented.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
You have to be able to “listen” through the clutter to “hear” what is reallyl being said. You have to have a sense of humor and be able to handle stress. There are always deadlines looming, you have to be able to take it all in stride and know you’ll be able to harness all of your resources and get the job done on time. Never, ever, burn a bridge, especially with vendors or co-workers because you will need them in the future.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
A marketing degree is ideal, but it’s more important to have an “eye” and an “ear.” Good judgement and instincts.

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Organization is key because the nature of the job is chaos. There has to be a solid marketing plan in place with timelines, etc., in place. Nine times out of ten no one will meet your deadline and they won’t care, they still expect you to produce on time. They will change direction at the last minute and do it repeatedly. You have to be able to bend in the wind, don’t get married to an idea., but be able to control the madness and keep people on track. People often don’t know what they want or know, but can’t articulate it. You have to KNOW your customer, think and feel for them to get them a final result that pleases.