Marketing Manager

You've probably seen a TV commercial or print advertisement that has made you want to buy a new gadget or try a new product. Somewhere behind that advertising campaign is a marketing manager aiming to convince you to buy the company's latest product. Long before that advertisement interrupted your favorite TV show, a marketing manager set up a focus group to observe how and why people use the products, and tested out whether various features of the product made people more likely to want to buy it. Sometimes marketing managers even tweak new items to make them a better fit with specific groups of customers, and develop pricing strategies that help the company maximize profits without alienating customers. In addition to traditional advertising campaigns, marketing managers increasingly need to connect with customers on Facebook and Twitter and generate buzz through Internet marketing campaigns. When the job is done well, the customer will feel like this new product is relevant to his or her life.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects marketing-manager employment growth of 13.6 percent between 2010 and 2020. During that time period, an additional 24,200 jobs will need to be filled.

Marketing managers earned a median annual wage of $116,010 in 2011, according to the BLS. The best-paid 10 percent in the field made more than $187,199 per year, while the bottom 10 percent made $60,230. The best-paying jobs are in Framingham, Mass., San Francisco, and New York City.

Most marketing managers hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Coursework in business law, management, economics, accounting, finance, mathematics, and statistics can be helpful. An internship is a great way to get experience and make connections that could lead to a job. Computer and foreign language skills will give you an advantage for some positions.

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"Marketing is about creativity that drives big ideas and makes brands more relevant in people's lives. It's an exciting profession that allows you to unleash your potential and pursue your passions in ways you never thought possible. So make sure you bring creativity and passion every day," says Marc Pritchard, global marketing and brand building officer at Procter & Gamble. "You have to be in love with getting to know people at the deepest level. A great marketer knows how to find those insights that drive human behavior, that get at the truths, motivations, and tensions that can only be resolved by your brand."