How to Become a Marketing Coordinator

Marketing is a field that demands high energy, good people skills, attention to detail and excellent oral and written communication skills. Your ability to incorporate these skills at work, combined with a drive to succeed, will help you to become a marketing coordinator: the person responsible for organizing promotional events, advertising and arranging marketing programs to help your business expand its clientele. Read on to learn more.

Things You'll Need

• Computer skills including creating spreadsheets, databases and HTML
• Organization skills
• Attention to detail
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently as well as manage others
• Bachelor's degree in marketing or business management

Instructions

Start your Path to Become a Marketing Coordinator

1. Begin by earning a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Many employers prefer a B.A. in marketing or management or a B.S. in business administration. Other majors like communication, journalism, psychology, computer technology or even a general liberal arts degree can also be useful, particularly if paired with a marketing certification or several business classes.

2. Join extracurricular clubs or teams to improve your interpersonal and communication skills.

3. Look for areas where you can build your leadership skills. Become a student council member, debate team leader or group coordinator for class projects to gain experience guiding a group.

4. Intern at a local business, or volunteer with a charity or election campaign for hands-on experience you can carry over to your marketing career.

5. Be willing to start at the bottom. Marketing coordinator is a high-level position with a great deal of responsibility, so it is unlikely that you will start out here. Accept an entry-level position with a company within which you'd like to advance.

6. Clearly communicate your long-term goals to your supervisors, and show a willingness to follow through by being reliable, continuing your education and taking the initiative to share your ideas whenever appropriate.

Tips & Warnings

• Brush up on your interpersonal skills by joining a social group, such as a book club. You can find organizations open to the public in your local newspaper or community bulletin.

• If you don't have a marketing or business degree, visit your local community college, where you may be able to sign up for marketing classes and even receive a marketing certificate.

• Remember that a marketing coordinator is required to socialize with clients and media, often after business hours and including weekends.

• Marketing coordinator is a position that involves a good deal of public speaking. If you don't like speaking in public, consider taking a class in public speaking to help you become more comfortable.