CareerJournal.com Says Hiring Has Improved for Marketing & Sales Professionals<br>

The economic recovery has finally delivered a ray of sunlight for job candidates seeking sales and marketing positions, reports CareerJournal.com, The Wall Street Journal’s executive career site.

More companies have realized that to boost revenue, they have to invest in recruiting both talented salespeople and experienced sales managers, as well as proven marketing pros, says Tony Lee, editor in chief of CareerJournal.com.
As more companies establish aggressive sales goals for 2004, demand rises for candidates who can help achieve those goals. Organizations also want to fill district and regional sales management positions that were slashed during the recession.

Successful candidates for top sales jobs must have a track record of accomplishments, such as raising profits while controlling expenses; experience in building and managing a sales team; and at least three years with each prior employer to show stability.

Despite the hiring gains, pay levels for sales executives haven’t improved significantly from last year. Some sales managers will sign on for new roles that pay the same as or less than they previously earned.

Growing demand for new marketing talent is another bright spot. Demand is most acute in the technology arena, where many companies downsized dramatically in the downturn, and where survivors must now quickly ramp-up their promotional efforts to capture new business.

The candidates earning job offers today are seasoned executives who can point to a successful track record in the specific industry, Mr. Lee says. Results are what employers are looking for.

Regardless of the industry, the biggest need is for executives who have a combination of particularly good general marketing experience and a deep knowledge of market research.

While salaries vary widely depending on the industry, the size of the company and the candidate’s background, a vice president of marketing can command an average salary of $150,000 to $225,000, plus bonus.

Even with a brighter hiring picture, job candidates still need to brace themselves for a long interview processand a long lag time before they are offered a position, Lee notes. The entire process could stretch as long as four to six months.