“Your Career Advisor” is responding this week to:

• What does a Marketing Coordinator do? (g)
• When should I start applying for a job? (b)
• What salary should I expect in relation to this new offer? (c)

All reasonable questions related to careers, skill development or employment related issues – sent to advisor@skill-link.com - would be addressed in this section every week.

Q1: What does a Marketing Coordinator do?

Could you please provide me with a detailed job description of a Marketing Coordinator?

Specially for the case of an advertising agency and in the case of in an international hotel management company.

A. B. (Cairo)

Replying:

Dear Miss. B.

From the title, it is obvious that the position is involved in marketing. However, please not that "coordinator" is a reflection of an organizational title, same as officer, assistant manager, supervisor etc… these differ from on company to the other. In other words there is no standard job description for a Marketing Coordinator that all companies or organizations would follow. Having said that, "Marketing Coordinator" in many places is the title given to somebody entry level or with little experience, when he/she works in the marketing function. Therefore the job holder is expected to be working on several marketing tasks… which one ? it is difficult to tell, since responsibilities may be assigned differently from one company to the other… in some cases the Marketing Coordinator will be in charge of:

· maintaining the marketing mailing list,
· build a database of useful contacts / potential clients
· sending out fliers and brochures
· helping in exhibits and booths in fairs / conferences
· collecting information on competitors (prices, offers, etc…)
· respond to telephone inquiries from potential clients
etc…

In some other cases, the Marketing Coordinator may be undertaking some of the following:

• coordinate with advertising agencies the production of brochures and ads
• scheduling with various media companies (newspapers, magazines, TV stations etc…) the display of ads
• draft releases and media communication material
  etc…

So while we did not provide you with a specific answer, you can consider the above to be the key elements of the requested job description. The generic duties would not differ much from a hotel to a bank or any other company.

You should also be aware that some companies, assign to their marketing staff tasks that are not really "marketing"… but it is often confused with it, these would include preparing proposals, quotations / offers, soliciting clients etc.. these are really sales jobs. You will find out in interviews if the job includes any of these or not.

We hope the above was of some use to you.
Good Luck

Q2: When should I start applying for a job?

I graduated in June 2002 from Cairo University's Faculty of Commerce (English section). I would like to submit my CV to a number of banks' Human Resources Departments; however I am not sure when I should do that ? Nowadays or should I wait until the new year (in other words December or January)?

D. A. (Egypt)

Replying:

Dear Miss. A.

The answer to your question is: NOW !

Why wait ? there is no formal recruitment season at most of the organizations in Egypt, therefore the timing is not an issue, since they will either have a vacancy, or most probably keep it on file until a matching one arises.

It is unfortunate however, that most organizations do not have a good tracking system for all the CVs they have on file, specially for junior professionals. Hence come the benefit of online recruitment services, such as skill-link.com, where there is an online, searchable and indexed database at the finger tips of recruiters and human resources managers.

We hope the above was of some use to you.
Good Luck

Q3: What salary should I expect in relation to this new offer?

I graduated from Mansoura University with a B.Sc in Science - Chemistry over fifteen years ago. Since then, I worked for a number of multinational and joint venture FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) and food companies. I mainly held R&D (research and development) and Quality Control positions. Currently I am a manager in one of the large food companies, with more than 20 employees reporting to me.

I am experienced in the implementation of international standards and requirements for Q.A. systems, ISO 9000 application, Q.C. & statistical techniques as well as Q.C. instrumental analysis. Additionally, I am well-versed in applying Food Safety & Hygiene Standards, Food Quality systems, food process compliance and auditing.

I am currently being offered a job in a medium sized joint venture food company (with a very well known brand name), to be in charge of R&D and Quality, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, what salary should I expect ?

A. M. (Egypt)

Replying:

Dear Mr. M.

For someone with your experience, and a successful career that has progressed over the years within the same function (Quality and R&D) while working for good companies in related industries (Food & FMCG); you should expect your gross annual salary to be in the range of LE 180,000. Most likely you will also be entitled to a performance related bonus.

We hope the above was of some use to you.
Good Luck

Note from the editor: 
Employer names and inquiry sender names were withheld for confidentiality

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