Phil W.
About me
| Phil W. | |
| History | |
| History | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Alcuin | |
| 1983 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Account Manager | |
| Nielsen | |
| United Kingdom | |
| 1983 | |
| 1986 |
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A day in the life of a Account Manager in the United Kingdom
My career history
2006 2014 NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care; Director of Marketing and Communications
2001 2006 Learndirect Ltd; Director of Marketing,Research & Communications
1999 2001 Mars Europe; Head of European Marketing & Market Development
1995 1999 First Alert Europe Ltd; European Sales & Marketing Director
1989 1995 Del Monte Foods International Ltd; Marketing Director – Northern Europe
1986 1989 Pfizer Inc; Product Manager
1983 1986 Nielsen Market Research; Account Manager
Where I hope to be in 5 years
Have had a positive career I am increasingly interested in roles that use skills, do some good and are of personal interest and challenge.
My advice to students considering work
1. Do something relevant to the area that you believe you are interested in eg JCR, SU, writing, URY etc
2. Try and get contacts/mentor in the areas you're interested in. Take advantage of opportunities for mentorship or even short term internships;use familial or friend connections (even new friends at York)
3. If you don't know, try and get a 'job' before necessarily just launching into a graduate scheme.
For this sector: Find out what interests you - marketing is still a vast area - you could specialise in market research, organising events, new media through to PR.
My advice about working in my industry
Do stuff at Uni that has obvious connections to this area- JCR, writing, societies etc.
Take advantage of opportunities for mentorship or even short term internships;use familial or friend connections (even new friends at York)
Find out what interests you-marketing is still a vast area- you could specialise in market research, organising events, new media through to PR
What I do
All roles involved marketing and communications of various products and services and covered managing major £m budgets and international teams to deliver multi-channel promotional activities; events, advertising, digital, direct marketing and tailored materials for different countries. Substantial branding and agency management, such as ‘Man from Del Monte’ advertising, integrated campaigns for Mars, and media relations to promote brand benefits.
Obviously this didn't start right away and was a gradual progression of learnt skills and responsibilities over time.
Skills I use and how I developed them
Extracurricular skills:
Initially a lot were those acquired on the degree course; ability to analyse, present succinctly, discern important from less so. Market research skills were formally taught in my first role and other skills from direct work with clients. In the marketing roles essentially it was worked based on ascending levels of responsibility and ability to a) learn and demonstrate this b) show results c) do so enrolling wide support.
What I like most
You cover market understanding and customer behaviour in many different customer areas and indeed geographies.
Marketing, advertising etc. is creatively interesting and you can- and should- see results. It does lead to broader involvement- organisational change, setting up new bodies and can allow (as I did) movement around public and private sector.
What I like least
Whilst all roles operate in 'political' environments to a certain extent the 'marketing' world can be inhabited by annoying egos interested in their own promotion... but you might be one so..
Next steps...
If you like the look of Phil’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Phil a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Phil to be your mentor.