Whether you have just graduated from university, or if you already have years of experience, probably the doubt between working in a marketing consultancy or directly in the marketing department of a brand or exclusive company, accompanies you in your day to day and in search of better job opportunities.
In this case, as in many others, it could be said that there is nothing better or worse, it simply depends on the circumstances and what you are looking for personally and professionally. Therefore, we are going to see the pros and cons between working in a marketing department of a large company or in a consultancy specializing in the same subject. Take note!
Work at a marketing consultancy
- It allows you to get a wide experience and much faster.
- The variety of clients and projects that you will have to work with at the same time will allow you not only to learn a lot but also not to get bored at all. You will be able to play the most diverse topics, some will excite you and others you will end up hating with all your might.
- Possibility of rapid promotions. There is usually more growth and job turnover.
- As a result, there are usually more salary increases.
- Fast paced, even frantic. Peaks of work to satisfy customers, jobs for yesterday and this type of disorganized organization is very common in this type of company.
- You do not always have access to the global dashboard of customer data, which would allow you to really see the effects and results of the work.
- Qualities can be improved and polished thanks to what other colleagues in the same position, superiors, and even inferiors, can contribute to you.
- By working in a marketing consultancy, you will do it directly with big brands and professionals. If you are a good professional, it will be easy for you to establish a good relationship and get job opportunities in these companies/clients.
- Other facets related to the world of sales and commerce are learned, such as making presentations,
public speaking, creating budgets, team management, establishing timings, etc. - The work is usually done with a lot of pressure on billed hours. Productivity is essential.
- Budgets and resources are limited by the client, so we will rarely be able to get a bonus for very good ideas that we can come up with.
- Strong emphasis on tactical aspects and the production of various materials. Although in this type of company you usually collaborate with other production, design, web development companies… it is also possible that you have to “find your life”
For projects with a very limited budget.
Work in a marketing department
- Work tends to be more monotonous by focusing on a single brand, company, product and industry.
- Promotion opportunities are often more limited because positions tend to be tenured for many years, which also makes salary upgrades impossible.
- Slower pace of work, allowing for better learning but a deeper experience.
- There is more first-hand information about objectives, ideas, results… which significantly improves our strategic possibilities and success.
- The team of marketing specialists is usually smaller, so it is important to be multitask and self-sufficient. You won’t learn as much from your peers.
- Always dedicating ourselves to the same company allows us to be much more focused on the subject and sector, but we also run the risk of getting bored.
- The pressures on work and its results are usually less. More long-term goals are expected.
- Usually more resources are available, or it is easier to get them by raising it properly.
- Salaries are usually higher than those of a consultant, although it all depends (obviously) on the position to be filled.
In recent times we have seen many interns as marketing managers of companies with disastrous salaries. - The work can be more strategic and any approach or idea can be more easily transmitted to management for its assessment and implementation.
Now that you know what the advantages and disadvantages of each position are, which one do you prefer? Would you like to work in a marketing consultancy or would you prefer to work in a marketing department of a large company? From my point of view, large marketing consultancies are the ideal place to learn and advance, but its frenetic pace has a limit, so, when you reach an age or moment in life when you want to do something more in your day to day than work, you probably consider looking for a job in the marketing department of a large company . But this is nothing more than a personal opinion, since just as there are consultants with frenetic rhythms, there are companies with frenetic rhythms, as well as consultants with a much more relaxed environment to be able to reconcile with your personal life.
And if you finally decide to become a marketing consultant, do not hesitate to read our post on: 13 requirements to be a marketing consultant that you must meet