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Job outlook for category managers, marketing in the United States
Are category manager, marketing jobs in demand?
Category manager, marketing job and salary trends over time
Category manager, marketing jobs over time
Category manager, marketing job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,468 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,363 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,281 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,992 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,725 | 0.00% |
Average category manager, marketing salary over time
Category manager, marketing salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $104,562 | $50.27 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $100,649 | $48.39 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $98,766 | $47.48 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $97,251 | $46.76 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $96,479 | $46.38 | +1.9% |
Category manager, marketing jobs by state
Most common states for category managers, marketing
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 324 | 47% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 303 | 29% |
| 3 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 834 | 27% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,723 | 23% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,476 | 22% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 293 | 22% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 226 | 22% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,037 | 19% |
| 9 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 797 | 19% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,645 | 18% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 990 | 18% |
| 12 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 661 | 18% |
| 13 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 144 | 17% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 106 | 17% |
| 15 | California | 39,536,653 | 6,419 | 16% |
| 16 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,642 | 16% |
| 17 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,374 | 16% |
| 18 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 120 | 16% |
| 19 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 93 | 16% |
| 20 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,913 | 15% |
Most common cities for category managers, marketing
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Rapids | 1 | 1% | $92,762 |
| 2 | Greeley | 1 | 1% | $82,243 |
| 3 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $105,712 |
| 4 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $95,036 |
| 5 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $87,627 |
| 6 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $118,802 |
| 7 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $93,154 |
| 8 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $119,074 |
| 9 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $93,222 |
| 10 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $116,058 |
| 11 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $132,907 |
| 12 | Tampa | 1 | 0% | $94,597 |
Category Manager, Marketing job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of category manager, marketing experts
City University of Seattle
North Dakota State University
Siena College
Siena College
Siena College
University of Scranton
University of Houston - Downtown
Nichols College
American Public Power Association
Hartwick College
Manhattan College
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
State University of New York at Potsdam
Arizona State University
Hamilton College
Rutgers University
University of Oregon
What general advice would you give to a Category Manager, Marketing?
Rich Johnson: Most job titles have a similar salary. Sometimes the salary is better in urban spaces where the cost of living is higher as well. Before I would assess salary, I would look at the cost of living and your monthly budget to build your personal requirements. You usually need to begin work in a starting salary position, but that doesn't mean that you need to stay there for long. When you get into a role, go all in. Master everything that is asked of you and start providing ideas to solve problems. Your value isn't just your ability to complete a task, it is your ability to provide value and creative solutions. Make sure that you retain credit for your contributions and stay positive. Building value in your role is key for job security and growth. Another part of the ladder of salary growth is self advocating for raises and knowing when you have hit the ceiling in your present position. If you do hit a plateau, the options are to pursue a new role or consider taking your skills to another business. One of the most effective growth tools that I have had in my career has been through freelance. If you have the bandwidth, consider taking on some freelance work. This will build skills and new connections that can lead to your next opportunity.
What will help Category Managers, Marketing increase their earning potential?
Rich Johnson: Digital media covers a lot of mediums and requires many skill sets (print, static online, animation, interactive). The print arm is a lesser component although still valuable in the scope of marketing. Smartphones, tablets and gaming have moved a lot of digital into a customer expectation of interactive and customizable content. The present model of career specialization in a certain aspect of this spectrum of skills is changing. The age of the generalist is becoming more of a reality as design tools are becoming more accessible and A.I. is assisting in the more complex tasks. I would say that someone working in digital media will need to focus more on the big picture of design, predicting trends and developing solutions from a point of view with perspective. It will be even more important to understand the needs of a system from the top down and provide solutions that enhance that system. This might be through partnering with marketing and sales to conceptualize solutions, pitching product ideas and other functions related to creative and art direction. And be curious, all of the time. Keep up to date with everything that is happening. Take classes, watch tutorials, read articles and be obsessed with the breakneck rate of change. Digital media is constantly changing and possibilities are always expanding. It can be near impossible to be a master of all of these trajectories, but you can understand them well enough to bring in a specialist when the challenge requires it. This is where I predict that A.I. will be a major paradigm shift. There will be a time when you will ask the system to solve a problem, and you can choose what parts of the process that you want to control. So to boil it down... Develop a well rounded set of skills Further develop specialist level skills where you excel Keep on top of change and keep a thirst for learning Strengthen your connection to problem solving and creative innovation Keep an eye on the future predicting what might be around the bend
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD
Assistant Professor of MarketingWhat will help Category Managers, Marketing increase their earning potential?
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD: A marketing manager is often responsible for planning and implementing a marketing plan. What this marketing plan encompasses can vary, as marketing involves many different things such as branding, product development, sales, advertising, digital and social media, and retailing.
What general advice would you give to a Category Manager, Marketing?
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD: The ever-changing landscape of consumer trends and technological advancements in how to market to consumers often makes the job exciting and fast-paced. However, with the increased emphasis on results, marketers must be conscious of how to measure and demonstrate the value of their work.
What Category Manager, Marketing skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD: Brands across many product categories are facing an increasing level of competition. Brands may struggle with rising brand parity, where brands and their competitors are seen as similar to one another. Therefore, to stand out from competitors, it has become increasingly important for brands to have marketing managers that create value for consumers and communicate that value to consumers.
What general advice would you give to a Category Manager, Marketing?
Ajay Abraham Ph. D.: Earning a fair salary is important, although what exactly is fair might vary based on individual perceptions. More important, think of a job as offering a combination of financial and other non-monetary benefits such as perks (e.g., work culture, work-life balance, self-fulfillment, good colleagues, networking). Try to optimize your benefits across this multi-dimensional perspective rather than by simply focusing on salary. That stated, some job opportunities have scope for negotiation on salary. First, identify if the job that you are applying for has scope for negotiation, in which case, there's no harm in negotiating if done ethically, professionally, and reasonably. If the job is not one in which there's scope for negotiation, don't worry. Instead, focus on performance and making a case for yourself at the time of annual evaluations and/or salary hikes (which should be done even if there were salary negotiations before joining). Similar suggestions apply if you are thinking of switching roles/organizations.
What Category Manager, Marketing skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ajay Abraham Ph. D.: Everyone is talking about AI these days, so I will start off by joining the bandwagon, but with some nuance. It's important to know how to use artificial intelligence tools in order to be better or more effective at one's job. This doesn't mean that everyone needs to become an AI expert, but that we should be able to harness the power of AI tools to improve the quality and efficiency of our work. This requires being fluent enough with AI tools to understand, discuss, and make decisions involving AI or about AI output (even if we don't actually use those tools in a hands-on manner). This should be done while also being able to bridge the gap for those who are less fluent (perhaps those in more senior-level roles who are even less hands-on with these tools). That apart, as more of the workforce focuses more of their time on technical and similar skills, "softer" skills such as integrity, professionalism, self-awareness, and team-orientation will become even more important as differentiators.
What will help Category Managers, Marketing increase their earning potential?
Ajay Abraham Ph. D.: Earning a fair salary is important, although what exactly is fair might vary based on individual perceptions. More important, think of a job as offering a combination of financial and other non-monetary benefits such as perks (e.g., work culture, work-life balance, self-fulfillment, good colleagues, networking). Try to optimize your benefits across this multi-dimensional perspective rather than by simply focusing on salary. That stated, some job opportunities have scope for negotiation on salary. First, identify if the job that you are applying for has scope for negotiation, in which case, there’s no harm in negotiating if done ethically, professionally, and reasonably. If the job is not one in which there’s scope for negotiation, don’t worry. Instead, focus on performance and making a case for yourself at the time of annual evaluations and/or salary hikes (which should be done even if there were salary negotiations before joining). Similar suggestions apply if you are thinking of switching roles/organizations.
What general advice would you give to a Category Manager, Marketing?
Jennifer D'Angelo Ph.D.: Brands across many product categories are facing an increasing level of competition. Brands may struggle with rising brand parity, where brands and their competitors are seen as similar to one another. Therefore, to stand out from competitors, it has become increasingly important for brands to have marketing managers that create value for consumers and communicate that value to consumers.
What Category Manager, Marketing skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jennifer D'Angelo Ph.D.: The ever-changing landscape of consumer trends and technological advancements in how to market to consumers often makes the job exciting and fast-paced. However, with the increased emphasis on results, marketers must be conscious of how to measure and demonstrate the value of their work.
What will help Category Managers, Marketing increase their earning potential?
Jennifer D'Angelo Ph.D.: Brands across many product categories are facing an increasing level of competition. Brands may struggle with rising brand parity, where brands and their competitors are seen as similar to one another. Therefore, to stand out from competitors, it has become increasingly important for brands to have marketing managers that create value for consumers and communicate that value to consumers.
Ahmad Asady
Assistant Professor of Management Faculty Scholar, Challey Institute for Global Innovation and GrowthNorth Dakota State University
Marketing
What general advice would you give to a Category Manager, Marketing?
Ahmad Asady: The role of a Marketing professional is as rewarding as it is demanding. On one hand, it offers the chance to unleash creativity, see the direct impact of your work, and enjoy a variety of experiences across different projects and industries. On the other hand, it comes with its fair share of challenges, such as the pressure to perform under tight deadlines and budgets, the constant need to stay ahead in a fast-evolving field, and the stress of quantifying the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Despite these challenges, the role remains appealing for those drawn to a career that demands both strategic thinking and creative innovation, underscored by the powerful tool of persuasion to shape consumer behavior and drive business success.
What Category Manager, Marketing skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ahmad Asady: Now is an exciting time to enter the field of marketing. The digital age has transformed how brands connect with consumers, opening up a plethora of channels and tools for innovative engagement strategies. This digital expansion, coupled with the shift towards a more consumer-centric marketing approach, has made the role of a Marketing professional more crucial and impactful than ever. Professionals in this field enjoy the privilege of working at the intersection of creativity and analytics, where they can make significant contributions to a brand's growth and adapt to new challenges and technologies, ensuring a career that is both stable and filled with opportunities for continuous learning.
What will help Category Managers, Marketing increase their earning potential?
Ahmad Asady: A Marketing professional's day is a blend of art and science, filled with the pursuit of understanding and engaging the target audience. Their daily activities revolve around creating and managing content that resonates with consumers, conducting market research to stay ahead of trends, analyzing data to refine strategies, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure a unified brand message. Persuasion lies at the heart of their role, as they must continuously convince both internal stakeholders and external audiences of the value and relevance of their brand's offerings.
S.Sinem Atakan
Assistant Professor of MarketingSiena College
Marketing Department
What skills will help Category Managers, Marketing earn the most?
S.Sinem Atakan: The most important skills for marketing graduates, especially given the remote working conditions due to the pandemic, are self-motivation, communication, and digital marketing skills. Creativity and analytical skills are always important in marketing, but pandemic has highlighted the importance of being able to work independently and motivate yourself even when external forces are not directly present. Communication skills are crucial to work remotely and be on the same page with your team members. Digital marketing was big but getting even bigger with this breakthrough changes in consumer behavior. Hence, the rising stars of the marketing job market will be graduates who can combine all these skills seamlessly
Soyoung Joo
Assistant Professor of MarketingSiena College
Marketing Department
What skills stand out on Category Manager, Marketing resumes?
Soyoung Joo: Communication and time management skills are valuable skills for marketing managers.
What soft skills should all Category Managers, Marketing possess?
Soyoung Joo: Creativity and intellectual curiosity (willingness to keep learning) can be added to the above soft skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Category Managers, Marketing?
Soyoung Joo: Being able to interpret the consumer data and identify the true needs and wants of the consumer is imperative for marketers.
What skills will help Category Managers, Marketing earn the most?
Soyoung Joo: Being able to work well with people from diverse backgrounds can be added to the above skills.
Allison Lauenstein
Teaching Instructor of MarketingSiena College
Marketing Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Category Managers, Marketing?
Allison Lauenstein: Project Management and being able to connect the dots around the data and insights are critical. You have to analyze a situation and uncover insights from the customer, the competitors, and the industry.
What skills will help Category Managers, Marketing earn the most?
Allison Lauenstein: Leadership and collaboration will go a long way. The best ideas can come from anywhere, and it's not always about who has the best idea but who can execute the idea the best. Good marketers must understand that if you cannot successfully execute or effectively communicate a great idea, it may not be so great.
What skills stand out on Category Manager, Marketing resumes?
Allison Lauenstein: Skills that stand out show that the candidate has had some experience leading projects and project teams. Marketing is a collaborative effort, and it is critically important for upcoming managers to understand how to manage and motivate a team to achieve its objectives.
What soft skills should all Category Managers, Marketing possess?
Allison Lauenstein: Listening and asking questions are some of the most important skills. As Marketers, you not only have to listen to what people say, but you have to try to understand what they are not saying. How do their actions differ from what they are saying?
Abhijit Roy
Professor of MarketingUniversity of Scranton
School of Management
What skills stand out on Category Manager, Marketing resumes?
Abhijit Roy: In general, companies will look to see whether or not the candidate can overall market the company's products. Given the depth and breadth of marketing jobs, the specific skill requirements will vary. For example, a sales manager position will require individuals with high interpersonal skills, advertising positions will look for individuals with creativity, while marketing research positions will demand strong analytical skills. Overall, most companies today are looking for individuals with strong digital marketing and social media skills.
Job market candidates must look for the job descriptions in the ads and ensure they have relevant matching skills that they can include in their resumes.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Category Managers, Marketing?
Abhijit Roy: The Marketing field has undergone a major paradigmatic shift with the growth of digitization. Hence, hard/technical skills in performing data-driven marketing, social media and data analytics, data visualization, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)/Search Engine Marketing (SEM), content creation and storytelling, and omnichannel communication are critical hard skills that are in great demand today.
What skills will help Category Managers, Marketing earn the most?
Abhijit Roy: The above skills are in high demand and also currently pay the most. Still, I strongly recommend that students focus not on skills that will help them earn the most but on the skill sets that each individual possesses and think of how they can best leverage that in the marketplace to have a long sustained, and enjoyable career.
What soft skills should all Category Managers, Marketing possess?
Abhijit Roy: These are very important, yet harder to quantify skills, not only for marketing professionals but for business graduates in general. They include the ability to make sound decisions under pressure, having a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) as embodied by having empathy towards coworkers and subordinates, delegating appropriately, mentoring, communicating, time management, maintaining positivity despite setbacks and adapting to unforeseen challenges, being flexible, being persuasive and assertive at appropriate moments, yet being collaborative, seeking feedback, and the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts when needed, amongst others.
Soft skills are typically more instrumental in enabling candidates to fit into an organization's culture and be strong candidates for promotion. Most marketing jobs involve candidates representing their brand initiatives and building strong client relationships, so interpersonal, and other soft skills are often valued more than hard skills. The strongest case for having excellent soft skills is that they are more easily transferable across various jobs and industries.
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Houston - Downtown
Marilyn Davies College of Business
What skills stand out on Category Manager, Marketing resumes?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: Showcasing the balance between people management and analytical skills. Marketing today relies on a substantial amount of data, which requires marketing managers to possess strong analytical skills. At the same time, leaders have to motivate, inspire, and guide employees. In the last 3-5 years, I have seen a greater emphasis on analytical skills.
What soft skills should all Category Managers, Marketing possess?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: Leaders need to lead. A leader who is curious, vulnerable, transparent, and inclusive generally has better success. The challenge is to teach leaders to be authentically curious. That is a big challenge in leadership.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Category Managers, Marketing?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: First, understand A/B experiments. Marketers are consistently comparing different campaigns, and the ability to create thoughtful experiments is critical.
Second, go beyond averages and percentages and learn linear and logistic regression and more advanced analytical tools. The exposure to more complex analytics allows for more thoughtful outcomes and interpretation.
Third, be exposed to a programming language like R or Python. Not that you are going to code, but it allows you to speak the language of data.
What skills will help Category Managers, Marketing earn the most?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: It's a combination of skills, plus the patience to build those skills. Great people and leadership skills always seem to trump most other variables. I would encourage individuals to invest in their leadership skills and consider partnering with a leadership coach.
Jean Beaupré
Associate Professor of Communication and Marketing, Communication B.A. Program ChairNichols College
Department of Communication
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Category Managers, Marketing to find work opportunities?
Jean Beaupré: Given the current status of remote work, we can expect that hiring agents may cast a wider net when recruiting in the coming years. As a result, new graduates should not limit themselves to their immediate geographic area. Instead, they would be well served to research industries that are predicted to grow, such as healthcare and technology. Flexibility and openness are essential in job hunting as well; often, opportunities can be found in positions, companies, or fields that new graduates overlook, based on preconceived notions.
How do you envision technology impacting Category Managers, Marketing in the next 5 years?
Jean Beaupré: A generation ago, you could count the methods for communicating at work on one hand. Today, we have email, social media, video conferencing, texting, direct messaging, intranets, and more. These options are likely to expand in the future, as technology companies compete to meet professional, communicative needs. In my view, a significant challenge for those working in communication will be to maintain focus on the basic principles such as understanding your audience and not to assume that new technology will make communication simple. On the flip side, technology has facilitated ample data availability, so the opportunity exists to showcase communication as a vital contributor to business outcomes further and reliably.
What type of skills will young Category Managers, Marketing need?
Jean Beaupré: If the events of 2020 have taught us anything, it is the importance of resilience and flexibility. New graduates will need to remain alert, curious, and ready for inevitable change. Communication skills like active listening, teamwork, and writing will never go out of style and are consistently valued by organizations of all sizes and industries. In light of increasing globalization and emphasis on gender and racial diversity, successful professionals will have high cultural intelligence (CQ), contributing to strong negotiation and interpersonal skills.
Business communication graduates will need to possess comfort with technology, including the ability to self-teach the new and proprietary applications they will indeed be expected to use. Finally, they should be prepared to support why communication initiatives are vital to business outcomes strategically. Effective communication practices have been connected to organizational innovation, efficiency, and profitability; communication professionals should have the capability to make that case using data and evidence.
Tobias Sellier
Senior DirectorAmerican Public Power Association
Media Relations & Communications
What general advice would you give to a Category Manager, Marketing?
Tobias Sellier: There are exciting opportunities to work for community-owned, not-for-profit, hometown public power. From engineers and customer service representatives to lineworkers and administrative professionals, there are many opportunities. And utility employees, being essential workers, even during these challenging times, there are still many jobs that will need to be filled.
Pauline Stamp Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorHartwick College
Department of Business Administration and Accounting
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Category Managers, Marketing?
Pauline Stamp Ph.D.: Absolutely. Students have learned a variety of new skills and competencies, including adaptation, flexibility, software programs, zoom etiquette, patience, grace, self-reliance, self-care, concentration, and the art of Mindfulness. They have also had to grow up fast and learn some hard lessons without preparation, including lack of resources and money, illness, death, homelessness, food insecurities, depression, anxiety, fear, and isolation.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Category Managers, Marketing to find work opportunities?
Pauline Stamp Ph.D.: Yes. Online. "Online" is now a place.
How do you envision technology impacting Category Managers, Marketing in the next 5 years?
Pauline Stamp Ph.D.: The student/graduate that can seamlessly transition from F2F to C2C to written communication and skillfully be productive, regardless of the modality, will be in very high demand. Students/graduates need to be constantly learning new software and technology, and learning how to use these tools, skillfully, in every situation. Communication has always been the #1 driver of success, that will never change - the way it is conducted will always change.
How do you envision technology impacting Category Managers, Marketing in the next 5 years?
Arshia Anwer Ph.D.: Public relations, and marketing communication, in general, has been at the forefront of using technology developments - like the use of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, machine learning and use of databases to analyze big data, the addition of digital and social media channels in engaging publics, and leveraging globalization to reach increased audiences all over the world. Public relations practitioners are learning and using all of these new areas and tools in the course of their work. The industry is also evolving, with the emergence of smaller specialist agencies that provide expertise in a single tactical tool or service, like search engine optimization or data analytics.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Category Managers, Marketing?
Arshia Anwer Ph.D.: The coronavirus had a short, negative impact on the public relations industry as a whole, resulting in layoffs in the field and reduced spending on promotional activities by large corporations. However, during the end of summer and now in early fall, markets are looking more optimistic, and the economy is bouncing back, and with it, opportunities in the public relations field are looking brighter. Some of our alumni who lost their jobs in March or April have now found similar positions or have resumed the positions they were in before the pandemic. Similarly, some of the Manhattan College Communication Department's most recent graduates have already found positions in the public relations field.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Category Managers, Marketing to find work opportunities?
Arshia Anwer Ph.D.: New York is one of the best places to find work in the public relations industry, as it has main or branch offices of all the major global marketing communications conglomerates, and has a large variety of boutique agencies that cater to almost any niche area in the field. Job searching in New York also provides closer access to the Philadelphia and Trenton, NJ areas, which are two other popular places for finding jobs in the field. Other cities that are in the top places to find jobs are Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle on the west coast, Washington, D. C., and Boston on the east coast, with Austin, Atlanta, and Tennessee in the south emerging as popular areas where agencies are seeking to put their roots down.
John McGrath Ph.D.
Chair of Marketing Department, Associate Professor of MarketingUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Marketing Department
What type of skills will young Category Managers, Marketing need?
John McGrath Ph.D.: I believe we are at a significant turning point in the Marketing --and business-- fields. The students who will succeed will have three qualities that make them stand out. First, they will have to be self-starters in learning new skills and certifications and promoting themselves to prospective employers. Second, they will have to be resilient in the face of disrupting technological and social change. Finally, those who exhibit conscientiousness and understanding in their dealings with others will stand out with employers in this time where Zoom has distanced us from everyday human interactions.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Category Managers, Marketing to find work opportunities?
John McGrath Ph.D.: I believe new grads may buck the trend toward moving to the major cities for job opportunities for two reasons: fears that large cities' density may contribute to COVID-19 and future pandemics and the new capability to work remotely from anywhere. As a result, young people are actively searching for quality of life in smaller regional cities all over America.
How do you envision technology impacting Category Managers, Marketing in the next 5 years?
John McGrath Ph.D.: This is the largest disruptive event since the social, technological, and political upheavals of 1968. Technology, particularly the ability to work, learn, and contribute remotely, will change America in ways we may not even imagine right now.
How do you envision technology impacting Category Managers, Marketing in the next 5 years?
Sergio Lopez Ph.D.: Technology will require the ability to integrate ways of doing things. The key will be to "do it both," such as being able to interact in a face-to-face context as well as in online environments. If there is something that COVID has brought us, and that will surely remain after we go over it, it is the human capacity to adapt in new ways of interaction and communication.
What type of skills will young Category Managers, Marketing need?
Sergio Lopez Ph.D.: There are some skills that have not changed in the last few years (such as problem-solving, creativity, or analytical thinking), but in addition to that, they will need a great capacity to connect and move into the social networks while dealing with very diverse people. To communicate in a language different than English will be a key skill. This does not necessarily mean to be fluent in another language (Spanish, Chinese..), but to be able to use the technological tools to communicate with others.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Category Managers, Marketing to find work opportunities?
Sergio Lopez Ph.D.: More than geographical places, areas of work. Technology, for sure, is going to forget about locations.
How do you envision technology impacting Category Managers, Marketing in the next 5 years?
Dr. Donald Siegel: Technology will be used as a substitute for labor (computerization and artificial intelligence) and also enhance service quality and efficiency.
What type of skills will young Category Managers, Marketing need?
Dr. Donald Siegel: In our field, computer skills and proficiency with technology and data are in great demand (e.g., data analytics and engineering applications)
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Category Managers, Marketing to find work opportunities?
Dr. Donald Siegel: States and cities that are growing (e.g., Arizona, Texas, Colorado, and cities, such as Phoenix, San Antonio, Denver, Austin, and Atlanta).
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Category Managers, Marketing?
Jesse Weiner Ph.D.: There will almost certainly be an enduring impact on graduates, but exactly what that looks like, remains to be seen. Some industries, such as academia, may have many lean years ahead, but I expect that most industries will bounce back, and many will flourish. However, many industries may find themselves transformed, and working remotely (or partially remotely) may well become a new norm. The transferable skills with which classics majors graduate (analytic thinking, critical reading, and writing) prepare them well to succeed in a variety of professions and to adapt to an ever-changing workplace.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Category Managers, Marketing to find work opportunities?
Jesse Weiner Ph.D.: Assuming they do not pursue PhDs in the field, classics majors aren't trained for a particular industry or vocation. Instead, they use their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills to work as teachers, business leaders, museum curators, publishers, and bankers, and they succeed brilliantly in a wide array of other fields. Studies have shown that classics majors score higher on the LSAT than graduates in any other discipline. Recent students of mine have gone to become lawyers, business consultants, book editors, Latin teachers, managers of nonprofits, and entrepreneurs; others now work on Wall Street or have joined the Peace Corps. Some have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in fields ranging from creative writing to marine biology. The "hot spots" for any particular profession will, of course, vary, but, as we recover from the pandemic, I expect opportunities will abound around the country.
How do you envision technology impacting Category Managers, Marketing in the next 5 years?
Jesse Weiner Ph.D.: I suspect that no profession will remain untouched by technology in the near future. At a most basic level, teaching, learning, and working in a wide variety of professions will increasingly incorporate remote and online components. Projects in digital humanities have expanded the use of technology in classics classrooms, such that today's classics majors enter the job market with considerably more training with digital tools than their predecessors.
How do you envision technology impacting Category Managers, Marketing in the next 5 years?
Dr. Yuliya Strizhakova Ph.D.: First, as I stated earlier, employees will be expected to be able to work in the virtual world, navigate different digital tools, be self-motivated, and flexible. This is becoming a norm already now and will be more so in the future.
Second, more and more products will be integrated with technology and traditional tech products, such as clothing, shoes, accessories, learning tools, healthcare, the legal system, food, and name.
Third, technology - as we have already seen- makes us more "narrowly" targeted. It may be great for us when we see relevant ads to what we are searching for, but it is not great for news, politics, social justice, diversity. Tech companies will need to adjust and find a better balance between narrowcasting and providing a more balanced stream of information on these critical issues.
Fourth, more and more customers are getting used to ordering everything online, store pick-ups, home delivery. Traditional retailers and malls have been in trouble, even before the pandemic, but will look even more different in the next five years. Customer service will play even a big part in this space. Social media, online reviews, digital sharing of all formats will be evolving and changing.
Finally, research and analytics will probably be even more advanced and improved because of technology in the next five years.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Category Managers, Marketing?
Dr. Yuliya Strizhakova Ph.D.: There is an ongoing immediate impact on graduates as most businesses are not hiring and are in some form of a hiring freeze. The same applies even to internships. Others might have closed down or furloughed their employees, till they get more certainty about their future. As the pandemic eases - hopefully, sooner rather than later - consumers will start to slowly readjust to what we considered our "usual" pre-pandemic way of life.
However, it does not mean that all businesses will get back to where they were immediately. We have seen that already, with restaurants opening up but only getting 20-30% of their customers after reopening. However, the pandemic also opened up opportunities for many businesses - specifically, digital, mobile, and virtual companies.
Before the epidemic, I used to discuss the omnichannel retailing landscape with a continually increasing power of everything online. Now, the same concepts apply to numerous other disciplines. I also think companies that were hesitant about work from home for their employees were forced into this "work from home" experiment by the pandemic. Many of them have come to realize that their employees can work more productively and be happier if they do work from home.
They do not waste hours and energy on the commune; they sleep more; they exercise more; they spend more time with the family. Simultaneously, they can be more efficient with their tasks, get to work at flexible early or late hours, have productive meetings virtually without wasting resources on travel. I would expect that companies will be much more open to working from home, or more flexibility, even after the pandemic, as long as employees can do their work successfully.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Category Managers, Marketing to find work opportunities?
Dr. Yuliya Strizhakova Ph.D.: I would define places here as technological, virtual, mobile, or digital more broadly. Geographic spaces may be even less relevant now, than before the pandemic. In marketing, we have seen the majority of job opportunities in digital, social media, mobile marketing, and marketing analytics/research even more for the pandemic. Right now, those skills are even in greater demand. Opportunities in logistics and customer service have also increased due to a massive demand for online ordering but insufficient supply. Also, having a joint degree in marketing and science, technology, or healthcare would broaden opportunities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Category Managers, Marketing?
T. Bettina Cornwell: I think everyone, and especially those launching their careers during this pandemic, will be impacted. Importantly, these and other extreme events may well be a part of our future. New graduates will have experience with crisis planning, and this will support their future resilience.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Category Managers, Marketing to find work opportunities?
T. Bettina Cornwell: This pandemic has taught us that place will be less important in many careers. We have proven we can work from anywhere. The future place decision is likely near, but not in big, expensive cities.
How do you envision technology impacting Category Managers, Marketing in the next 5 years?
T. Bettina Cornwell: While everyone "kinda sorta" had an online presence, our experiences have elevated the importance of a meaningful online face. Technology providers, already advancing at a breakneck pace with AR, VR, IoT, AI, and streaming solutions, will up their game. Some people, brands, and companies in marketing were literally left in the dark, and most have learned from their experience. Thus, we can expect both supply-side and demand-side interest and investment in technology.