"Golden year" for marketing recruitment hailed

Graduates are beginning to return to marketing jobs after some years of a skills shortage in the sector, an expert has suggested.

Scott Knox, managing director of the Marketing Communication Consultants Association, described in Marketing Week how recruitment has changed.

Recently, salaries in marketing have risen, he explained, citing figures from the most recent MCCA Salary and Benefits survey - which place average graduate earnings at £21,000.

Evaluation of graduates after being hired has also evolved, according to Mr Knox.

"Marketers understand that they must offer clearly defined careers, structured training programmes and thorough appraisal systems on a continuing basis," he said.

"As surveys have consistently shown, by providing a stimulating work environment while simultaneously giving an individual the opportunity to add value to that environment, employee retention noticeably improved."

The Direct Marketing Association recently stated that the field is going through a "dynamic time".