When to Hire a Vice President of Marketing
Knowing when to hire a VP of Marketing is a critical decision for any business owner. It’s important to recognize how significant an affect this position will have on your company both in terms of your culture and the method of management. A VP of Marketing will be essential in crafting a brand for your company, keeping you relevant, and making sure people know who you are and what you do. Having this person in office will free up potentially your owner, and other higher ups, to focus on more big picture matters. Here’s what you need to know about when to hire a VP of Marketing.
1. Set Your Requirements
Does your company need a VP of Marketing who can be the rock star engine of your marketing department, or do you need someone who can be more of a leader to an already established team These will naturally require two different types of hires, and going in the wrong direction can have adverse affects on the results you want. Before you even begin putting out job postings you’re going to need to know exactly what you want. If your company isn’t in a firm enough place that you can sketch together a blueprint for your VP’s responsibilities, you’re likely too young to take one on, and that’s fine. Always hire with a plan.
2. Be Prepared
After you’ve assessed your need for a VP of Marketing, it’s time to start looking. It’s crucial to approach the first step as soon as possible. That’s because while you want to make sure you know what you need in a VP of Marketing, you don’t want to rush through the actual hiring process. This position will serve a tremendous guiding role in your company’s development, and it’s important that you find someone who suits your objectives and will follow the plan through until its end. Ideally that means starting the hiring process as much as a year in advance, but you can’t always predict the growth of your company, so plant the seeds as soon as you know what you have in mind for the position.
3. Transition is Coming
Hiring a VP of Marketing is a big transition for most businesses, and you can expect there to be an adjustment period both for the staff you already have in place and for the new hire. You’ll want to take the time to make sure the process is as smooth as possible. Fortunately, if you’ve planned your hiring process with enough of a lead time, you should have enough room to put a proper orientation process into place. By the time they’re ready to step through the door, you should have a work station and a plan of action in place for them. It can also be beneficial to set up a meet and greet before the official first day so they can get to know who they will be working with and get situated in the culture.
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