You’re looking to break into partnerships. What are the most common career paths?

1 What are partnerships?

Partnerships are strategic relationships between two or more entities that share a common goal and collaborate to achieve it. Partnerships can take many forms, such as co-marketing, co-selling, co-development, licensing, distribution, or referral. Depending on the type and scope of the partnership, the benefits can include increased revenue, brand awareness, customer loyalty, innovation, or market access.

2 Why are partnerships important?

Partnerships are important because they can help you overcome challenges and seize opportunities that you couldn't do alone. For example, partnerships can help you reach new audiences, diversify your products, enhance your value proposition, reduce costs, or access new resources. Partnerships can also help you build trust and credibility with your customers, partners, and stakeholders, as well as create a competitive advantage in your industry.

3 What skills do you need for partnerships?

Partnerships require a combination of hard and soft skills to be successful. For instance, business acumen is needed to understand the value proposition and goals of both parties, while market research is essential for assessing the compatibility and potential of the partnership. Contract drafting is also important for creating partnership agreements, while project management is necessary for coordinating activities and monitoring progress. As for soft skills, communication is key for speaking to partners and internal stakeholders, while relationship building helps to build trust. Creativity is also important for coming up with win-win solutions, and adaptability ensures that you can adjust your strategy when needed.

4 What qualifications do you need for partnerships?

Breaking into partnerships requires different qualifications depending on the role and industry. Generally, a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field can provide a good foundation of the concepts and principles of partnerships. However, some employers may prioritize experience over education or accept alternative credentials. Having experience in a partnership-related role, such as sales, marketing, business development, or account management can demonstrate your ability to build and manage relationships. You can also create a portfolio of your past or current partnerships to showcase your experience. Networking is also important for finding and accessing partnership opportunities. You can network by attending events, joining communities, reaching out to mentors, or engaging on social media.

5 What are the most common career paths for partnerships?

Partnerships offer a variety of career paths depending on interests, goals, and skills. A Partnership Manager manages and grows existing partnerships, as well as creates new ones. They serve as the main point of contact between the partner and internal teams, and are responsible for overseeing the partnership activities such as marketing, sales, or product development. A Partnership Director sets and leads the partnership strategy and vision for the organization, and oversees and supports the partnership managers and teams. They also evaluate and optimize the partnership processes, systems, and tools. Lastly, a Partnership Specialist provides technical and operational support to the partnership managers and teams, as well as partners. They work on specific aspects or functions of the partnership such as research, analysis, contract drafting, project management, reporting, or troubleshooting.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?