What is a strategist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Ahmad Asady

A strategist plans and executes long-term approaches to achieve goals. They analyze data, research market trends, and consider various factors to develop strategies that align with the overall mission. Strategists identify opportunities, assess risks, and make recommendations to improve performance, increase revenue, or reduce costs. They collaborate with other departments and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of plans. A strategist is a critical thinker and problem-solver who can anticipate and adapt to changing circumstances.

What general advice would you give to a Strategist?

A

Ahmad Asady

Assistant Professor of Management Faculty Scholar, Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth, North Dakota State University

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.
ScoreStrategistUS Average
Salary
7.7

Avg. Salary $104,881

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.5

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 8.15%

Black or African American 3.04%

Hispanic or Latino 8.67%

Unknown 5.32%

White 74.58%

Gender

female 45.55%

male 54.45%

Age - 38
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38
Stress Level
7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
9.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
3.5

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Strategist?

Pros

  • High level of autonomy and control over projects

  • Chance to shape and influence a company's direction

  • Potentially high salary and growth opportunities

  • Contributing to meaningful and impactful work

  • Opportunities for travel and networking

Cons

  • Long hours and tight deadlines

  • High pressure to deliver results

  • Facing resistance or pushback from clients or colleagues

  • Potential for burnout if workload is not managed properly

  • Difficulties in measuring the success of strategy work

Strategist career paths

Key steps to become a strategist

  1. Explore strategist education requirements

    Most common strategist degrees

    Bachelor's

    73.5 %

    Master's

    18.6 %

    Associate

    3.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific strategist skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Project Management11.57%
    Customer Satisfaction8.59%
    PowerPoint8.48%
    Portfolio5.61%
    Digital Marketing5.03%
  3. Complete relevant strategist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New strategists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a strategist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real strategist resumes.
  4. Research strategist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage change requests using CMS for corporate website.
    • Experience in managing online affiliate programs for e-commerce sites.
    • Plan Instagram launch, manage posts, and tracking success on the account.
    • Manage HubSpot activities, including blogs, email marketing, landing pages and CRM maintenance.
  5. Prepare your strategist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your strategist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a strategist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Strategist Resume templates

    Build a professional Strategist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Strategist resume.
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  6. Apply for strategist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a strategist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Strategist Job

Zippi

Are you a Strategist?

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Average strategist salary

The average Strategist salary in the United States is $104,881 per year or $50 per hour. Strategist salaries range between $62,000 and $176,000 per year.

Average Strategist Salary
$104,881 Yearly
$50.42 hourly

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How do strategists rate their job?

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Strategist reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Cons

Unreasonable deadlines.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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