Few fields can match the range of career
opportunities found in marketing.
Entry-level jobs and advancement
opportunities exist in advertising, brand
and product management, customer service,
marketing research, logistics/supply chain
management, public relations, retail
management, sales management, purchasing
management, and visual merchandising, to
name just a few. You can also choose to
pursue these jobs with consumer or
industrial firms that serve local, national,
or international markets. You might begin
your career interacting directly with an
organization’s customers by building valued
partnerships. Subsequent positions broaden
your skills in other areas of marketing,
such as leading the efforts of a marketing
team, or developing specific product or
geographic market areas.
Along the way, you will acquire the
ability to solve complex problems using
creativity, quantitative analysis, and a
keen understanding of buyer decision making.
Skills such as working with others,
communicating effectively, solving problems
using creative and analytical thinking,
along with traits such as initiative and a
desire to attain personal and organizational
goals are valuable in most marketing jobs.
Where can I
learn more about marketing that would
help me decide if I want to pursue it
further?
You can consult such publications
(available in most libraries, as well as
online) as
Marketing News, Advertising Age, Fortune,
Business Week,
and the
Wall Street Journal.
In addition to interesting articles, these
publications contain advertisements for
numerous marketing positions which will give
you a good idea of the range of jobs
available.
Another excellent way to learn more
about the field is to enroll in a Principles
of Marketing course. Material in this class
covers all the areas of marketing, and you
do not need any other business courses to
enroll. Marketing professors are also
available to talk with you at any time about
your career interests, or to answer any
questions you might have about the marketing
major. Finally, people working in marketing
jobs can give you insightful information
regarding the dynamics of marketing.
Success in graduate programs is
determined by a desire to learn, a strong
work ethic, effective communication skills,
and determination. Marketing students
develop these skills and many others in
their college courses. After working three
to five years, many marketing students
return to graduate school to pursue degrees
such as the Master of Business
Administration or a graduate degree in
another field of study.
The possible entry level marketing
positions are numerous, including such
positions as Sales Representative,
Advertising Assistant, Public Relations
Assistant, Retail Manager, Purchasing Agent,
Research Analyst,
Distribution/Transportation Manager,
Logistics Manager, Marketing
Assistant/Coordinator, Account
Representative, Media Planner, Business
Development Associate, Buyer/Merchandiser,
Product Manager, Internet Marketing
Specialist, Consultant.
Success in these initial positions
typically results in advancement and
promotion within one or two years to
positions with increasing responsibility.
Marketing positions by nature tend to be
high profile within an organization, and
people who have the ability to produce
consistent results experience accelerated
promotions.
Higher than average job growth over the
next ten years. Projections indicate that
the number of marketing jobs will continue
to lead all other occupations through the
year 2015.
