Demand for good marketers grows, as well as top specialists’ wages. That is why an increasing number of people want to build marketing careers and ask what education is necessary to enter a profession. Or maybe the practical experience is a decisive factor and it is possible to become a successful specialist without academic preparation?
Well, work in this field needs a serious approach and comprehensive knowledge, so people with a diploma are more likely to have a rapid career start. College and university professors form a solid theoretical base, explain how to analyze customer demand, apply efficient advertising methods, make reasonable decisions and attract the maximum of potential buyers with minimum spending.
Degree holders can work in a variety of areas as all large companies use marketing strategies for conquering the market space, regardless of mission and specialization. That is why this educational sector is so popular and presented at associate, bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. levels. United by common marketing concepts, all majors pursue specific objectives in order to prepare students for performing different labor tasks.
A degree determines which position a novice specialist can occupy upon graduation. There are entry-level options providing general knowledge necessary for all business careers. The next educational stages presuppose profound research, mastering quantitative and behavioral marketing, focusing on management and leadership.
Steps to be taken to pursue marketing careers
Many experts invite you to take a closer look at what should be learned for reaching different development levels in marketing.
1. High school diploma
Even though most companies require new employees to have at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree, each specialist’s educational journey starts with school. Marks from a high school certificate play an important role when enrolling in colleges and universities with marketing majors.
Marketing is not studied as an independent discipline in most schools. But it is worth paying increased attention to Math and English to prepare for further education. Also, there may be some business courses for young startups, extracurricular clubs acquainting learners with economic concepts, the art of persuasion, developing creative thinking and expanding horizons. Attending such classes will definitely help to dip a toe into the marketing pool. Taking leadership roles at school (class monitor, sports team captain) can also create fertile soil for future progress.
2. Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s degree is a must-have for everyone who wants to occupy an entry-level position as a marketing specialist. Colleges and universities usually offer four-year courses. Marketing is often an element of business studies. Also, it is possible to find majors mainly focused on this discipline. When enrolling in an educational institution, a student should understand what work one wants to do in the future to choose an appropriate number of marketing hours in a curriculum.
3. Internship
After forming a theoretical base, you should acquire practical experience, work with real cases in some enterprise. It is great if your college or university will cooperate with partner companies attracting promising young specialists to their staff. It is a good incentive to study well, make a good impression on professors, receive positive recommendations and participate in an internship.
Be prepared for the fact that not all companies pay salary to interns. But do not rush to discard this option. You may be hired on a regular basis over some time or establish useful links with business partners of the firm where the internship takes place, send resumes to their HR managers. Networking may be of great use when building any career.
Most students juggle internships and education if studying at the correspondence department or working part-time. Also, there are post-graduate programs.
4. Work experience
The first entry-level job should consolidate practical skills formed during an internship. The difference is that an employee undertakes full responsibility for one’s actions, in contrast to interns who are usually controlled by superiors and rarely make independent decisions that may influence company’s welfare.
There are many specialists who have extensive theoretical knowledge but cannot apply it in practice. Even with the highest marks in a certificate, they find it difficult to build successful careers. Therefore, a labor background is decisive if a student wants to improve one’s qualifications, receive a graduate degree, occupy more prestigious workplaces with bright prospects and high salary.
Bachelors can work as marketing associates and analysts, collect data for market research, perform administrative tasks, assist specialists working at higher levels and learn from them.
Also read: Forging A Career Online As A Graduate
5. Graduate degree
The future educational path depends on specialist’s ambitions and career plans. A graduate degree is often needed if a person wants to reach a management position, for example, a vice president of sales or a chief marketing officer.
If working with real cases in some enterprise, it is highly recommended to enroll in a business school and receive an MBA degree. Experienced practitioners striving to get to the top of the career ladder attend such courses, share experience with other entrepreneurs and find new business partners.
If a person wants to devote one’s life to science, it is better to receive a Ph.D. degree focused on some narrow aspect, for example, online marketing or marketing management. In the future, a Ph.D. holder can become a professor or researcher.
As you can see, the educational system offers a variety of degree paths for those who want to build brilliant marketing careers. It is important to choose an academic path in accordance with personal objectives and career aspirations. Then every lecture, every assignment performed, every page from a textbook will bring benefits and put stones upon the road to great glories. The main thing is to believe in yourself, be persistent and dispose of time wisely. We wish you good luck and embodying the boldest professional dreams!
