Marketing Degree

This website provides 9 valuable research points regarding Marketing as well as useful information about applying for a Marketing Degree.

Marketing Degree - Overview
Marketing, like most concepts, revolves around communication. In this respect, however, communication refers to products and services offered to the public. In short, marketing is the process of getting people to use or purchase something you're offering. It is no secret that marketing is important to corporations; after all, we are a society of producers and consumers. However, marketing is a viable field for those interested in the process of products moving from company to customer, or from company to company. For those individuals interested in a marketing career, it is time to enroll in a school that allows one to earn a marketing degree.

Marketing is very broad – the process generally ranges from product design to transporting it to the customer. Every step is incremental, and all steps must be completed in sequence in order for a successful marketing campaign. Every marketer's goal is to move the customer closer to actually purchasing or using the product offered. If it does not involve a sale procedure, it generally is not considered marketing. Obtaining a marketing degree prepares a student to work in the exciting and challenging field of marketing.


Marketing vs. Advertising

It is important to note that while marketing is broad, it also has subgroups that often eclipse marketing, such as advertising. Advertising is very different from marketing. A potential marketing hire will do well to keep the two concepts separate from each other, and to know the difference between the two. Advertising is a single aspect of marketing, which involves spreading the word about a business, product, or service offered to the public. Strategy is definitely a key part here, as there are many avenues to use. Advertising placements show up in every medium, including newspapers, magazines, and billboards. The television, radio, and Internet are also prime spots for advertising placements. When it comes to marketing, advertising is a very expensive venture, and dominates the typical marketing plan.

For someone pursuing their marketing degree, the best way to keep marketing and advertising separate is to consider marketing as a parent. From that parent stems a number of children, including advertising, media planning, public relations, product pricing, and distribution, research, and community involvement. Advertising is a very important child of marketing, but it will not be the only concept encountered when getting a marketing degree. Most marketing degree programs will often allow students to choose advertising or public relations major. Choosing a minor for your marketing degree will allow for an interesting way to stay within the scope of your field, while adding a bit of specialization. The potential marketing degree student will need to review a course study plan with an advisor to best determine what to major and minor in. It is to your advantage to use a marketing degree to keep ahead of the competition.

All this information so far is just a reference – if one is serious about getting their marketing degree, it is important to know the subtle nuances between marketing and advertising, along with having a solid understanding of just what marketing is.

Advantages
There are numerous advantages and benefits of getting a marketing degree. Marketing is a very broad field, and in high demand by employers. Companies are always looking for marketers, and with a marketing degree, you stand out among other applicants. Getting a marketing degree shows the employer that you are truly committed to your field, and you can see a task to its completion. Further, a marketing degree indicates that you are ready to deal with every aspect of the marketing field, and that you are trained and knowledgeable about the art of marketing.

There are social advantages to getting a marketing degree. A marketing degree will help you refine your analytical and creative skills, which increases your ability to communicate effectively with others. When your career path is communication-oriented, it really gives you motivation to be as sharp as possible, both on and off the job! Plus, the excellent communication skills you learn while studying for a marketing degree are applicable to almost any job.

There are also economic advantages to getting a marketing degree. As stated earlier, a marketing degree will give you a lead over applicants that don't have – making your marketing degree a very nice return on investment. However, the benefits don't stop there – as someone that holds a marketing degree, you can expect a significant difference in income. In fact, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported that those that held a marketing degree in 2004 could look forward to a starting salary around $42,000. Those that are a bit more ambitious could easily earn more than that – think of that $42,000 as a sweet spot to keep you motivated. Although the report is a little outdated, it is important to note that salaries in marketing are always on the rise due to high demand, so you never know what you'll get in the end – it could be more than you think!

Going to college to get your marketing degree will also open you up to better networking skills than others who didn't go to get a marketing degree. In college, you will get to be around others trying to get their marketing degrees, and they will be more likely to share insights with you. After all, everyone's in the same boat in college, so there's more incentive to help each other out!

Disadvantages
While getting your marketing degree opens you up to the broad field of marketing, it is important to note that marketing also has its disadvantages. Although the general workweek is 40 hours, it is not uncommon to have to work over that golden limit – without extra pay. In the field of marketing, it is very common to have to work long hours in order to reach deadlines. Moreover, traveling is also not unheard of, and is often expected of those that truly want to climb the corporate ladder in marketing. Your work schedule may be very orderly, but it can also be irregular and interrupted regularly by clients and even other employees. Some professionals in marketing may also be expected to be on call as necessary, such as when a major project is getting close to completion. All of the latter aspects of the marketing field will need to be thoroughly considered before you decide to pursue a marketing degree.

Most people seeking a marketing degree will rank the stiff competition in the field as one of the disadvantages of getting a marketing degree. The work is not over once you get a marketing degree; it merely gets more intense. Once you receive your marketing degree, you have to go out into the fray and work hard to find a job that matches your skills and career goals.

For others, one disadvantage of getting a marketing degree is that you are never truly finished. In fact, you are expected to constantly keep your skills sharp and up to date. This generally means continuing your education, either by going back to school or through short training seminars.

Where to Get Your Marketing Degree
Where you decide to get your marketing degree makes a big difference in the hiring process. While it is very true that those that go to top-ranked schools get preference in the hiring process, along with the perks that come from attending a prestigious school, there are still opportunities for those that may not be able to follow suit. Not everyone goes to Harvard Business School to get their marketing degree, and if everyone did, the marketing world would surely be boring!

If you are interested in getting your marketing degree from top schools, there are other names besides Harvard. The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, along with the University of Chicago and the MIT Sloan School of business are also great choices. Meanwhile, you may find it possible to study and enroll in top schools offering marketing degree coursework online.

For those that see top business schools out of their reach, there are still options for you as well. Check out the state-funded schools in your area – the education you receive there may be enough to get your foot in the door. In fact, public, state-funded schools may have a lot more resources than you think, and come at a very inexpensive price comparatively.

If you decide to go with a public, state-funded school to get your marketing degree be prepared to go without the amenities that a lot of bigger business schools offer – such as built-in networking opportunities. You may have to work a little bit harder, but your marketing degree may mean even more to you after knowing the work involved to get it!

Who Should Get a Marketing Degree?
Obviously, anyone with an interest in marketing should give getting a marketing degree some serious thought. However, making the effort to get a marketing degree goes beyond simple interest in the field – successful marketing degree holders generally have certain characteristics that helped them become successful.

Generally speaking, those that are detail-oriented, analytical, and have great problem-solving skills have a better chance at succeeding than those that do not. However, these are skills that can be gained by anyone, so if you feel that perhaps you aren't as analytical as you would like to be, you can still take steps to improve that! In addition to the above mentioned skills, being able to see visually, being self-motivated and staying committed to deadlines will put you far ahead of the competition.

Naturally, communication is also part of the deal – those that are outgoing will generally do better than those who may have trouble getting their point across. Introverts can still soar high above the competition, so long as they are willing to join in conversations, network, and market themselves efficiently to prospective employers.

Getting a marketing degree will bring these skills to the surface and can often help you pinpoint what skills need more tending to than others. Getting your marketing degree can also help you realize the actual application of these skills, which may help bring home the point that these skills are essential to your career.

At the end of the day, if you find that you truly don't have the ability to network and bridge new contacts, then getting a marketing degree may not be suitable. However, most people can easily learn to get over their worries about handling people; a marketing degree can still be in their future!

Possible Career Paths for Marketing Degree Holders
The possibilities that will open up for you once you get your marketing degree are truly endless – limited only by your motivation, ambition, and ability. A few jobs that most think about when pursuing a marketing degree are public relations, internet marketing, marketing law, and research specialist. Naturally, this is not an exhaustive list, and depends on the company.

After you receive your marketing degree, you may be overwhelmed by the number of companies that need your knowledge. For the person just starting out, it may be hard to measure a company's value. It is important to note that the value of a company is not based solely on the balance sheet – the strength of the company's relationships with customers is also important. A company may look good financially, but if it does not treat its customers with respect, how can you expect to be treated well?

For those that dislike the corporate world, there are still options for you. The non-profit sector is just as hungry for new marketing degree holders as the corporate world. You may find that the non-profit sector is filled with organizations with purposes that are more in line with your moral compass or mission in life. In addition, non-profits may offer less stress than the corporate world, along with more opportunity to really put your knowledge to work. Many non-profit organizations allow new hires a broader range of freedom in the decision-making process compared to their corporate counterparts.

When it comes to your career path, your marketing degree opens up many doors -- choose carefully which one you decide to walk through.

Do I Really Need a Marketing Degree?
Many people coming from other backgrounds, such as economics and math, wonder why getting a marketing degree is so important. Getting a job within the field of marketing isn't easy, but it can be done without a marketing degree. Will you still have the same edge as someone that has taken the time to get a marketing degree? No, you will not – you will miss out on valuable networking opportunities presented to those that are attending business school.

Your first job within the marketing field will definitely be entry-level, but if you use proper strategy, the lack of a marketing degree may not make a difference anyway. Most companies have their own training programs they can send you to, or they can pay for you to go to school and actually get a marketing degree.

Other companies may ignore your lack of a marketing degree, and put you to work directly in the field – these companies will generally believe that hands-on experience trumps college education, which is definitely in your favor.

So, the lack of a marketing degree isn't the end of the world. However, you will have to realize that without a marketing degree, you will have to work much harder than marketing degree holders to get the job that you want.

Conclusion
Companies are learning the benefit of marketing – the recent scandals in the news about businesses has changed the perception of image and its effect on company reputation and assets. This is a great opportunity for incoming marketing degree holders to fulfill a certain niche, assisting in maintaining the image of the company.

Our society is changing – gone are the full-time jobs, and here to stay are consultants and contractors. Companies are learning that it is far cheaper and easier to hire on a consultant than it is to seek out full-time staff. This is a boon for the person that just got their marketing degree – you get the benefit of being catered to by companies, while being able to keep your options open in case something better comes along.

In spite of the drawbacks, getting a marketing degree is a great idea for those that truly have an interest in the marketing field. The demand for marketing specialists is quite high – however, the number of qualified applicants can easily exceed the number of job openings a company has. Marketing is a very high-profile field – there is plenty of room to move around, and plenty of room to move up as well. The best opportunities lie in wait for those that can combine their ambition, dedication, motivation, college education, and experiences into a winning package that any prospective employer will be intrigued by.


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