Marketing

I'm really excited about discussing marketing as a major because I have great feedback from Casi Adams, a 4th year McCombs student who is graduating with a marketing degree this year. I asked her a few questions I had about marketing and here's what she had to say:

Why did you choose to major in marketing?

I choose to major in marketing for several reasons. First, marketing is a very flexible major because there are many options for career paths in all different industries. Second, marketing encompasses all aspects of business. In order to market to consumers you must understand the the business inside and out - from the product specifications to the financial implications. Finally, I feel that marketing is the major that allows for the most creativity. I am not an extremely artistic person, but I do enjoy using my creative skills AND my analytical skills simultaneously.

As a student with a marketing major, how difficult is it to find an internship/ job for when you graduate (is it competitive, how manyopportunities are there, etc.)?

In the past, there have been many opportunities available for marketing including consulting, marketing, global marketing, and sales. The internships/jobs are all just as competitive as those for other majors. Larger companies that take a few interns each summer (General Mills, for example) have extremely competitive internships. However, due to the current economic downturn, I have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of opportunities available. Many companies are experiencing 0% turnover because employees are staying in their current positions, giving less room for new hires - especially in the marketing department. Hopefully, this situation will improve and more opportunities will become available.

Is there much room for creativity?

Yes! In several marketing classes at UT, you are required to develop an entire marketing plan including advertisements, presentations, and written proposals. While this task may be daunting, it is your chance to use your creativity before entering the real world. In my internship experience, I was able to use my creativity to create presentations used to sell new General Mills products.

Would you say there's more team work or individual work with marketing?

I would say that it is ALL about team work. A job in marketing will require you to work on a team composed of others in the marketing department or on a cross-functional team. It is beneficial to take advantage of team work while at McCombs to learn more about working with others.

Does the industry seem to be changing rapidly or is it pretty consistent?

Marketing is an industry that is consistently changing with consumer trends, technology, and the economy. At times this change may be more rapid than others - but it is never standing still.

I hope Casi's student perspective has given you all a better sense of what marketing is all about. If you're curious as to the average salary for marketing graduates, it's approximately $41,000 a year according to the McCombs Career Center. To me it seems like marketing is a little difficult to get into. However, if you are creative and have stellar communication skills, there's definitely a place for you in the marketing world! (you just might have to fight for it)