What can I do with a major in Marketing?

Marketing is a major field in the area of business which involves the study of consumer needs and desires for products and services, the consumers’ willingness and ability to pay for these needs/desires and the geographical vicinity in which they reside. In addition, it is a study of the various strategies used to attract and motivate people to buy or subscribe to a product or service along with exposure to the numerous methods of distribution. Specializations in this area include sales, advertising, sales promotion, retail, brand management and marketing research, and distribution.

Related Occupations:
 

Possible employers of Marketing majors:
 

Skills important for Marketing majors:

• Ability to work well with people of differing personalities and backgrounds
• Ability to make appropriate decisions and sound judgments
• Ability to persuade and influence others
• A good understanding of vocabulary
• Articulate
• Good knowledge of marketing techniques and consumer products and needs
• Ability to solve problems
• Physical stamina and emotional well-being
• Ability to conduct and apply the results of consumer research
• Aptitude for selling

• Achievement-oriented
• Desire for prestige
• Desire for wealth
• Desire for recognition and appreciation from others
• Creative
• Outgoing, polite and friendly
• Desire to serve and please others
• Tendency to be alert and ambitious
• Competitive
• Flexible
• Energetic
• Patient
• Poised
• Neat
• Self-confident

• Do an internship
• Serve as a student aide in a high school or college marketing department
• Join a Junior Achievement Club or Distributive Education Club (DECA)
• Join a professional organization
• Attend sales and marketing workshops and conferences
• Work part-time in a department store, advertising firm, warehouse or similar wholesale/retail establishment

Print Resources:

• Camenson, Blythe & Jan Goldberg.  Real People Working in Sales and Marketing.  VGM Career Books, 1996.

• Dahm, Ralph and James Brescoll.  Opportunities in Sales Careers.  VGM Career Books, 1995.

• Dolber, Roslyn.  Opportunities in Retail Careers.  VGM Career Books, 1996.

• Marketing and Sales Opportunities.  Pp.  234-253, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Dept. of Labor, (latest edition).

• Pattis, William.  Careers in Advertising.  VGM Career Books, 1996.

• Stair, Lila.  Careers in Marketing.  VGM Career Books, 1995.

Internet Resources:

• Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations Managers, Occupational Outlook Handbook: 
• Demonstrators, Product Promoters, and Models, Occupational Outlook Handbook:
• Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents, Occupational Outlook Handbook:
• Insurance Sales Agent, Occupational Outlook Handbook:  
• Real Estate Agent and Brokers, Occupational Outlook Handbook:  
• Travel Agents, Occupational Outlook Handbook: 
  Manufacturers’ and Wholesale Sales Representatives, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• American Marketing Association
• Marketing and Sales Jobs Openings

• American Marketing Association
• Manufacturers’ Agents National Association
• National Retail Foundation
• Sales and Marketing Executives International

• College Majors and Careers: A Resource Guide for Effective Life Planning, Revised Edition by Paul Phifer; 1997; Garret Park; Garret Park Press.
• The Career Center at CU-Denver’s homepage: www.cudenver.edu/Student+Life/Career+Center/default.htm
• Fort Lewis College, Career Service’s homepage: http://cso.fortlewis.edu