Getting into Marketing!

[lethal]

Hey, As some of you may know (actually I dont think any of you know as I dont come on here often) but I am in my first of college and doing my a-levels, and would like to persure a career in marketing but do not want to do marketing at university as I would like to do 'product design'. There is one univeristy that offers marketing and product design together which is Southampton University, but the university rep is not the best. WOuld people recomend that I do product design and marketing @ southampton uni or Should I go to a decent uni (e.g. uni of susex or leeds) which has a very good repuatation and just do product design?

I know its alot to ask someone but would like to ask for some advise and assistance from someone who has more experience that I have.

Lethal

 

[Gmorgan]

From my experience the smaller companies just like you to have a degree and aren't too picky about where it's from. It's the larger companies who can pick and choose applicants depending on where they studied.

If you do the first course at least you can apply for more generic marketing roles as well as specific design ones. Might be worth thinking about because when I left Uni 4 years ago it was near impossible finding my first job. There are a lot more people with marketing experience/qualifications than there are jobs available in most places. I also had hell getting my second job last summer.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Mark Nagurski]

Bear in mind that you can also do professional qualifications in marketing - http://www.cim.co.uk/cim/index.cfm

 

[asonda]

I think as long as your studies are successful and you recieve a good degree, most companies won't care where you got it...I had this conversation a few weeks ago with a teacher friend.. the bigger companies, who have more applicants will be more picky, that means that they can then think about universities who need less points to get onto courses or more points...then they'd determine who the 'quality' applicants would be...

Do alot of research....into every possible course and career you want to pursue, in the end...you'll be happy you did but don't be too worried about what exact university to go to, do as well as you can in your a-levels to achieve maximum points then the world of university should be your (sorry for the pun) oyster.

 

[Stephen Berry]

I've asked my wife - classical marketing background with a business studies and language degree, then Masters degree (MPhil) in Marketing followed by marketing employment with BP, Trebor Bassett and finally Hasbro (10 years there before the continual emergence of children made working too difficult - how does that happen? - how do we stop them arriving? - I wish I'd paid attention during school biology lessons ).
Her opinion - she has employed quite a few graduates.

First : the person is more important than the degree subject (provided that it is not a mickey mouse degree) and she would be equally happy with a general business studies degree or a specific marketing degree. Possibly even a slight bias to the more general degree as it gives extra width of knowledge.

Second : the university 'name' is still important but less important than it was even a few (say 5) years ago - in her opinion.

Third : the first job is the most difficult to get - and who that is with is important - the more well known and thus higher profile the better - especially if they have an innovative marketing reputation.

Fourth : get the best class of degree you can - i.e the best results - if you have a 2:2 and are competing for a job with graduates with a 1st you have an obvious disadvantage - therefore do the degree you like the most and are therefore going to work at the most.

Fifth : marketing is a very competitive discipline for graduates - every job is very heavily oversubscribed. Think about both 'company' marketing and 'agency' marketing (i.e. the guys that run the campaigns, do the adverts etc).

Sixth : it is worth it - a very interesting and rewarding career
Good luck

 

[sharon25]

Isn't CIM more recognised than an average UNI Degree...? and I would like to suggest that you should do Marketing with Ecommerce or something to do with computers and it would be an added advanatage

 

[Stephen Berry]

Again,
I've asked the Mrs .....
several of the people with whom she worked did the CIM qualification - but usually those without degrees, studying in order to get a recognised qualification.
Her peers at Group Brand Manager and Marketing Director levels were a combination of all 3 possibilities (CIM only, degree only, CIM & Degree).
It may be that CIM is useful to move upwards on the proverbial ladder at the lower levels, but higher up seems to be of limited ability to turn heads (my interpretation) - so in that case - why not do both?

 

[lethal]

Would anyone suggest product design would be a mickey mouse subject?

 

[lethal]

anyone???



lethal

 

[Cornish Steve]

I agree with much of what has been written, but let me throw in my own two penneth since I've been involved in marketing through the years.

Two of the most important characteristics in marketing are the ability to communicate and a flair for creativity. You can develop these skills in many ways. When hiring for a marketing position, I don't take degree title into account; it's almost irrelevant. As for other marketing qualifications, they mean nothing to me either.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Would anyone suggest product design would be a mickey mouse subject?

If you do it well and demonstrate its relevance to a company, no subject is a mickey mouse subject (except maybe 'Disney Studies').

 

[Stephen Berry]

Would anyone suggest product design would be a mickey mouse subject?

No I wouldn't - it is relevant and practical.

 

[Stephen Berry]

For some reading on Mickey Mouse degrees - click the attached
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/2657849.stm
a bit dated (2003) but some amusing and some interesting (and some gloriously prejudiced) comments.

 

[marketingmotormouth]

The most important thing about getting a job in marketing is to gain valuable experience before you qualify.

Probably one of the most frustrating things I see is when a graduate applies for a positions without really knowing what it is they are applying for. For example, client side and agency side marketing roles differ widely and there are a number of positions open to candidates. However, simply saying, "I am creative, can write copy, have an analytical brain, can organise everything and am great with coming up with advertising ideas", is commercial suicide. In fact I have heard this one at least three times this year.

My advice to all prospective marketers looking for marketing jobs is to try to understand what it is you are looking for and ensure that you forge strong relationships with businesses or agencies before you graduate.

It's tough getting in, however it's worthwhile when you do.

 

[wikicareers]

Hi Lethal,

I know it sounds corny but you've got to do what you have a passion for. I've studied Marketing at university and went into an agency job before switching and going into client side marketing. Pretty much every marketing position now will involve some aspect of computers so it's very important to get some exposure to this. If you are keen to get into marketing wikicareers.co.uk has a marketing article that describes what the work is like when you are there and how to get into it.

Product design is a serious subject that offers attractive gains in the long run... If you have a passion for inventing things and enjoy experimenting with materials this can be a very rewarding career. Industrial Product Design and Technology from Brunel University is widely regarded as one the best in the industry.

Marketing is rewarding too and there are more marketing positions than Product Designers in the UK, however, if you love to do Product Design and you can show (in your CV and at the interview) that you've come up with original ideas there's no problem in taking Product Design and after your degree going into marketing. But follow the wikicareers article advice and apply to many companies both agency and inhouse departments when you are looking for a job, and if you can get an internship during the summer holidays. This will stand you in good stead come the end of your degree.

Good luck!!