Turn Your Marketing Degree into a Career: 15 Top Marketing Major Jobs

Marketing Degree: 15 Top Marketing Major Jobs

Whether scaling big businesses or launching your own side hustle, a marketing degree unlocks endless opportunities to make an impact. In fact, there aren’t many fields in which marketing major jobs aren’t available. Therefore, a marketing major can serve as a great stepping stone to a wide range of career paths. 

In this article, we’re going to cover everything from marketing courses to common marketing requirements to the best marketing major jobs. Here’s what we’ll look at: 

• Definition of “marketing”
• Types of marketing degrees and courses
• Skills needed to have a career in marketing
• Top marketing jobs and how to get them
• How to make the most of your marketing degree
• Tips for building a successful career in marketing

If this versatile degree and career has sparked your interest, then this article is for you. By the end, you’ll understand what it takes to not only study a marketing degree, but also have a successful marketing career. To start, let’s further define the topic at hand.

What is marketing?

While surely you’ve heard of marketing, you may be wondering what exactly it entails. Put simply, marketing is the branding, promotion, and selling of products and services. Students pursuing a marketing degree, or even a business marketing degree, learn to study consumer behavior, identify customer needs, and communicate products’ or services’ values. Indeed, classes often emphasize the importance of creating relationships with customers, which is essential to driving popularity and profitability. 

There are many moving pieces that go into working in marketing. As such, a professional marketing team needs to do market research, brand and advertise, devise a sales strategy, and create customer engagement. Therefore, to work in marketing, you’ll need a variety of soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. In addition to these soft skills, marketing degree programs cover accounting, economics, and statistics, helping students develop hard skills such as data analysis and money-management. 

Is marketing a good major?

The answer to “is marketing a good major?” won’t necessarily be the same for everyone. Deciding what makes a “good” major comes down to personal preferences. However, in relation to available jobs and career potential, a marketing degree is one of the best degrees you can opt for. 

Marketing degrees are in high demand because businesses need to sell their products or services in order to be successful. This is where marketing comes into play. You’ll notice that carefully strategized yet creative marketing campaigns are often behind the most well known businesses. This degree becomes especially useful when combined with digital advertising, SEO knowledge, and social media savvy. Since almost every business has an online presence, knowing how to digitally market is an extremely valuable skill. 

Another benefit of a marketing degree is the variety of marketing major jobs that are available to you after graduation. As we’ve mentioned, every business needs marketing, making the job opportunities almost endless. You could work in a variety of diverse fields: B2B/B2C, agencies, corporations, startups, social enterprises, government agencies, and more!

From entry level marketing jobs to managing your own marketing agency, there’s plenty of room to grow your career. And, the marketing major salary earning potential is also high. For example, the mean yearly marketing major salary for market research analysts is $78,880. Of course, entry level marketing jobs will have lower starting incomes. But, those with a career in marketing can certainly earn six-figure salaries, depending on their industry, experience, and position. 

Types of marketing degrees

Marketing offers many degree and career pathways. The type of marketing degree you choose to pursue will affect your marketing courses, marketing major salary, and your future career in marketing. However, there are options for every type of student, no matter your career goals. Now, let’s take a look at some of the most common types of marketing degrees. 

Bachelor’s in Marketing

Most employers look for candidates with at least a Bachelor’s degree in marketing. There are two types of bachelor’s degrees you can pursue: B.A. in Marketing or a B.S. in Marketing. Overall, they’re quite similar with certain nuances. 

A B.A. in marketing provides students with a broad foundation in marketing. These degrees focus on the more social aspects of marketing, such as communication and brand management. If you’re interested in the creative side of marketing, this marketing degree is a great option. 

Those interested in the more technical and analytical side of the field should consider a B.S. in Marketing. This marketing degree focuses on accounting, finance, economics, and business. In fact, this type of degree is quite similar to a business marketing degree. 

Master’s in Marketing

If you’re interested in more advanced career opportunities, such as managerial positions, or a higher marketing major salary, you might want to consider a Master’s marketing degree. Again, there are two types of Master’s degrees in marketing: Master of Science in Marketing (MSM) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a marketing concentration. 

If you’re interested in theory, and advanced marketing topics and strategies, then an MSM could be the route for you. You’ll focus more on analytics, digital media, or specific marketing areas and tactics. Basically, it’s the more “technical” degree among the two. 

On the other hand, if your interest is sparked by leadership, economics, and finance, consider an MBA. This advanced business marketing degree will help you develop skills and expand your network, fast-tracking you to leadership roles.

Online Marketing Degree

Like with most degrees, there are plenty of options to pursue a marketing degree online. If you are switching careers, working a full or part-time job, or have a family of your own, an online degree may be the best option to accommodate your busy life. An online marketing degree allows you to have a flexible schedule and many are often self-paced, offering part-time or evening options. 

An online marketing degree typically covers the same courses as an in-person program. Classes may be small and interactive, or lecture-based with more emphasis on independent work. Of course, the courses and style will vary depending on the program you pursue. 

What do marketing majors study?

When considering a marketing major, you’ll want to think about the types of marketing courses you’ll be taking. After all, if you aren’t interested in the courses, then a marketing degree may not be right for you. Let’s take a look at the types of marketing courses that make up a marketing major: 

Marketing Course Topics

Marketing Principles

Most marketing degrees start with the basics. A marketing principles course might cover the marketing mix (product, price, placement, promotion) and other foundational marketing concepts. 

Consumer Behavior

One of the most important parts of marketing is understanding the consumer. These courses focus on factors that contribute to buying practices, such as customer motivation. 

Marketing Strategy/Management

These courses focus on putting various marketing concepts into action. You’ll learn market research, brand positioning, promotional strategies, and other tactics — and how they come together to create effective marketing strategies. 

Research/Data Analysis

While there is a creative part to marketing, there is also plenty of research and data analysis. You’ll learn how to conduct market research, use analytic tools to evaluate campaigns, and interpret your results. 

Digital Marketing

In today’s digital age, it’s crucial for businesses to reach consumers through their screens. As such, the majority of marketing degrees cover digital platforms and strategies, such as social media, SEO, pay-per-click, and content marketing.

Advertising

Much of marketing is advertising and promoting. Advertising courses teach students how to design campaigns across media platforms, both traditional and digital. 

Like most bachelor’s degrees, students will need to fulfill general education requirements in addition to their marketing requirements. Specifically, a marketing degree may also require certain business, sociology, or even psychology courses.

List of marketing courses

There are various fields of marketing, each with its own focus. So, when considering a marketing degree, it’s important to explore the specific marketing courses you’ll be taking. Let’s take a look at this sample list of marketing courses from the University of Virginia:

You’ll notice that many of these courses fall within the general marketing courses discussed in the previous section. However, others are tailored to the specific marketing degree offered by UVA. For comparison, let’s look at the core courses required by the marketing degree programs at Indiana University, NYU, and UW Madison: 

As you can see, there are certain similarities across core courses, so be sure to look at electives, too. If you’re looking for more great marketing programs, keep reading. Up next, we’ll explore the top 10 schools for marketing majors.

Top 10 marketing colleges

When considering a marketing degree, you’ll want to carefully choose your program. As we have seen, core courses and marketing requirements vary a lot between schools. Therefore, your top marketing colleges will depend on your specific interests within marketing, as well as other factors such as price, location, size, etc. 

Here are U.S. News’ Top 10 Best Undergraduate Business Marketing Programs: 

10 Best Business Marketing Programs

1. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

Marketing courses at Michigan Ross vary from Advertising Management to Customer Analytics to Designing Persuasive Communication. Here students will learn from faculty who are pioneering research of their own, bringing their experiences to the classroom.  

2. University of Pennsylvania

Wharton is known for its business programs, however, it also has one of the best undergraduate marketing programs in the nation. Students have a variety of options when it comes to their marketing degree. They can choose a “typical” Marketing Concentration degree or opt to take on a dual concentration in Marketing and Communications. 

3. Indiana University – Bloomington

Students pursuing a marketing major at Indiana University will do so in the Kelley School of Business. This business marketing degree offers a wide range of courses including Creativity and Communication, International Marketing, Content Marketing, and Business-to-Business Marketing.

4. University of Texas – Austin

The business marketing degree at the McCombs School of Business is among the best in the nation for many reasons. The curriculum has its foundation in analytical science applied to emerging marketing trends, making it consistently current. 

5. New York University

At NYU Stern, students will earn a bachelor of science business marketing degree. Marketing courses center on studying consumer needs and developing a strategic understanding of competition among business. 

6. University of California, Berkeley

For students who want to focus more on business, consider Berkeley’s business marketing degree. While there isn’t a specific marketing major, students in the Spieker Undergraduate Business Program can take electives in marketing. If you’re interested in furthering your education, Berkeley Haas also offers an excellent MBA program. 

7. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

Students interested in a marketing major at UNC will study at the Kenan-Flagler Business School. The focus of this marketing degree is to show how integral marketing is to business and society. Research, teaching, and service are among the foundational pillars of the program. 

8. University of Virginia

At UVA McIntire, students interested in an undergraduate marketing degree will have the opportunity to gain a B.S. in Commerce with a marketing concentration. Courses offer discussion groups, research, experiential exercises, case analyses, field projects, and more. 

9. University of Wisconsin – Madison

Students pursuing the marketing major at the Wisconsin School of Business study the foundations of marketing and how they impact business strategy. This marketing degree prepares students to work in a variety of industries (both traditional and digital). Course topics vary from supply chain management to sports marketing. 

10. Boston College

At the Carroll School of Management, students complete a business marketing degree with a minor or concentrate in marketing. The program emphasizes choosing courses that allow you to explore a variety of skills and interests, from science to public speaking. 

It likely comes as no surprise that many of the best marketing schools are also the best colleges for business. Indeed, many of the best colleges for business provide students with majors, minors, or concentrations in marketing, with some even offering specific advertising degrees.

Skills you need for marketing major jobs

All marketing major jobs require a combination of hard and soft skills. Therefore, you’ll need to be analytical yet creative. In addition, you’ll need to be able to meet tight deadlines and collaborate with others. Developing the right set of skills will help you succeed in everything from entry level marketing jobs to marketing major jobs in the C-suite.

Let’s take a look at the specific marketing skills you’ll need for entry level marketing jobs, high-level jobs, and everything in between.

While your marketing major courses will help you develop many of these essential skills, you’ll need to put them to the test. Getting real-world experience will help you feel confident when you’re faced with the kinds of challenges that come up in most marketing major jobs.

Gaining experience through marketing internships

Internships are an excellent way to gain experience and learn what it really takes to succeed in marketing major jobs. Securing an internship in college has plenty of benefits: hands-on learning in real-world environments, network building within the industry, and specific industry knowledge. But, you might be wondering, how can I get a marketing major internship? Check out these five tips.

5 Ways to Secure a Marketing Internship

1. Attend career fairs and networking events.

Career fairs are a great way to get exposed to marketing major jobs. And, you can learn more about different types of businesses to see what sparks your interest. Like in any industry, expanding your network is key to unlocking the best marketing major jobs. You never know who could lead you to your next opportunity. 

2. Send cold emails.

Search for businesses that align with your interests and goals, then send them an email to see if they have an internship available. Be sure to highlight your strengths, attach your resume, and provide any relevant context. You’re essentially pitching yourself, so make sure you give them a reason to take notice.

3. Go to your college career center.

Schools have a myriad of resources outside of classes — take advantage of them! Your school’s career center will have contacts or maybe even a job board to help you find an internship that fits your interests and needs. 

4. Search college job boards and internship databases.

Job boards highlight all types of professional opportunities, including internships. Start searching online for possible opportunities. Many internships will have online applications for you to complete. 

5. Utilize professional sites such as LinkedIn.

You don’t have to be a high level professional to set up a LinkedIn page. Start highlighting your experiences and even note what you’re looking for. Be proactive by searching companies or individuals in the marketing field to see what opportunities are available to you. It’s not super likely anyone will reach out to you, but you can certainly make the first move! At best, you’ll find the perfect internship opportunity. At worst, you’ll create a network that could lead to opportunities down the road.

As you start filling out job applications, you may be asked for a sample of your work. Next, we’ll dive into what goes into a compelling marketing portfolio.

Building a strong marketing portfolio

In order to get certain marketing major jobs, you’ll need to have a portfolio of work. This is why marketing internships are so important. Internships or even part-time marketing major jobs help you build your portfolio and enhance your resume. Similar to college applications, you may tweak your portfolio and resume depending on the marketing major jobs you’re applying to. 

Consider the fields of marketing that interest you as well as the marketing major jobs you want to apply to. There’s a variety of work you can put in your marketing portfolio. This includes work from your marketing courses — so save all of your projects! They might be useful for your portfolio.

Here are three components you can add to your marketing portfolio: 

3 Marketing Portfolio Components

1. Samples of marketing campaigns

Creating compelling and moving campaigns is an important part of any branding or marketing strategy. In this part of your portfolio, highlight your contributions to past marketing campaigns. This might include email newsletters, social media ads, or SEO strategies you helped research and develop. 

2. Metrics-driven results

An important part of being successful in marketing major jobs and earning a high marketing major salary is showing results. Did your campaign engage more customers or increase sales? Show examples of where your work directly impacted sales, engagement, or brand awareness. Be sure to use specific and accurate information — if you don’t have the data, don’t fabricate the results.

3. Real-world projects 

Whether you’re a creative or data-driven marketer, highlight your past work. Think back to any freelance, volunteer, or internship gigs you’ve had. What did you contribute specifically? Show your projects or work here. 

Whether students are earning advertising degrees, a business marketing degree, or any other marketing degree, it’s never too early to start collecting samples of your work. As a student, you might think you don’t have “real-life” experience, however, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are plenty of ways to show your knowledge in marketing, even with limited work experiences. 

Anyone hiring for internships or entry level marketing major jobs will understand your position as a student, so don’t be afraid to show what you’ve got! Use marketing materials you created for student group projects or clubs, and highlight writing samples from your courses. As you gain more experience through internships and your career, your portfolio will continue to grow and evolve, eventually speaking for itself.

Is marketing a good career?

As you would expect, many people with marketing degrees pursue careers in marketing. Like any career, there are pros and cons. 

A career in marketing is a really broad category, and there are many different marketing major jobs and fields of marketing for you to explore. Are you interested in digital marketing? Email marketing? Social media marketing? Partnerships? Design? For most people, this range of options is a positive — you can use your marketing degree to figure out what type of marketing you like, and then have flexibility in finding a niche that meets your interest.

Your career in marketing will also depend on what industry you go into. For instance, marketing for a clothing brand vs. a healthtech startup is going to feel very different day-to-day. Use marketing internships or other entry level marketing jobs to explore different fields and find the culture and environment best suited to you.

Over time, you can certainly earn a high income in marketing. However, entry level marketing jobs don’t often come with standout salaries. As with most jobs, you’ll have to work your way to more senior roles in order to start earning in a substantial way. 

Some people find a career in marketing to be stressful. There’s a pressure to constantly innovate and meet sales targets, and if you don’t have the determination to meet those goals then you may struggle. There’s also the fear that AI will take your job, especially if you’re doing something like copywriting.

Overall, pursuing a marketing degree with the goal of building a career in marketing can be a great path for many people. And, if the field isn’t the right fit, you can always explore other marketing major jobs outside the traditional marketing realm.

What do marketing majors do?

Marketing major jobs are varied, and you’ll likely be switching between lots of different tasks. You’ll need to be flexible, adaptable, and creative — all things you learn when getting your marketing degree.

Depending on your role in a marketing job, you might:

• Develop marketing strategies and campaigns.
• Conduct market research and customer analysis.
• Manage and measure the success of digital and social media campaigns.
• Collaborate with other departments like sales or design.

The particulars of your day to day will depend on the types of marketing major jobs you end up pursuing. For instance, the work of a brand copywriter will look very different from a consumer insight analyst. There are also jobs you can get with your marketing degree that are more data-driven, and ones that are more creative or writing-heavy. 

Top 15 Marketing Major Jobs

Now that we’ve covered the basics of a marketing degree, here are some exciting marketing major jobs for you to explore. This list includes entry level marketing jobs and other opportunities to further your career.

15 Marketing Jobs

1. Brand Manager

First on our list of marketing major jobs is a brand manager. Brand managers work with a particular brand and are responsible for all aspects of the marketing strategy. If you have a business marketing degree, you might be interested in this kind of top to bottom brand management. 

2. Digital Marketer

The next job you can get with your marketing degree is a digital marketer. Digital marketers work with digital campaigns, like email campaigns or social media marketing, to drive traffic and conversions via digital platforms. 

3. SEO Specialist

The next marketing degree job is a Search Engine Optimization Specialist. This role is all about optimizing websites to improve their visibility on search engines. Specific responsibilities may include conducting research to develop keywords, creating and editing copy, assessing performance, and tailoring strategy. 

4. Social Media Manager

The next marketing major job you can get is one every brand needs in this day and age: social media manager. Social media managers create campaigns, develop a content strategy, and often create content for social platforms. 

5. E-commerce Marketer

Next on our list of marketing degree jobs is an e-commerce marketer, which is someone whose job is to promote and sell products online. Ever see a “Best XYZ to buy from Amazon this month” list? That was probably the work of an E-commerce marketer. A business marketing degree might suit this job well.

6. Product Marketer

If you want to sell a product by any means necessary, use your marketing degree to become a product marketer. These people develop messaging, pricing, and go-to-market plans for individual products.

7. Email Marketer

Email campaigns aren’t easy—there’s a lot of planning and strategy behind making sure mass communications hit their mark. Writing content, scheduling emails, and adapting and planning strategy are all responsibilities that an email marketer takes on.

8. PPC Specialist

If you use your marketing degree to become a PPC specialist, you’ll focus on pay-per-click advertising campaigns. This means you’ll be optimizing ad performance on platforms that run ads, like Google, Facebook, or Bing. 

9. Market Researcher

What makes a product sell? If you’re interested in the “why” more than actually doing the selling, become a market researcher. You’ll collect and analyze data on consumer behavior, trends in the market, and competitors. Many people who pursue business marketing degrees like this type of research.

10. Advertising Art Director

Even in the digital age, a good campaign needs good art. As an advertising art director, you’ll be in charge of the visuals that sell products.

11. Copywriter

Conversely, a copywriter is in charge of the copy: the words. Everything needs copy: websites, social media posts, brand campaigns, physical ads, you name it. 

12. PR Specialist

The next job on our list of marketing major jobs is kind of an offshoot of classic marketing: public relations. In public relations, you’re essentially marketing a person (or brand) and their reputation, thereby developing their public image. You’ll write press releases, handle crises, and maybe even write Instagram Notes App apologies. 

13. Sales Promotion Account Executive

If you use your marketing degree to become a sales promotion account executive, you’ll work with one account to promote their products, whether in-store or online. If you got a business marketing degree, the sales aspect of this job might appeal to you! 

14. Media Buyer

If you’re addicted to TV, this might be the right job to pursue with your marketing degree. Media buyers buy ad space across various media platforms — TV, online, print, etc. — in order to reach a target audience. Media is a big business, and this job involves a lot of networking and relationship building.

15. Fundraiser

The last job on our list of marketing major jobs is fundraiser, which puts you in charge of organizing campaigns to raise money. In many cases, this may be for a nonprofit organization (because they’re not earning a profit otherwise). You’ll contact donors, throw events, and send out a lot of emails asking people to give you money.

Once you’ve gotten your marketing degree and are headed out into the real world, you might be excited to get started. And that’s fantastic! But, be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up. 

Entry level marketing jobs

Many recent graduates with marketing degrees start with entry level marketing jobs. These jobs help you build foundational skills, gain industry experience, and build your professional network. Generally, marketing major jobs at the entry level usually involve supporting senior staff in executing marketing campaigns. You’ll be learning a lot, including how to be flexible and contribute to a team. 

Marketing Major Jobs for Recent Graduates

Marketing Assistant

As a marketing assistant, you’ll support senior staff like a Director of Communications or VP of Marketing at a company. You’ll likely handle schedules, internal communications, and other administrative tasks. Moreover, you’ll get a feel for what it’s like to work in the industry.

Social Media Coordinator

If you use your marketing degree to become a social media coordinator, you’ll be in charge of making sure everything gets scheduled and posted on-time. You might also collate data and put together presentations for how well your social campaigns are performing. 

Junior Copywriter

If you learned during your marketing degree that you’re more of a words person than a numbers person, you might become a junior copywriter. You’ll work under the main copywriter to write things like captions, website copy, blogs, or other communications. 

Marketing Analyst

Conversely, if your marketing degree taught you that you were a numbers person, you can be a marketing analyst. This person handles the data, including metrics such as KPIs, conversion rates, user engagement, and more. For those students who pursued business marketing degrees (maybe at one of the best colleges for business marketing), this might be a good place to start in the industry. 

Digital Marketing Specialist

If you use your marketing degree to become a digital marketing specialist, you could do a whole range of things. You could be liaising with influencers or making partnerships, or you could be creating and sending out a newsletter. Anything online is possible!

Now that you know where you can start, you might be wondering how much money you can make with your marketing degree. Does it vary by different types of marketing degrees, like business marketing degrees vs. a regular marketing major? Let’s find out.

Average marketing major salary

In the same way that marketing is a diverse field, so is its range of pay. Indeed, there’s a lot of variation in salaries for marketing major jobs. Therefore, your marketing major salary will change a lot based on your role, location, level of experience, and the type of company you work for. For example, someone who graduates with a business marketing degree and becomes a media buyer might make more money than someone who took a few marketing courses and is now a copywriter for a nonprofit. 

Here are some ranges to help you understand what kind of marketing major salary you can expect at different marketing major jobs.

• Entry-level marketing major jobs, like marketing assistants, social media coordinators, and SEO specialists, tend to start around $40,000–$50,000 per year.
• A mid-level marketing major salary, for people like marketing coordinators, account managers, or digital marketing specialists, could be around $60,000–$80,000 per year.
• Senior level marketing major jobs, like Marketing Manager, Brand Manager, or Product Marketing Manager, can earn up to $120,000 a year, with better bonuses or profit-sharing. 
• The highest paying roles are executive positions: marketing major jobs like Chief Marketing Officer or VP of Marketing can pay well above $150,000.

Of course, this all depends on your industry — in general, tech, finance, and well-known brands will pay better than smaller companies or nonprofits. In contrast, startups are a mixed bag, because depending on how new and scrappy they are, they can have very different salary levels. Certainly, a business marketing degree could set you up for a higher paying role, as could a minor in computer science or design. 

So, is marketing a good major for making money? While it’s certainly not the most lucrative field right out of college, it’s far from the worst. Ultimately, pursue what you’re passionate about and find a way to make the marketing major salary work for you.

Advanced marketing roles

Picture this: you figured out which of the types of marketing degrees you were going to pursue. You went to one of the best marketing colleges, took all of the marketing courses, and fulfilled every one of the marketing requirements. You’ve earned your advertising degree, business marketing degree, or whatever degree you chose, and stepped into your first role as a marketer. Now, it’s eight or so years after you’ve graduated, and you’re looking to level up your career.

If you want to build a successful career — not just work a job — you’ll need to gain the skills and experiences necessary for more advanced roles. Namely, advanced marketing roles typically require years of experience, strong leadership capabilities, and expertise in areas like strategic planning, digital marketing, or product marketing.

At the top of the marketing leadership hierarchy is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), who oversees the company’s entire marketing strategy.  Before reaching this level, there are a few roles you might aim for. You could be a:

• Marketing analytics manager and be in charge of analyzing the data that determines your company’s performance. This requires advanced math and business skills. 
• Product marketing manager and lead multiple teams to put together a marketing campaign and fine-tune your strategy to customers’ needs. 
• Digital marketing director or a brand director. If you took the marketing courses needed to get advertising degrees, working with a brand is a great stepping stone towards reaching director-status.

You’ll notice that most of these jobs come with a title of “manager” or “director.” These titles signal that you’ll be stepping into a leadership position. Therefore, these positions demand a mix of expertise and experience, as you’ll be leading a team and shaping the overall marketing strategy.

5 tips for building a career in marketing

So, you’ve committed to taking marketing courses and fulfilling the marketing requirements needed to get your degree. Now, how can you break into the marketing industry after graduation? 

Graduating from college can be a really scary and stressful time. Indeed, getting your first job as a postgrad is nerve-wracking, and it can be an uphill climb. However, there are some things you can do to try and make the transition easier. 

5 Tips to Build a Career in Marketing

1. Develop a broad skill set 

The skills you learn when completing your marketing degree will be essential throughout your career. Regardless of which exact field you work in or job you take, you’ll need a broad array of skills to be successful. Even though you may build some skills naturally in your marketing courses, don’t be afraid to step outside of the marketing requirements and try new things. If you have an interest, take a coding class or an intro to drawing course. You never know what might be helpful to you in your career!

2. Get hands-on experience early

Since marketing is so broad, there are tons of ways to get hands-on experience. Most importantly, any experience you can gain during college will benefit you immensely postgrad. If you have some things on your resume, you’ll feel way more confident applying to jobs and speaking about what you can bring to a role. Apply for internships in college, and even gap year or even pre-college summer programs before starting school. And don’t forget, marketing experience doesn’t even have to be that formal. If you’re the social media manager or publicity manager for a college club, that’s essential marketing experience that can help give you a leg up in the job market.

3. Stay updated on industry trends

It’s important to realize that marketing is evolving fast. Maybe you were drawn to the industry because of Mad Men, but today’s advertising landscape looks completely different. While crafting a strong ad campaign and placing it on TV or online is still important, brands are now finding success through influencer partnerships, social media, and e-commerce. To stay relevant, you need to stay on top of these trends and be ready to adapt.

4. Network, network, network 

Certainly, networking can feel awkward for many. But everyone does it, and it’s essential to succeed in any industry — not just marketing. If you meet someone interesting who does a job that you think you’d enjoy, ask them to get a coffee. Maybe your parents or older siblings know someone — send them an email and tell them you want to hear how they got to where they are in their career. Networking doesn’t have to result in a job immediately to be useful, but it’ll always pay off in the long run. 

5. Build a portfolio

If you ever run a social media campaign, or design an ad or other promotional materials, keep a record for your portfolio. By all means, create a website where you can display what you’ve done, or at the very least keep a folder of your projects saved on your computer. If you largely work with video or online, then use whatever platform works best for you — what matters is that you’re able to show someone the work that you’ve done. 

Turn Your Marketing Degree into a Career: Top Marketing Major Jobs – Takeaways

As you’ve learned, a marketing degree can be many things, and it is in high demand across different industries. In the digital era, there are new ways to sell and market products every day. Notably, creative strategy and persuasive communications are crucial to every brand’s success, whether it’s a television show, a new medication, a kitchen appliance — or a college advising company (that’s us)! 

Here are five main takeaways from our article on how to turn your marketing degree into a career:

If you’re still curious about the best colleges for business or the top marketing colleges, CollegeAdvisor has got your back. Our articles and guides are free to read and full of tips to guide you through the college application process. And, if you ever need more support, CollegeAdvisor can set you up with a personal advisor to work with you on your essays, help you build a college list, and even help you with interview preparations.

This article was written by Rachel Kahn and Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.