Advice on Careers in Marketing??

tommytoofar

Hi everyone. Im just on here to see if I can get some advice regarding my degree and qualifications. I graduated from the BBS course in WIT specialising in marketing in 2007, but ended up in jobs that really are not suited to my qualifications. Long story short, I have been working for the last 2 years for a well knon carbonated drinks company as both a merchandiser and sales developer (rep), and to be honest I hate it. Is my degree worth anything to me at all at this stage, as I'm now 25 and feel that if I'm going to have my career working out for me, now is the time to get it going right. RThere are no opporrtunities to advance in my current employer, and I have been told that I wont be getting any, despite my hard work. I work on my own in this job most of the time and as areslut there is no social aspect to my work , and I work best as part of a group, there fore I need to get out and find a role better suited to me andmy qualifications. I dont want to end up with a career in sales, as I feel that I did not need to give 4 years of my life studying and ploughing money in to my education to get such a role. I really need help and advice with this as I reallyy ant to be going somewhere wioth my career, but am at a dead end with my current role, b ut I dont know if this is the best I can hope for. All constuctive advice would be most appreciated. I'm at the stage where I will relocate to get my career on track, even abroad I suppose what I'm trying to find out is whether employers jsut view paople with marketing degrees as salespeople

dayshah

Unfortunately a marketing degree doesn't give so many concrete skills.
Did you do a BBS degree?

My advice would be to get a concrete skill. You can then combine this with your marketing knowledge.

For example I know of someone who's background is chemistry (concrete skills there), but did some marketing. She is happy in her job marketing plastics. People respect her marketing because she knows about chemistry.

Or maybe learn a language. Eg French, and market things to French people. There might be some scope for travel. I know of someone who did marketing and German, and lives in Germany doing marketing for I think butter. Its something he likes.

I think doing a master's is a definite plus. Remember your CV is ahead of others because you have actual work experience. Other people fresh out of college don't have that, so you have an advantage there.

I get an impression you don't like marketing itself? If so maybe do a HDip and then masters in something specific like accounting.

Or maybe you just aren't interested in selling coke or pepsi or whatever. What are your interests? For example if you are into surfing, maybe you can get some sort of formal qualification as an instructor, and work marketing surf gear. People would respect your specialist surf knowledge and you have the marketing qualification.

I did a BBS degree and people their did marketing because the thought it was the soft option. Therefore you have a huge number of people with that qualification. You really need to add a niché so that your CV stands out.

tommytoofar

Yeah Ive a BBS degree alrite, I just get the feeling that people seem to equate marketing as being a salesman. Yeah thats interesting what you mentioned regarding surfing etc. I chose marketing, because I felt it would allow me the opportunity to work in a creative environment, amongst other people and bouncing ideas off of each other an developing ideas from concept through to reality. My own peorsonal area of interst ios cars and motorsport, but tragically in a recession thats not what you would call an easy industry to get inot in ay way shape or form, especially without an enginerring backround. I'm beginning to think that the only way to get ahead is to get out, ie leave the country to gain experience. Dont know if even any companies are willing to hire anyone for marketing unless they have previous experience. What line of business are you operating in?

chelloveks

Tommttofar,

You are in a tough spot allright. Not alot of jobs in ANY field right now unless its higher education or health care, at least here in the US.

A marketing degree is a good thing to have, but it is often equated with sales. Did you ever try to get into Advertising? There are creative marketers in that industry, but again, in this economy they are hurting too. Hang in there and see as the economy turns for the better if you can't get a better spot somewhere. Your sales experience will be an asset on your CV. It's just that this economic environment is a biitch right now.

Will your company help you with tuition expenses if you go for a Masters?

dayshah

tommytoofar wrote: »

Yeah Ive a BBS degree alrite, I just get the feeling that people seem to equate marketing as being a salesman. Yeah thats interesting what you mentioned regarding surfing etc. I chose marketing, because I felt it would allow me the opportunity to work in a creative environment, amongst other people and bouncing ideas off of each other an developing ideas from concept through to reality. My own peorsonal area of interst ios cars and motorsport, but tragically in a recession thats not what you would call an easy industry to get inot in ay way shape or form, especially without an enginerring backround. I'm beginning to think that the only way to get ahead is to get out, ie leave the country to gain experience. Dont know if even any companies are willing to hire anyone for marketing unless they have previous experience. What line of business are you operating in?

Moving country for a few years could be a good idea. If you don't have a foreign language, go to a country that no-one knows their language, like Denmark of Czech republic or somewhere. If you do a one month course (there are free scholarships on Dept Education website that no-one knows about) then they will be impressed that you made the effort.
Then you can try get a job with an Irish company in this country. I know a few phrases in these languages no-one learns, and these people are really impressed. Imagine if you met a Danish person who could speak some basic Irish, you'd be impressed and more warm to them.

For example, learn some Romanian (which is a lot like Italian, a bit like French). This is an up and coming country. No-one else really wants to move from Ireland to Romania, so try get a job with Kerrygold or someone marketing in Romania. Then in 5 years time you can but on your CV, I went to a new market, and increased revenue there by a million per cent. They'd see you as someone who can spot an opportunity.
If you try do this in Australia or somewhere, there are probably thousands of Irish people there with marketing skills already, so you'd be less special.

The only problem is you shouldn't quit your job until you have something else lined up. So if its a language you learn you can do it from tapes, and then find a language buddy from Poland or Romania or wherever. They do this in the city library. And hey, even if you don't get a job there, you might get a sexy Polish/Romanian girlfriend!!!

starfish12

OP dont give up just yet, i have a marketing degree from DIT & love my job/career, and work in a very creative and exciting environment. there is an issue around BBS degrees in the industry, my degree was 4 years of pure marketing & from experience going for jobs it makes a difference. if you do want to get into an agency type role (and now really isnt a great time unfortunately as they are all making people redundant) there are a couple of options.

One is to take the iapi/dit postgrad course its called Postgrad Diploma in Advertising and Digital Communications (IAPI in association with DIT) http://www.iapi.ie/index.php?s=jobs&id=72

this course has changed in the last year, but when i worked in a large dublin ad agency alot of junior staff had come into the org by doing this course, so combined with your BBS degree it could be a good option. The fact that its aligned with DIT makes it alot more appealing to employers. (i've sat on a number of interview panels & noticed people say it more than once)
The other area in which there is decent scope at the moment is digital marketing, I've taken the diploma in digital marketing from the digital marketing institute & found it really useful, i know its an area that is definitely growing despite the recession!

hardybuck

I see lots of graduate marketing roles being advertised, and there are loads of internships available via IBEC's Gradlink programme, some paid some unpaid, but you get to claim social welfare while you gain experience.

Go back to WIT and consult their careers service, as an alumni they should still look after you.

tommytoofar

Thanks very much everyone for the help and advice, and not telling me to be happy to be where I am (I am grateful have a job by the way!!). Gonna take all suggestions and advice into consideration. The next 3 or 4 months will tell a lot, its time to...ahem or get off the pot!! Thanks again

chelloveks

tommytoofar wrote: »

Thanks very much everyone for the help and advice, and not telling me to be happy to be where I am (I am grateful have a job by the way!!). Gonna take all suggestions and advice into consideration. The next 3 or 4 months will tell a lot, its time to...ahem or get off the pot!! Thanks again

Good luck....things will turn for the better....it's always darkest before dawn....enough of the old bull****t slogans....

tommytoofar

chelloveks wrote: »

Good luck....things will turn for the better....it's always darkest before dawn....enough of the old bull****t slogans....

Haha, sound. Game of two halves blah blah!!!

tommytoofar

Hi everyone, just said I'd post an update to this thread which I started. Still in rthe same job, but have been applying for numerous jobs and roles, but still without any joy. Was just wondering if anyone knows what the best path for someone to get into the sector?

jad2007

Hi there, just saw your recent post but did not read older posts. i have a marketing background and know exactly what people mean re: marketing = sales.
I disagree with a lot of the older posts, what I would advise you is trying to build marketing experience whilst staying in your current job find a business or a community project and offer your marketing skills for free. This will help your CV and it will also help you determine whether or not you actually like marketing ( and are you any good at it).

It is hard to break out of the marketing stereotypes so you need to do it gradually by building experience.

oddwire

I'd agree with the post above. There are a lot of festivals taking place who are desperate for manpower and have very little budget-wise. Why not start off offering your services to some of these to gain a bit of experience and build up a bit of a CV in marketing? You could be working as right-hand-man to a very well-connected marketing person who might think of you in the future when a place comes up somewhere.