Question

Topic: Student Questions

The Necessity Of Education In Marketing As First Higher Education?

Posted by Anonymous on 5/25/2004 at 5:19 PM ET 169 Points
When I look through many job postings I come across such requirements for marketing managers of, for example, pharmaceutical company as "higher education in medicine and additional in marketing". And it is the same for every special field of busines (IT, car parts, real estate) except FMCG. Marketing education (major) is often required with combination of some other education and experience.

Now, i'm in the process of getting my first higher education. I'm eager to choose marketing as my specialty, but I'm afraid of being discriminated by employers in future without any additional education or experience.

Maybe this question has already been asked, but it is the topic of current importance for me.
Thank you!
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  • Posted by Blaine Wilkerson on 5/25/2004 at 8:37 PM Accepted
    Not to add to your confusion...BUT.....

    Although it is most certainly helpful to have medical experience if working in a marketing role for a medical company, it is not necesary to be a master of marketing AND "industry X".

    As a matter of fact, many of those companies (medical, IT, auto) are looking for seasoned industry employees to promote into "marketing" positions. This is a classic case of misusing the term and companies confusing marketing with SALES!!

    I have a ton of medical experience, and a dual education in Forensic Science and Biochemistry. Marketing was an "elective" and somewhat self-taught via several entreprenuerial ventures. I am now approaching close to a dozen clients...not a single one has anything to to with bioscience or medicine.

    If you have the capacity to creatively and competently perform in a marketing role, you can apply your knowledge and tactics to almost any industry.

    Again, having extended education and/or experience in the field of interest is a definate plus, but be aware most of those ads are looking for folks who know the industry well enough to make SALES calls while wearing a "marketing" name badge. They are not necessarily looking for someone with 2 degrees.

    Don't worry, if you concentrate your degree toward marketing, and perhaps use your electives to broaden you horizons by taking upper level science and computer courses, you should do just fine. In the end, it all falls back on your drive and capabilities.

    Good Luck!
  • Posted by Peter (henna gaijin) on 5/25/2004 at 9:11 PM Member
    I read both of the above, and while they are both true, I think they could be confusing.

    I work in the staffing indsutry (helping companies with the hiring process). From what I have seen, there is variations in what is required based on the position:

    For positions like marketing management and product management, the knowledge of the customer and market is often more important than the knowledge of marketing. These positions are often filled by people who have worked in other areas within the indsutry (often sales).

    For positions such as marketing communications and marketing research, the knowldedge of marketing is generally more important than the knowldge of the industry.

    I know a lot of people in biotech, and recommend you not use them as a standard for how things are done. They do generally require a hard sciences degree, and generally only consider someone that doesn't have it if they already have industry experience (catch 22 - how do you get industry experience if no one hires without the degree). And to get into upper management in biotech, you pretty much need to be a PhD or MD. Other industry (tech or otherwise) generally are much more flexible.

    Now, given you are choosing a degree, you really don't need to worry too much. As was said above, getting a degree in business, marketing, or science will all open up a variety of great career paths (in marketing and elsewhere). But, it would be good to balance out a tech degree with a business degree (e.g. if you plan to go for an MBA, then go for a tech degree now, or if just a BS, major in one and minor in the other).
  • Posted by Peter (henna gaijin) on 5/27/2004 at 9:32 PM Member
    I just read an interesting quote in Workforce Management e-magazine (https://www.workforce.com/section/11/feature/23/71/79/index.html):

    For students five years past their graduation, the kind of degree they hold and where they got it don’t matter much in the business world, says Dave Opton, CEO of online job board Execunet. "They’re judged by their track record," Opton says. "If anything, the fact that they’ve gone on and gotten their degree can only be seen as a plus."
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