Question

Topic: Student Questions

Dropping Out Of Grad School

Posted by Anonymous on 11/1/2009 at 12:13 PM ET 125 Points
I recently started a PhD program in Economics, and I'm realizing it's not for me. Being here has made me realize that I don't want to be a professor, teach, and do abstract research. So, I've decided to stick around long enough to earn a masters degree, at which point I intend to hit the job market. The only problem is, earning the masters degree is not a guarantee. The coursework is extremely difficult, and in order to earn a masters degree, you have to keep your grades above a certain level and pass comprehensive exams at the end of the year. This brings me to my question: If I am unable to earn the masters degree, how difficult will it be to get a job in marketing (leaning towards market research, but open to other areas as well)? If it helps answer my question, I graduated with a bachelors in economics and a minor in math, my undergrad GPA was a 3.7 from a top 50 US university. I also have a good deal of coursework in psychology, and worked as a research assistant in psychology for about 1.5 years.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted on 11/1/2009 at 1:23 PM Author
    Yes, I'm (essentially) a career student, I started grad school 8 months after finishing undergrad.
  • Posted by ilan on 11/1/2009 at 1:23 PM Accepted
    Masters degree in a related field to marketing is the minimum for people to even considering talking to you.
    I know it is dumb, but it is a dumb reality.
  • Posted on 11/1/2009 at 2:26 PM Author
    Then how do so many people get in with undergrad degrees? Just to be clear, I'm talking about obtaining an entry-level job in the field. I would be willing to go back to school for an MBA (or other masters degree), but I'd to work for a few years first.
  • Posted by Gary Bloomer on 11/1/2009 at 3:48 PM Accepted
    Dear pokeronomist,

    You'd be willing to go back to school for an MBA (or other masters degree), but you'd work for a few years first? Here's what I think: Dude, you're AWESOME!

    From what little you've said you seem to have your head screwed on properly (which believe me, is a rare thing) and I think your plan is sound.

    Pieces of paper, letters after your name and all that, are, I'm sure quite nice things to have.

    Are they ESSENTIAL?

    No. I don't think they are.

    It's NOT, nor is it EVER what qualifications you have that matter; it's what you bring to the table, it's the solutions you give your clients; it's how you help people; it's how you create your personal brand.

    THOSE are the things that REALLY matter. Ph/D, MBA, whatever.
    No one with these things puts their pants on any differently than you do. Their poop smells no sweeter than yours or mine.

    Want to know something else? The qualifications most of us gain, we gain for ourselves, or because we're pushed into getting them—to meet someone else's standards of what's good, great, acceptable, or right.

    But most people buying marketing? I think for the most part they really don't give a smooth fart what qualifications you or any other marketing person has.

    What they want to know is what you can do for them? How can YOU increase their visibility? How WILL you gain recognition, market share, share of mind, and ROI; how will you best position their product, service, widget, or goods to best meet the needs of the consumer and to how best match the dreams, wants, needs, desires, expectations of real people with real problems.

    Your psychology background will—I think, stand you in good stead when it comes to getting a job because so much of marketing is deeply enmeshed in suppositions, presuppositions, and the machinations of wants, needs, desires and so on.

    The key to success?

    I think it's giving great value, I think it's in caring and I know what's worked for me: Hard work. Passion. Showing I GIVE a crap. Hustling. Being prepared to be laughed at, knocked down, and putting up with being put in my place. But then GETTING UP AGAIN.

    I don't have a masters; I don't have an MBA. I studied graphic design and I don't have a marketing qualification to my name,
    as such.

    What's got me into the top 25 listing on this forum, the thing
    that's gained me recognition and support from literally dozens
    of marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, and business people over the last six months on this forum and via Twitter (I started contributing to the KHE OF M.Profs at the beginning of May) is
    this: PASSION.

    And for anyone out there who has a real driven feeling that the thing they want to do is the thing they want to do, passion's the fuel that keeps their jet in the air.

    I hope this helps. Good luck to you.

    Gary Bloomer
    Wilmington, DE, USA
    Follow me on www.twitter.com @GaryBloomer



  • Posted on 11/1/2009 at 6:05 PM Author
    Gary Bloomer,

    Thank you for the inspiration and kind (and wise) words of encouragement, I honesty appreciate it. I guess the one thing that I'm still worried about, is, how exactly do I get my foot in the door in the first place? I fear dropping out of grad school may look bad to employers, and make it difficult for me to get that first job. Once I get the first job, I think I can work my tail off and move up the ranks. How do I get a solid first job that allows me to learn, grow, etc, so that I can start to climb that latter of career success? Thoughts? Advice? Thanks again.
  • Posted by Gary Bloomer on 11/1/2009 at 8:19 PM Member
    Dear pokeronomist,

    Well, you are MOST welcome. I really mean that. Responses
    like yours make all the crap I take worth it, they really do.

    How do you get that first foot in the door? That first chance? That first opportunity? I don't know your name, so for the moment, I'll call you Bubba.

    Bubba, that's a KICK ASS question.

    The answer to which is simple: Hustle. In words of one syllable? Work. Your. Ass. Off.

    Here's what I suggest you do.

    Click here https://bit.ly/CrushItByGaryVaynerchuk

    Got it? Now. Order this book. Or go to your nearest book store and buy the damn thing. It's 134 pages long. A day's read if that. But inside it, you'll find PURE GOLD.

    Gary Vaynerchuk (www.twitter.com/garyvee) is the wine guy. He took his parent's $4 million dollar a year liquor store and turned it into a business that's now worth $60 million and he did all this with a cheap video camera, a blog, and social media. And he did it all in less than two years.

    The one thing you've got going for you is the brand called you. That's what Gary's book, CRUSH IT! is all about. I bought it on Friday just gone, I finished it this morning, and the smoldering fire I've been poking at for the last few months—CRUSH IT! has just had a gallon of gasoline dumped on it.

    Start now, building this thing called YOUR brand and I guarantee that if you stick at it, and if you're passionate, that you'll make enough of an impression on enough people that your efforts will at worst, get you a kick ass job. And at best, give you the chance to live your dream, doing the thing that really makes you happy—and doing the thing that you COULD monetize the bejesus out of.

    Do this, begin now, and work at it day and night—making connections, giving value, being you and working with integrity
    and you'll be head and shoulders ahead of every other person your age, with your background and your career aspirations.

    Here's why: More and more employers are finding their new people through LinkedIn. And over the next two years or so this figure can only increase.

    Got a Facebook account?

    If not, get one—and in your real name.

    Got a Twitter account? Ditto. And LinkedIn. And YouTube. Then set up a blog through www.tumblr.com. This is free. Buy a domain name if you feel the need, and hosting, but otherwise, Tumblr's free.

    My wee blog (click my name above and you'll find a link), my wee blog is a Tumblr blog. Is mine PRETTY? Nope. Will it win any design awards. Negative. Is it bring me results? Hell yes.

    Why? Because I'm using it to advertise ME. And believe me, if an HTML challenged twonk like ME can do this—set up a blog and figure out links and teach himself basic HTML (which you can do in a weekend), SO CAN YOU.

    That résumé you've got—the one on the posh paper with the experience by date and the personal statement? Kindling.

    Imagine this: there's a killer job with your name written all over it a year or 18 months from now and you've done ALL the ground work and really, and I mean REALLY killed it in terms of pulling together great content and evidence that you've got what it takes.

    When it comes to a list of candidates for this job, who will stand out more?

    Someone with a paper résumé and shiny shoes?

    Or your video blog with 2,000+ entries about marketing, branding, sales, psychology, direct response buying, press releases about your book deal, YouTube segments of your TV appearances, and your list of speaking engagements at leading social media and Web 2.0 conferences?

    This is what Gary's book https://bit.ly/CrushItByGaryVaynerchuk is all about.

    Three years ago Twitter didn't exist. Five years ago Facebook didn't exist. Six years ago it was expensive and technically challenging to get video online. Now you can do it in seconds.

    Could this happen? Could this be you? Yes. In fact, there's no reason why it CAN'T be you. As I believe it can be ANYONE who's prepared to do the work.

    But it WON'T happen if you sit around sitting on your hands; it WON'T happen if you don't take action.

    Is this the traditional, regular, conservative way of getting a job or of shaping one's career?

    No, Bubba, it isn't.

    But over the next few years I believe the way most graduates get jobs will shift. Or at least the shift will happen for those graduates who are prepared to get off their backsides and make an effort in order to stand out.

    Is there any reason why this couldn't be you?

    None that I can see, Bubba. So, what are you waiting for? Take a look at Gary's book https://bit.ly/CrushItByGaryVaynerchuk

    I hope this helps. And if you'd like to chat off forum, click on my name above and you'll find a link to my e-mail.

    Good luck to you Bubba. —Kind regards,

    Gary Bloomer
    Wilmington, DE, USA
    Follow me on www.twitter.com @GaryBloomer



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