Some students make up the greatest number of applicants to the marketing department at a particular college. These people have usually studied business at a high level and have a thorough understanding of the concepts behind branding, marketing and sales. These students are usually very talented and hard working. They are the ones who often end up excelling in their chosen profession.
However, other students will have studied a different subject at a lower level, for example accounting. They might have had some experience in marketing previously, although this may be much less than in relation to their previous courses. There is also the option of taking a marketing course that combines elements of arts and sciences. This will give students a good grounding in the subjects they are studying, but will not necessarily give them the insight into marketing that they will get from a business course at university.
So which of these options is better? Should students go on to study marketing at university? The answer is a mixed bag. It is important for students to consider the various factors which will influence their future career, so whether it be a degree in marketing, accountancy, engineering or even marketing & branding, the answer is dependent upon each individual student.
Some students may be better suited to taking a basic marketing course at college, whilst others will be better suited to a graduate level course, such as commerce or psychology. Some people are great marketers, but lack the ability to promote and sell, whereas others have a flair for sales but struggle with the execution side of things. And finally there are those who may have a natural flair for business but lack the managerial skills. So what should they do if they really want to take my marketing for social impact quiz for me?
Firstly, a student must build a solid portfolio of marketing experiences. This portfolio should not only include any off the ground marketing campaigns they may have undertaken, but also any projects they have completed, which will demonstrate their skill in marketing. Examples could be anything from online courses, to small offline assignments, or even something as simple as giving away a product to a local school. A valuable marketing portfolio is the proof that a student has that they know how to market themselves and can achieve success in this area.
The next step is to assemble a team. A group of marketers together under one banner means a stronger support network. Being part of a group, or collective, allows a student to bounce ideas off one another, which could result in further development of a particular idea/product/service. The fact that they are all working together under one roof also means they can bounce ideas off each other and ensure there are no glaring mistakes left over. The key is for the team to work as a whole towards a common goal; that is reaching out to as many people as possible and ensuring they achieve the desired social impact. If a team is unable to achieve this, then a student needs to look at his/her own weak points and re-plan the campaign accordingly.
So, if you have an idea for a marketing campaign, don’t just sit there and wait for it to come to you. Be proactive and put your ideas into action. Do your homework and study the market to understand the problems facing your potential customers. Then, if you feel comfortable, take my marketing for social impact quiz for me. Who knows, maybe your idea will be a best seller and you will get a chance to have your own book tour!
