Do you have to be innovative for a marketing degree?

Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, services, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society. Innovation refers to the use of a new idea or method therefore it involves marketing. For example using a new idea of advertising to get people to buy the new product. Therefore marketing involves some innovation.

Communications, strategy planning and research are also essential steps in marketing any brand or service. This leaves a number of career paths open for an individual with a college degree in marketing.

Research

Most marketing strategies are based on concrete research and analysis of historical results. Available career paths are market research or analyst. Many companies outsource some or all their analysts from other companies that supply research data.

Sales

A marketing degree is solid preparation for a job in sales or other sales-support functions such as category management, trade (or field) marketing, or positions that plan or execute promotions and events.

Marketing

Marketing managers' job responsibilities vary depending on the industry (brand/product marketing, Internet marketing, nonprofit marketing). Other positions available are creative positions w/ advertising, media agency, public relations or communications.

Compensation

Any supporting role (research, analysis, category management, public relations) tends to have a lower salary than a marketing manager or sales manager position. Salary for a sales position most often relies in large or small part on bonuses/ commissions.

Expert Insight

Marketing manager positions in large companies will seek out those with a marketing degree and past experience. To get the experience, consider volunteer work with nonprofit agencies, internships or lower-paid analyst positions.