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This week we've teamed up with Market Campus to give you five reasons your marketing degree may not be what you thought it was.
Marketing is an exciting part of the business world, and one of the biggest reasons is that it's constantly changing. Cutting-edge digital marketing skills like search engine optimization, digital content creation and the ability to create a powerful presence on social media are in demand.
Alternatives to traditional college degree programs are emerging to meet the needs of tomorrow's marketing experts. Professional bootcamps in Utah are becoming popular because they teach current, career-building skills in a small classroom environment in just a matter of weeks.
Better yet, classes are available in the evenings, so students can keep their full-time day jobs while improving their career skills. Here are five reasons why you may want to rethink the traditional marketing degree and consider alternative routes for gaining digital marketing education and experience.
It's expensive
In 2012, The Institute for College Access and Success reported that 71 percent of students graduating from a four-year college carried a student loan debt. The average amount of debt was $29,400. Getting a good job to pay off those loans after graduation is never guaranteed, and in an uncertain economy, it can be especially challenging. A digital marketing bootcamp would only set you back about $2,800. Not bad at all.
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It's hands-off
Many college courses aren't designed to give you hands-on training in your chosen field. They are all about the big picture, not the day-to-day operations that are essential to job success
It's true that internships and other real-world experiences are available, but not necessarily for all students. Landing these opportunities may be especially challenging for a student who is already working one or more jobs to pay tuition. Fortunately Utah has programs like Market Campus, a nine week crash course in digital marketing to help launch your career.
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It's impersonal
Undergraduate business classes in a traditional college can be large and impersonal. Some classes have hundreds of students and are taught by graduate students with limited real-world professional experience. Is that really the best way to spend your tuition dollar? Bootcamps are typically taught by industry professionals who have full-time jobs in their trade, so you are able to hear new experiences almost everyday.
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It's out of date
College courses are subject to approval processes, and may be taught by professors who are not actively working in the rapidly changing field of digital marketing. This means that anything you're learning about the Internet marketplace and social media could be out of date before the first day of class. Bootcamps aren't held to the same restrictions so their course criteria can be updated the very day they teach it.
Furthermore, the employment landscape is changing. According to one survey by the online marketing giant Moz, the average salary gap between online marketers with an undergraduate degree and those with some college was less than $3,000.
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Employers value experience
Most employers say they value college degrees and will typically list a degree in the job requirements. However, the truth is that relevant experience is what matters most to a hiring manager.
According to HR World, a website that supports human resources professionals, "Pertinent work experience and a track record of success in a particular field trump a graduate degree most of the time."
Research shows that college degrees are generally a good investment in the long term, but for many, the time, money and temperament required to complete a traditional degree is unrealistic.
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Other reasons to pursue alternatives to traditional marketing classes include wanting to change careers, start your own business or add new skills to an established marketing career.
