When students are considering a Bachelor’s in Integrated Marketing and Communications, career prospects are an important factor. This degree combines typical marketing skills, such as advertising and promotions, with communication elements like writing and graphic design. This broad foundation opens up a wide variety of job opportunities for graduates.
Traditional Marketing and Communications Jobs
For marketing and communications grads who want to pursue a traditional career path, there are plenty of corporate and small-business jobs to be had. Positions exist for every specialty: web development, graphic design, copywriting, advertising, photography, video editing, messaging, and branding are just a few. As graduates move up the ranks, they become marketing, advertising, and communications managers. These high-level positions devise company-wide goals and strategies; they often manage a team of people to accomplish each goal. It’s common for these workers to move between companies as their skills and experiences grow.
Specialists vs. Generalists
With a degree in marketing and communications, graduates can opt to be specialists or generalists. Specialists are people who focus on one area; writers and graphic designers are good examples. Large companies and large agencies often hire specialists to carry out a specific function. Generalists perform a broad range of marketing and communications tasks. They often work at small companies doing a little bit of everything. This is an excellent career path for graduates who thrive on variety or who aren’t sure where to specialize. As a bonus, working as a generalist provides the opportunity to gain experience across the entire spectrum of tasks; this makes it easier to move into higher-level managerial or directorial positions.
Embracing the Gig Economy
With a degree in marketing and communications, graduates are well-positioned to take advantage of the gig economy. Marketing and communications skills are in high demand, particularly on a freelance or contract basis. Students might offer services in writing, social media consulting, video editing, photography, search engine optimization, web design, and more — all skills that are covered in typical integrated marketing and communication coursework. According to Entrepreneur, freelance video editing using Final Cut Pro X is among the highest-paid gig economy jobs. This career path is particularly appealing to people who want to avoid the traditional nine-to-five jobs.
Creating a Custom Career
Thanks to the internet, many graduates with an integrated marketing and communications degree are blazing their career path. With a very small investment, often, less than $100, it’s possible to start building an online business. Some students create a personal brand using the skills from their degree. They then earn money using sponsorships, ads, affiliate links, and more. Others set up online stores using drop-shipping technology and use their degree to inform marketing and drive sales. Yet others might develop apps, make a living from YouTube channels and Instagram profiles, or sell digital ad space. As more of the world gets online, these opportunities are only likely to grow.
Conclusion
Most businesses in the world require some form of marketing and communication to grow. For graduates with a Bachelor’s in Integrated Marketing and Communications, this is good news; it means a steady stream of job opportunities and a flexible, long-lasting career.
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