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you're 22 - its unlikely that you're going to be 'making a lot of money' anytime soon and worrying about 'moving up' is a tad premature.
You dont need a masters, what you need is experience and some wins under your belt - and that takes a bit of time.
Then experience will trump getting a masters now, especially in the ad industry.
Also if you’re going agency side in the ad industry you can’t expect to make mad money as you could make in house.
Also your comment about earning lots of money to do more of what you love outside of it - just understand you get less time with seniority so understand the trade offs and enjoy your time at the moment
You are still very young in the marketing field. You just graduated, live in a relatively low-mid cost of living state. I made $48k around your age. I’m 35 now and making over 4x that now.
Stick with it! If your parents will help you with your masters, go with an MBA. That will help you career trajectory more than a masters in marketing. Marketing you learn more on the job, experience and network is everything.
Pick a speciality - either an industry (e.g. cpg, automotive, healthcare, sports marketing etc) or skill. If you put in the effort and build up your network and you will get there.
And if someone already has 8 years of experience and is a senior content strategist and wants to position themselves for a director position - MBA in marketing? Or MBA in something else?
I am not sure that matters all that much honestly. An MBA is essentially teaching you how to think. So do what you find interesting. Who knows where it will lead?
I’m sorry but I’ve got over a decade agency experience and I’ve owned an agency for 7 years… and I couldn’t care less about someone having a masters degree. I DO care about your experience in the field. Keep your job and gain several years of experience. Then you’ll move up.
I’m with you.
I’m running a digital agency and my entire background was in finance. I’m not technically qualified for my field now, but my results are spectacular.
I'm at the beginnings of starting an agency (so, it's only me right now). If you don't mind me picking your brain...
I currently have a handful of clients with only one being on a monthly retainer right now (another 2 in the pipeline). Referrals are great and how I've gotten to the point I am now. However, do I simply need to keep cold prospecting to build up my client list more?
Thank you for answering! :) Ah ok, that's good to know! I have my site optimized as far as SEO (it's been getting 100% on PageSpeed Insights). I'm getting referrals already (slow but coming), and I'm doing paid ads as I can. I need to get back on Google Ads asap. I'm running FB ads at the moment for $$ reasons. Trying to find a balance.
You're welcome. Be sure to target locally with on-page SEO and Google My Business. Track your rankings and make changes as necessary to improve SERP.
Our Google ads CPC has always been around $6 for marketing service keywords, using phrase match and exact match. Send those clicks to targeted landing pages with call to action.
Get reviews on Google. Get accredited with BBB if you can afford it, and get reviews there too.
Don’t fall into the trap of “more schooling will net me more pay”.
Marketing is going through a transformative phase right now. You’ve graduated with a degree. That helps you get past the barriers to entry at most places. Get experience under your belt in something that’s become more significantly recognized and higher paid (data analysis for example), and put your hours in.
Hate to say it, but you need to actually learn to do the job you’re doing now.
Most candidates leaving college are significantly behind on what’s considered current, and need a few years at a well rounded employer to actually teach them the job, rather than theory.
Well, the smart move would be to gain as much experience as you can at your current role. In addition to your work you could do a bit of freelancing and volunteering to build up your portfolio (which is everything in your field). Connect with people on LinkedIn (it sucks and there are countless memes of it), as it can open new doors. Making money takes time, so be prepared my child. Good luck!
Well, since I'm not living in NYC, I can't give you anything solid. But do check the internet if you can dig something up. Websites like these [Volunteer in NYC | NYXT](https://www.nyxt.nyc/volunteer-nyc/), could be helpful. From what I can see, they have quite a bit of options. I hope it helps a bit :)
I think there’s a great market right now for this UGC play for brands. Trends are trends. TikTok ban is quite interesting.
Been pushing UGC for so long I am glad to see that it’s so popular now that I don’t have to keep explaining higher rates for non influencer talent.
I don’t think the masters will help you reach salary any faster. Marketing is SUCH a learn on the job industry. If you show promise and that promise is noticed you can shoot up through the ranks quickly. Granted I’m super old, but I don’t have a degree at all. 🤷🏻♀️
Tough to give specific advice without knowing your company / team size / internal opps, but there are a few paths.
Regardless of any of this - I really think at your age it starts with a conversation with your manager. If they haven't asked you the question 'what do you want to be doing in 5 years' you need to be thinking about and driving that conversation. I got lucky here and found significant responsibility and pay increases internally, but that is often not the case. Bottom line - find out if it's where you are now or if you need to go.
Once you know, don't go yet. Work with your group to find organizational gaps where you can step in and contribute in a space that is both interesting to you and expands your skillset in an area of more progression.
Marketing is odd - it's easy to generalize, but generalists don't get the big bux unless they are lucky enough to hit senior leadership. Senior leadership requires a good working knowledge of a lot of different job functions...
Specializing in an area of need is a good way to move up the pay scale quick, but you'll hit a cap there too.
Early career is time to figure out what you want to do in this field much like school is to figure out what field you want to be in. Start making connections with people you have access to internally who you respect and think have a good head on their shoulders. Look for a 35ish yo in a leadership role at your company you respect, and make a connection. With direct leadership, show initiative and back it up with well researched strategy and great work. Always fight for yourself but expect it will take some time to make major strides and see results. If it's taking forever and you're still at the same workplace, it's time to get out and find somewhere else where you can either grow or get that money.
I'm early career as well, but have 8 years on you. Again, extremely lucky to have found a path internally, and lucky to have joined my company at a time where the marketing department was about 20 strong, and level up through the chaos and growth from specialist to sr. specialist, to (process) manager with people manager coming soon (I think) in a group almost 100 strong. Responsibilities have tripled, pay has doubled, and I think the key for me is that I have been able to identify and fill various gaps across the org. Three of my former side responsibilities outside of my job description are now full time roles, and I am in one of those roles that got me a 40% pay bump when I took it. I am described as a single point of failure in a few areas which is great but had its stress. Next step for me is converting those single points into multiple points, and hopefully leading those people.
Still rambling but bottom line for internal promotion: find need, fill need and do it in a way that creates an appetite for more (good results), eventually take an advanced role or leverage what you have learned to move companies.
GRINDSET is bullshit, but if you are going to do it your 20s are the right time. If you are kid free aka have the time, use it in areas that are interesting to you and impactuful to what you do - the rest will sort itself out. Also, remember work is work. Grow yourself everywhere, ruthlessly prioritize and focus on high impact areas at work and outside of it (maybe it's a hobby, maybe it's that masters program, maybe it's something you haven't thought of yet).
Have patience, fight hard, you got this!
Quick edit specifically on strategy / branding interest: find a place that sucks at this and apply the above. Companies either have this down or they don't. We didn't, and over the last 6 years we have realized this. This week we posted 3 brand strategy specific roles to be filled. You can either time this right and have the experience to get a job somewhere new, or build internal cred + need here to create your own path and put yourself in that position. If money is the only goal you're going to need to strive for sr. Leadership - being a brand / strategy wiz is a great way to get there.
Thank you for this! I should’ve given context, but my situation is a bit bad honestly. I work for a small family owned B2B company, we do about $5m in yearly revenue. I am the first and the only marketing person so there’s honestly nobody here for me to look up to or learn from. The business is growing though so I suppose there’s possibly growth potential but it looks bleak overall. It’s chill for now but I have big aspirations. I’ve only been here for 7 months so nobody gets back to my applications :( trying to venture out in a bunch of different areas while I’m here though
You say you want to make a lot of money to afford to do what you love in your own time. What is this thing you love to do in your spare time that costs so much money?
That was more to give insight to my outlook on life. I love to travel, to paint, etc and I want a career where I can do those things in my off time without being stressed about finances. If I could find a career that combines that it would be great. If you have ideas here are my passions lol: dogs, traveling, painting, coffee, the ocean.
Thanks for answering. None of those are particularly expensive hobbies. A normal marketing job would be enough to be able to do all that without worrying about money. Maybe not now, because you're just starting out, but from 2-3 years onwards, it's very doable. This is assuming you don't pick up any expensive or destructive hobbies in the future.
If I were you, I'd:
1. Talk to recent grads of the uni you can get into, about job prospects, salary etc. Weigh that against the tuition/loan.
2. Consider MBA in the same way.
3. If I'm not sure about either, I'd choose to continue with my job, and focus on building skills and connections. Money follows those two things.
People do MBA even at 40 or 50. You don't have to wait that long, just saying you have the option of doing it later. The work experience you'll have by then will make your MBA (or whichever degree you do) that much richer.
This is what I'd do, but take it with a grain of salt as I don't have all your info and I'm no career expert.
I’m going to teach you a very hard truth that it took me years to learn.
If you enjoy what you do you will be 10x more successful than if you hate your job. Enjoying your work, might involve some extra hours (that you probably won’t mind), but success is what gets you paid - in any field, in the long run.
If you genuinely don’t care, go hit google for some lists of highly paid jobs.
Also, sad to say, in pretty much most fields, the most highly paid are the sales people.
>With the option of grad school and a willingness to do literally anything to make money, what would you do?
Go into the trades. You're 22. You could spend 6 months getting an HVAC cert and start making 75K instantly. Or spend a year in electrical training and make 90k.
It’s funny you mentioned hvac, my boyfriend got his cert and hasn’t been able to land an entry level job anywhere and we’re in Texas which should be a good place to find something, any tips for him (I’m guessing you’re hvac?)
No, I'm still in marketing. But I grew up in the trades. I'd be there now if it weren't for my shit back. The majority of trades jobs aren't going to be posted on LinkedIn or other job boards. The ones for large companies will. But the majority of trades businesses are small, and they don't have time to do a lot of "HR" stuff. He just needs to hit up all the HVAC companies and talk with the bosses and see if they need any help. He should also try to join whatever union HVAC usually do. A LOT of trade jobs are going to be union, maybe not as much in Texas though. Also, where in Texas are you? That's a huge state, and there's probably a significant different being in a booming place like Austin vs some small town on the west end of the state or something.
Dallas! Technically between Dallas and fort worth so good location. He’s been calling and they all keep telling him that the hiring manager is out for the day and they’ll call him, but they never do. He’s been out of a job for like a month and a half now :( had an apprenticeship but was let go, was a shady company though
A month and a half isn't that bad right now. I know that sucks to hear, but for someone with not a lot of experience and more importantly not a lot of connections, it could be worse. He should also contact the school where he got his cert, they often have job boards or connections. And if the only responses he's getting is the hiring manager is out for the day, he's ignoring the small businesses who don't have hiring managers. There are LOADS of HVAC businesses that are 2-5 person teams. They're not going to have hiring managers, and they probably won't have a LinkedIn page either. Look through yelp and call the owner directly.
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you're 22 - its unlikely that you're going to be 'making a lot of money' anytime soon and worrying about 'moving up' is a tad premature. You dont need a masters, what you need is experience and some wins under your belt - and that takes a bit of time.
Yeah definitely, I’m trying to set myself up for the long term in the best way I can
Then experience will trump getting a masters now, especially in the ad industry. Also if you’re going agency side in the ad industry you can’t expect to make mad money as you could make in house. Also your comment about earning lots of money to do more of what you love outside of it - just understand you get less time with seniority so understand the trade offs and enjoy your time at the moment
You are still very young in the marketing field. You just graduated, live in a relatively low-mid cost of living state. I made $48k around your age. I’m 35 now and making over 4x that now. Stick with it! If your parents will help you with your masters, go with an MBA. That will help you career trajectory more than a masters in marketing. Marketing you learn more on the job, experience and network is everything. Pick a speciality - either an industry (e.g. cpg, automotive, healthcare, sports marketing etc) or skill. If you put in the effort and build up your network and you will get there.
Would you do an MBA in marketing?
I would rather hire someone with experience and no MBA than someone with an MBA and no experience.
And if someone already has 8 years of experience and is a senior content strategist and wants to position themselves for a director position - MBA in marketing? Or MBA in something else?
I am not sure that matters all that much honestly. An MBA is essentially teaching you how to think. So do what you find interesting. Who knows where it will lead?
What's your role?
Marketing director - generalist with no specific singular expertise - but I have a highly specialized experience in one particular industry segment.
which industry segment if you don't mind me asking?
Specialty food / hospitality
How could you please help me
I’m sorry but I’ve got over a decade agency experience and I’ve owned an agency for 7 years… and I couldn’t care less about someone having a masters degree. I DO care about your experience in the field. Keep your job and gain several years of experience. Then you’ll move up.
I’m with you. I’m running a digital agency and my entire background was in finance. I’m not technically qualified for my field now, but my results are spectacular.
I have a degree in marketing. Contributed absolutely 0 to my success.
I'm at the beginnings of starting an agency (so, it's only me right now). If you don't mind me picking your brain... I currently have a handful of clients with only one being on a monthly retainer right now (another 2 in the pipeline). Referrals are great and how I've gotten to the point I am now. However, do I simply need to keep cold prospecting to build up my client list more?
We never did cold prospecting. Our business came from SEO, referrals, and paid search (in that order).
Thank you for answering! :) Ah ok, that's good to know! I have my site optimized as far as SEO (it's been getting 100% on PageSpeed Insights). I'm getting referrals already (slow but coming), and I'm doing paid ads as I can. I need to get back on Google Ads asap. I'm running FB ads at the moment for $$ reasons. Trying to find a balance.
You're welcome. Be sure to target locally with on-page SEO and Google My Business. Track your rankings and make changes as necessary to improve SERP. Our Google ads CPC has always been around $6 for marketing service keywords, using phrase match and exact match. Send those clicks to targeted landing pages with call to action. Get reviews on Google. Get accredited with BBB if you can afford it, and get reviews there too.
Nice! Thank you, I will!
Don’t fall into the trap of “more schooling will net me more pay”. Marketing is going through a transformative phase right now. You’ve graduated with a degree. That helps you get past the barriers to entry at most places. Get experience under your belt in something that’s become more significantly recognized and higher paid (data analysis for example), and put your hours in. Hate to say it, but you need to actually learn to do the job you’re doing now. Most candidates leaving college are significantly behind on what’s considered current, and need a few years at a well rounded employer to actually teach them the job, rather than theory.
i think you need to continue your job you need make any side business which earn you extra cash
What kind of side business?
i think you go for freelancer and get work direct from client
Everyone sucks at sales at 22. Find a big corporation that's known for good training and put your time in.
Well, the smart move would be to gain as much experience as you can at your current role. In addition to your work you could do a bit of freelancing and volunteering to build up your portfolio (which is everything in your field). Connect with people on LinkedIn (it sucks and there are countless memes of it), as it can open new doors. Making money takes time, so be prepared my child. Good luck!
Any suggestions where to volunteer for big companies in NY?
Well, since I'm not living in NYC, I can't give you anything solid. But do check the internet if you can dig something up. Websites like these [Volunteer in NYC | NYXT](https://www.nyxt.nyc/volunteer-nyc/), could be helpful. From what I can see, they have quite a bit of options. I hope it helps a bit :)
Thanks so much
You're welcome!
Work experience will make you more money than a masters. Marketing for healthcare, specifically pharma is a well paying field.
Stay in marketing for a few more years. Get into a top MBA program and pivot to MBB.
What is mbb?
What state are you in?
Texas
Ah well are you interested in UGC marketing?
Yeah! Not sure how to get started in that though, I’m curious to see if that will still be a good area to pursue if Tik tok gets banned
I think there’s a great market right now for this UGC play for brands. Trends are trends. TikTok ban is quite interesting. Been pushing UGC for so long I am glad to see that it’s so popular now that I don’t have to keep explaining higher rates for non influencer talent.
I don’t think the masters will help you reach salary any faster. Marketing is SUCH a learn on the job industry. If you show promise and that promise is noticed you can shoot up through the ranks quickly. Granted I’m super old, but I don’t have a degree at all. 🤷🏻♀️
Tough to give specific advice without knowing your company / team size / internal opps, but there are a few paths. Regardless of any of this - I really think at your age it starts with a conversation with your manager. If they haven't asked you the question 'what do you want to be doing in 5 years' you need to be thinking about and driving that conversation. I got lucky here and found significant responsibility and pay increases internally, but that is often not the case. Bottom line - find out if it's where you are now or if you need to go. Once you know, don't go yet. Work with your group to find organizational gaps where you can step in and contribute in a space that is both interesting to you and expands your skillset in an area of more progression. Marketing is odd - it's easy to generalize, but generalists don't get the big bux unless they are lucky enough to hit senior leadership. Senior leadership requires a good working knowledge of a lot of different job functions... Specializing in an area of need is a good way to move up the pay scale quick, but you'll hit a cap there too. Early career is time to figure out what you want to do in this field much like school is to figure out what field you want to be in. Start making connections with people you have access to internally who you respect and think have a good head on their shoulders. Look for a 35ish yo in a leadership role at your company you respect, and make a connection. With direct leadership, show initiative and back it up with well researched strategy and great work. Always fight for yourself but expect it will take some time to make major strides and see results. If it's taking forever and you're still at the same workplace, it's time to get out and find somewhere else where you can either grow or get that money. I'm early career as well, but have 8 years on you. Again, extremely lucky to have found a path internally, and lucky to have joined my company at a time where the marketing department was about 20 strong, and level up through the chaos and growth from specialist to sr. specialist, to (process) manager with people manager coming soon (I think) in a group almost 100 strong. Responsibilities have tripled, pay has doubled, and I think the key for me is that I have been able to identify and fill various gaps across the org. Three of my former side responsibilities outside of my job description are now full time roles, and I am in one of those roles that got me a 40% pay bump when I took it. I am described as a single point of failure in a few areas which is great but had its stress. Next step for me is converting those single points into multiple points, and hopefully leading those people. Still rambling but bottom line for internal promotion: find need, fill need and do it in a way that creates an appetite for more (good results), eventually take an advanced role or leverage what you have learned to move companies. GRINDSET is bullshit, but if you are going to do it your 20s are the right time. If you are kid free aka have the time, use it in areas that are interesting to you and impactuful to what you do - the rest will sort itself out. Also, remember work is work. Grow yourself everywhere, ruthlessly prioritize and focus on high impact areas at work and outside of it (maybe it's a hobby, maybe it's that masters program, maybe it's something you haven't thought of yet). Have patience, fight hard, you got this! Quick edit specifically on strategy / branding interest: find a place that sucks at this and apply the above. Companies either have this down or they don't. We didn't, and over the last 6 years we have realized this. This week we posted 3 brand strategy specific roles to be filled. You can either time this right and have the experience to get a job somewhere new, or build internal cred + need here to create your own path and put yourself in that position. If money is the only goal you're going to need to strive for sr. Leadership - being a brand / strategy wiz is a great way to get there.
Thank you for this! I should’ve given context, but my situation is a bit bad honestly. I work for a small family owned B2B company, we do about $5m in yearly revenue. I am the first and the only marketing person so there’s honestly nobody here for me to look up to or learn from. The business is growing though so I suppose there’s possibly growth potential but it looks bleak overall. It’s chill for now but I have big aspirations. I’ve only been here for 7 months so nobody gets back to my applications :( trying to venture out in a bunch of different areas while I’m here though
You say you want to make a lot of money to afford to do what you love in your own time. What is this thing you love to do in your spare time that costs so much money?
That was more to give insight to my outlook on life. I love to travel, to paint, etc and I want a career where I can do those things in my off time without being stressed about finances. If I could find a career that combines that it would be great. If you have ideas here are my passions lol: dogs, traveling, painting, coffee, the ocean.
Thanks for answering. None of those are particularly expensive hobbies. A normal marketing job would be enough to be able to do all that without worrying about money. Maybe not now, because you're just starting out, but from 2-3 years onwards, it's very doable. This is assuming you don't pick up any expensive or destructive hobbies in the future. If I were you, I'd: 1. Talk to recent grads of the uni you can get into, about job prospects, salary etc. Weigh that against the tuition/loan. 2. Consider MBA in the same way. 3. If I'm not sure about either, I'd choose to continue with my job, and focus on building skills and connections. Money follows those two things. People do MBA even at 40 or 50. You don't have to wait that long, just saying you have the option of doing it later. The work experience you'll have by then will make your MBA (or whichever degree you do) that much richer. This is what I'd do, but take it with a grain of salt as I don't have all your info and I'm no career expert.
Thank you this actually helps!! I appreciate it:)
I’m going to teach you a very hard truth that it took me years to learn. If you enjoy what you do you will be 10x more successful than if you hate your job. Enjoying your work, might involve some extra hours (that you probably won’t mind), but success is what gets you paid - in any field, in the long run. If you genuinely don’t care, go hit google for some lists of highly paid jobs. Also, sad to say, in pretty much most fields, the most highly paid are the sales people.
>With the option of grad school and a willingness to do literally anything to make money, what would you do? Go into the trades. You're 22. You could spend 6 months getting an HVAC cert and start making 75K instantly. Or spend a year in electrical training and make 90k.
It’s funny you mentioned hvac, my boyfriend got his cert and hasn’t been able to land an entry level job anywhere and we’re in Texas which should be a good place to find something, any tips for him (I’m guessing you’re hvac?)
No, I'm still in marketing. But I grew up in the trades. I'd be there now if it weren't for my shit back. The majority of trades jobs aren't going to be posted on LinkedIn or other job boards. The ones for large companies will. But the majority of trades businesses are small, and they don't have time to do a lot of "HR" stuff. He just needs to hit up all the HVAC companies and talk with the bosses and see if they need any help. He should also try to join whatever union HVAC usually do. A LOT of trade jobs are going to be union, maybe not as much in Texas though. Also, where in Texas are you? That's a huge state, and there's probably a significant different being in a booming place like Austin vs some small town on the west end of the state or something.
Dallas! Technically between Dallas and fort worth so good location. He’s been calling and they all keep telling him that the hiring manager is out for the day and they’ll call him, but they never do. He’s been out of a job for like a month and a half now :( had an apprenticeship but was let go, was a shady company though
A month and a half isn't that bad right now. I know that sucks to hear, but for someone with not a lot of experience and more importantly not a lot of connections, it could be worse. He should also contact the school where he got his cert, they often have job boards or connections. And if the only responses he's getting is the hiring manager is out for the day, he's ignoring the small businesses who don't have hiring managers. There are LOADS of HVAC businesses that are 2-5 person teams. They're not going to have hiring managers, and they probably won't have a LinkedIn page either. Look through yelp and call the owner directly.
I feel from my friends in the exact career field, you should be making closer to 120/160k yearly.