Q: What is Michigan Marketing Club, and what resources does the club offer?
A: Michigan Marketing Club (MMC) is a professional club at the Ross School of Business that supports students pursuing careers in marketing. MMC offers educational programming, networking opportunities, interview preparation, social activities and skill-building sessions to help students secure and succeed in marketing roles.
Q: What are the different types of marketing jobs I can pursue?
A: There are marketing jobs in a variety of industries, including Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Technology, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Retail & Luxury Goods and Industrial & Manufacturing sectors. Additionally, marketing can be functionally diverse, with opportunities in brand management, product marketing management, retail marketing, etc.
Q: What types of companies recruit for marketing roles on campus?
A: A variety of companies recruit on-campus for marketing roles. Historically, large CPG companies have been the most consistent in on-campus recruiting, whereas companies in other industries differ in their on-campus presence year-to-year. See the latest employment data from the Career Development office (CDO).
Q: Do any people recruiting for marketing focus their search off-campus?
A: Yes, many students target companies that do not typically recruit at Ross. The key to off-campus recruiting is networking – proactively reach out to alumni and make connections. Some students even visit the company's headquarters, if they are able.
Q: How early in the school year do I need to start recruiting? As a first year, should I go to the corporate presentations starting in September?
A: MBA1s: Yes, you should go to corporate presentations in the fall for your top companies Many companies take attendance at corporate presentations and offer opportunities to network after. Though not an absolute necessity to get an interview offer, attending corporate presentations helps students get a sense of the company's culture, brands, internship program structure and opportunity for full-time positions.
MBA2s: In August, email recruiters that you interacted with last year about your interest in their company to help give you a head start on the recruiting process. Recruitment for full-time positions starts the first week of classes, so it's helpful to get the networking started, your resume updated and your cover letters drafted before classes start.
Q: Will I be able to secure a good summer internship in marketing if I have no prior marketing experience?
A: Yes, many of the students hired for marketing positions have no marketing experience. During interviews, you will need to be able to articulate why you want to pursue a marketing career and highlight transferrable skills from your previous career. MMC and the CDO will help you prepare.
Q: Are marketing summer internships difficult to secure? How many interns do the companies typically hire?
A: While most students secure an internship at one of their top companies, the number of marketing internship offers extended to Ross students varies from year-to-year. Remember that not everyone wants to work for the same company, and many companies extend multiple offers to Ross students.
Q: Should I have different versions of my resume for different industries/functions?
A: Not necessarily. If writing multiple resumes causes you to spread yourself too thin, it is better to put extra effort into one good one. Marketing companies tend to look for cross-functional leadership, analytical skills, creativity and strong communications, so highlight roles and accomplishments that align with that skillset. For more guidance on creating your resume, see the CDO website.
Q: Is my first job after graduation most important?
A: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to recruiting. Many students use their summer internship as an opportunity to try out an entirely new industry, function and/or location. Others are committed to a particular company, role and/or location, and view the internship as a path to potentially receiving a full-time offer. Regardless of your approach, the most important thing to remember is that your internship and first job are not permanent decisions – many students chose to re-recruit after their summer internship. Don't lose sight of the fact that your happiness is the most important!