5 answers
5
Asked 709 views

International Business or Marketing major for a job in International Marketing

I want to know whether I should major in International Business or Marketing for International Marketing.
#international #marketing #business #internationalbusiness #collegemajor

business marketing collegemajor internationalbusiness
Answer This

+25 Karma if successful
From: You
To: Friend
Subject: Career question for you
5

5 answers

1
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Lisa’s Answer

If you would like to focus your career on Marketing I would recommend that you pursue a degree in Marketing and supplement that foundation later with International Business either with an MBA in International Business and/or with on the job experience internationally. It would be more difficult but not impossible to get a degree in a broader field such as International Business and learn Marketing on the job.

1
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Fiona’s Answer

International Business will give you an all round view of an organization's operations and strategy where you should touch on international marketing but it won't be your only focus. In my experience, having a well rounded knowledge base is helpful as a lot of marketers still need to have basic understanding of other functions (e.g. finance, legal, operations etc.) given the natural interactions they will have in the workplace. Long term, it may also allow you more options if you decide to change paths. If you want a career internationally, a second language is generally preferred by most organizations.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Jason’s Answer

Good question - I graduated with a major in both. If your target is International Marketing, and you only have one choice, then I would suggest Marketing. This is foundational and will give you the basics of marketing. Also, with globalization, you will likely encounter lots of international content in your marketing classes. International business will include finance, employee and resource management, international law, that will not be directly related to International Marketing.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Shawn’s Answer

If you're looking at landing a job directly related to your major, go with the Marketing degree. My experience with a double major is that employers do not hire new college grads for a specialized role that combines the experience of both programs. Employer preference is to hire newly minted Marketing majors for Marketing positions because you already have a baseline of skills from that program. Not saying it's impossible to do with an International Business degree, but you would need to highlight a marketing focus in your resume, show work experience with internships in marketing, or involvement in a marketing focused student organization.

Once you have experience in your first job out of school, you can steer your career towards working on a more internationally focused team. As you are selecting potential employers to interview with, I would make sure to research their existing presence outside of domestic audiences and whether they are trying to break in to other international markets. Often mulit-national companies hire in-region folks to serve specific international audiences, so highlighting language proficiency or experience living abroad can help!
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Jennifer’s Answer

When making a decision about your major, it may be best to talk to a career counselor whether at your college if you're there (they can help with specific offerings about the programs at your school) or at your high school. Personally I majored in Marketing and Supply Chain Management and have had jobs that dealt with international teams. My experience is that the more specific major, Marketing in this case, may be more beneficial in the long run. Many companies are operate internationally, so it can be experience that is learned on the job. Also, some colleges offer a certificate in international business, so that can be an option as well.
0