JumpShot wrote:
2. IMO, marketing is a pretty good field to get into as it was not hit as hard by the recession as finance and, to an extent, consulting. Companies are always trying to figure out ways to move products and thus need marketing folks. In the case of many CPGs, the demand for food/drinks/household products can only decline so much, as many of those types of products are essential to daily living. A marketing MBA generally earns in the 90s-low100s coming out of school, which is a pretty good living. Not really in the same compensation ballpark as IB/MC, but still pretty good and with a work-life balance to boot. For verification on the numbers, check the employment reports of the schools you are applying to.
i'd say marketing was hit much harder than you think. i'm in the industry now, and to be honest, when the **** hits the fan, the first thing companies do is slash their marketing/advertising budgets. the general idea is, we're the first once to get cut and the last ones to get the increased budget when times start to look up.
it's true that the demand will be there for cpg's, etc. but the way the companies restructure during a downturn hurts marketing much more than its core business budgets and staffing.
also, for your 3rd point, you don't need an mba for advertising/marketing, but having one fast tracks your career by a lot. and whoever said that marketing is like project mgmt is pretty much dead on. you don't need to be a quant genius from wharton to do this and be good at it. and at a post-mba level, you'll be making good money...just on the cusp of 6 figures usually, and you'll likely top out at the half million range if you' get to the very top. otherwise, probably closer to the 200-400k range. however, life is good here...can't think of many other careers that are this easy and still pays this well.