6 answers
Dianey
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
890 views
What are the pros and cons of a marketing field?
Hello, I am a Crane Middle School student and I personally don’t know what job I would like to do in the future. A job I have the most interest in is something in the business or marketing field preferably the job Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists or a salesperson. This is due to me being in girl scouts selling cookies and being told I'm good with my words and selling. I also made a small business where I sold squishies and I figured out which products sold the most and invested into the product by looking at which ones sold best color wise and animal wise. This career relates to my hobbies and life because I always liked selling products to people. What advice would you give a middle schooler to start practicing marketing skills now?
Login to comment
6 answers
Steve Gandola
Marketing
9
Answers
Rocklin
Updated
Steve’s Answer
That's great that you're exploring options in the marketing field. The roles you've mentioned (market research analyst, marketing specialist, and sales) are all quite different. A research analyst will spend time managing research projects and analyzing data. If you enjoy working with numbers, exploring information to figure out what you can learn or how it can help make decisions, then you'll enjoy this work. Marketing specialists will spend more time managing projects and working with people from various departments (cross-functional) to execute plans. This may be planning events, promotions, trade shows, etc. Over time you'd move into more decision making and strategizing roles. Sales is more one-on-one discussions to help people make purchase choices. This could be transactional sales ("I have this product, would you like to buy it today?"), or process sales (high-cost products or services that will take exploration with a potential customer over many months to determine what's the right solution for their needs before a purchase is made).
Here are a couple of broad generalizations. They're not always true, but often in my experience. You find more introverts doing market research and more extroverts doing sales, with marketing specialists in between. And you find people who love data doing research and people who hate dealing with numbers doing sales, with marketing specialists in between. Researchers like a 9am to 5pm steady job. Sales people like flexibility and very little time at a desk. Specialists in between. As far as earnings go, long-term, a good sales person is likely to make more than the other two. A research analyst may start out making more than a marketing specialist, but long term, if the specialist is able to move up the ladder, they probably have a higher ceiling to attain. Both researcher and specialist make a steady paycheck, whereas a sales person's pay can be high one month and low the next, depending on their sales.
Hope that helps.
Here are a couple of broad generalizations. They're not always true, but often in my experience. You find more introverts doing market research and more extroverts doing sales, with marketing specialists in between. And you find people who love data doing research and people who hate dealing with numbers doing sales, with marketing specialists in between. Researchers like a 9am to 5pm steady job. Sales people like flexibility and very little time at a desk. Specialists in between. As far as earnings go, long-term, a good sales person is likely to make more than the other two. A research analyst may start out making more than a marketing specialist, but long term, if the specialist is able to move up the ladder, they probably have a higher ceiling to attain. Both researcher and specialist make a steady paycheck, whereas a sales person's pay can be high one month and low the next, depending on their sales.
Hope that helps.
Charlotte Toguchi
College Professor
2
Answers
Kailua, Hawaii
Updated
Charlotte’s Answer
It's great to know that you enjoyed selling cookies to others and that you also did a market research project to get to know your buyers, the primary audience of your product sales. In all of your experiences, you had to use good communications skills: speaking, listening, writing/designing your research project to get to know your audience (buyers). Communication skills are key to any career and the marketing field demands that you communicate with your potential consumers (audience) by asking and writing clear relevant open questions, and listening and paraphrasing their responses in order to understand what they need and be able to deliver it to them. It is also very important is to practice effective interpersonal communication skills like smiling, paying attention to nonverbal communication, and maintaining eye contact with others in all communication situations to demonstrate your sincerity and thoughtfulness. Maintaining positive relationships with other sells "you" and let's them know you care about what they think and feel.
Practicing your oral, written, listening and interpersonal communication skills will also help you develop more confidence when approaching new situations. Engage your family members, friends, teachers, and new acquaintances in purposeful communication whenever the opportunity presents itself for practice. Using good communication skills to help you get to know your audience will assist you in marketing strategies now and in the future when you focus and concentrate in the marketing field of your choice. You already are a "people person" and are enthusiastic about selling to others which are key qualities and characteristics of a marketer and the marketing field.
Practicing your oral, written, listening and interpersonal communication skills will also help you develop more confidence when approaching new situations. Engage your family members, friends, teachers, and new acquaintances in purposeful communication whenever the opportunity presents itself for practice. Using good communication skills to help you get to know your audience will assist you in marketing strategies now and in the future when you focus and concentrate in the marketing field of your choice. You already are a "people person" and are enthusiastic about selling to others which are key qualities and characteristics of a marketer and the marketing field.
KENNETH Lee
career coach
3
Answers
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Updated
KENNETH’s Answer
Your work selling girl scout cookies is an excellent start to a career in marketing. As soon as you are able, join the American Marketing Association, at ama.org. You may be too young now, but if you live in a large city, there is probably a chapter available there, and you can contact one of the leaders about learning more about marketing.
Keep in mind that successful marketers understand what their clients or consumers want and need and focus on supplying that need. Your interest in Marketing Research roles will help you understand the basic marketing function. Marketing Research roles require an understanding of technology and how to use that technology to gain information. I also suggest that you contact your state technical society about learning the technology necessary for a career in marketing research.
Keep in mind that successful marketers understand what their clients or consumers want and need and focus on supplying that need. Your interest in Marketing Research roles will help you understand the basic marketing function. Marketing Research roles require an understanding of technology and how to use that technology to gain information. I also suggest that you contact your state technical society about learning the technology necessary for a career in marketing research.
Neil Tardio
Director
6
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Neil’s Answer
You're on a promising path to becoming an excellent salesperson. My advice is to keep working with products you love, that excite you, and that you understand well. Know why people would want them. Consider reading about people who predicted trends and built successful businesses around them. Look for books on Ty Warner, Richard Branson, or Sara Blakely. They all created amazing products and companies that became very popular. They are natural salespeople and successful business leaders. Good luck!
K Chandra Mohan
2
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
K Chandra’s Answer
Pros of a Career in Marketing
1. Creative and strategic work
Marketing involves coming up with ideas for ads, slogans, social media posts, and campaigns. You get to be both creative and analytical.
2. Many different career options
Marketing includes jobs like:
Advertising
Social media marketing
Brand management
Sales
Market research
So you can choose the area you enjoy most.
3. Good communication skills
If people say you’re good with words and selling, that’s a big advantage. Marketing rewards people who can persuade and explain ideas well.
4. Opportunities to work with businesses or start your own
Many marketers later start their own businesses or consulting services.
5. Data and problem-solving
You get to analyze trends and figure out why people buy certain things, just like you did with the squishies.
⚠️ Cons of a Career in Marketing
1. Competition
Many people want marketing jobs, so you often need strong skills or a degree to stand out.
2. Pressure to meet sales goals
Companies often track numbers like sales, clicks, or customers. That can sometimes feel stressful.
3. Work can change quickly
Marketing trends change fast (especially online marketing), so you must keep learning new tools.
4. Deadlines and fast pace
Campaigns and product launches often have tight deadlines.
🚀 How You Can Practice Marketing Skills Now
Here are things a middle schooler can do to build skills early:
1. Keep experimenting with small businesses
You already did this with squishies. Try:
Selling handmade items
Running a small online shop (with parent permission)
Selling things at school events
Track:
What sells best
Price people will pay
Which designs people like
2. Learn about customer behavior
Ask simple questions like:
Why did you choose this product?
What color do you like best?
How much would you pay?
This is exactly what market research analysts do.
3. Practice advertising
Create:
Posters
Social media posts
Short product videos
Then see which ones get the most attention.
4. Study brands you like
Look at companies and ask:
Why is their logo memorable?
What makes their ads interesting?
Why do people buy from them?
5. Learn basic business skills
Good marketers understand:
Pricing
Profit
Customer service
Branding
Even simple lemonade-stand style businesses teach these.
6. Join activities that build communication
Helpful activities include:
Debate club
Student council
Entrepreneurship clubs
School fundraisers
These build persuasion and leadership skills.
1. Creative and strategic work
Marketing involves coming up with ideas for ads, slogans, social media posts, and campaigns. You get to be both creative and analytical.
2. Many different career options
Marketing includes jobs like:
Advertising
Social media marketing
Brand management
Sales
Market research
So you can choose the area you enjoy most.
3. Good communication skills
If people say you’re good with words and selling, that’s a big advantage. Marketing rewards people who can persuade and explain ideas well.
4. Opportunities to work with businesses or start your own
Many marketers later start their own businesses or consulting services.
5. Data and problem-solving
You get to analyze trends and figure out why people buy certain things, just like you did with the squishies.
⚠️ Cons of a Career in Marketing
1. Competition
Many people want marketing jobs, so you often need strong skills or a degree to stand out.
2. Pressure to meet sales goals
Companies often track numbers like sales, clicks, or customers. That can sometimes feel stressful.
3. Work can change quickly
Marketing trends change fast (especially online marketing), so you must keep learning new tools.
4. Deadlines and fast pace
Campaigns and product launches often have tight deadlines.
🚀 How You Can Practice Marketing Skills Now
Here are things a middle schooler can do to build skills early:
1. Keep experimenting with small businesses
You already did this with squishies. Try:
Selling handmade items
Running a small online shop (with parent permission)
Selling things at school events
Track:
What sells best
Price people will pay
Which designs people like
2. Learn about customer behavior
Ask simple questions like:
Why did you choose this product?
What color do you like best?
How much would you pay?
This is exactly what market research analysts do.
3. Practice advertising
Create:
Posters
Social media posts
Short product videos
Then see which ones get the most attention.
4. Study brands you like
Look at companies and ask:
Why is their logo memorable?
What makes their ads interesting?
Why do people buy from them?
5. Learn basic business skills
Good marketers understand:
Pricing
Profit
Customer service
Branding
Even simple lemonade-stand style businesses teach these.
6. Join activities that build communication
Helpful activities include:
Debate club
Student council
Entrepreneurship clubs
School fundraisers
These build persuasion and leadership skills.
Krystal Saldivar
Circulation Specialist
4
Answers
Beeville, Texas
Updated
Krystal’s Answer
Hello! If you are still in middle school you may be able to reach out to your school/prospective high school and see if you may qualify for early college high school. That way you know what colleges to go to for business/marketing when it come toward the time of your high school graduation.
Please reach out to me if you have any further questions!
Please reach out to me if you have any further questions!