5 answers
Bilal
Student
White Bear Lake, Minnesota
2
Questions
Updated
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What kind of jobs can I get if I don't have a good enough gpa, which is a 2.5 GPA, and at least get to 75k entry level
I'm a 9th grader, and I love playing soccer, and I love the marketing world, and I just want to know if I can find a job in marketing because I know right now it's challenging with my 2.5 gpa and i havent taken any marketing classes (im doing that my 10th or 11th grade), and I just want ot make a lot of money, and I hate math and science, but I don't think that would get in the way. Thank you, and also one more question: I've been thinking of going into finance if I don't like marketing, so I just want to know more about finance with my interests, and I know a lot of places have different salaries, and I just want to know the median, or even better, in Minnesota
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5 answers
Curt Leeman
Sales Executive / Consulting
7
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Curt’s Answer
Yes, you can find a great career in marketing, and you do not need to stress about your 9th-grade GPA or lack of classes right now. Because you love soccer, you can target sports marketing, which focuses on promoting teams, brands, and athletic gear rather than using heavy math or science. Your high school GPA will not dictate your career success, as employers in creative fields look at your real-world experience, personal drive, and portfolio rather than high school transcripts.
You do not have to wait until college either — to start building a lucrative marketing career. You can start by building your own portfolio:
- Start a social media account, blog, or YouTube channel dedicated to analyzing soccer tactics, reviewing soccer cleats, or tracking team transfers. Growing a real audience proves to future employers that you know how to market a product.
- Shadow Your Local Clubs: Reach out to local semi-professional, youth academy, or high school sports programs. Volunteer to run their Instagram, film TikTok content, or help manage game-day promotions.
- Focus on Creative Marketing: Avoid analytical marketing roles (like data analytics) and focus on content creation, copywriting, brand management, social media management, and event promotions. These roles rely on communication, psychology, and creativity rather than math and science.
- Learn Free Skills Online: You can outpace your future high school classes by completing free certifications like the Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificate or HubSpot Academy courses.
As for Finance: If you decide to pivot, finance is also a high-paying field, but it requires a very different daily routine. A finance career typically requires allot of work with spreadsheets, data, algebra, and formulas. This does not appear to align well with your interests.
You do not have to wait until college either — to start building a lucrative marketing career. You can start by building your own portfolio:
- Start a social media account, blog, or YouTube channel dedicated to analyzing soccer tactics, reviewing soccer cleats, or tracking team transfers. Growing a real audience proves to future employers that you know how to market a product.
- Shadow Your Local Clubs: Reach out to local semi-professional, youth academy, or high school sports programs. Volunteer to run their Instagram, film TikTok content, or help manage game-day promotions.
- Focus on Creative Marketing: Avoid analytical marketing roles (like data analytics) and focus on content creation, copywriting, brand management, social media management, and event promotions. These roles rely on communication, psychology, and creativity rather than math and science.
- Learn Free Skills Online: You can outpace your future high school classes by completing free certifications like the Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificate or HubSpot Academy courses.
As for Finance: If you decide to pivot, finance is also a high-paying field, but it requires a very different daily routine. A finance career typically requires allot of work with spreadsheets, data, algebra, and formulas. This does not appear to align well with your interests.
Thank you so much and i just want to ask my dad says that marketing and half the stuff i wanted to do is going to be taken over by ai and back then i wanted me a non sugical orthopedic or a athletic physician so i dont know if im going to get a degree in marketing my question is that will amrketing be taken over by ai with the stuff i wanted to do?
Bilal
AI will no doubt impact many marketing jobs. Creation of content and targeted promotion jobs will be replaced with AI, but that can be said for most jobs. Most jobs in the medical field will be replaced as well. That said, we are a long way away from people wanting robots and AI to handle things like Physical Therapy or Trainers. Any job where physical interaction is required or perferred is probably safe for quite some time.
Curt Leeman
Barb Darsow
Consulting
11
Answers
DeBary, Florida
Updated
Barb’s Answer
You absolutely can still go into marketing. Being in 9th grade means you are very early, so a 2.5 GPA right now and not having taken marketing classes yet do not mean you’re out of options. What matters most over the next few years is improving your grades where you can, taking marketing or business classes when they become available, and building useful skills like writing, communication, creativity, social media, and understanding what people like to buy. If you love soccer, that could even connect well to sports marketing later on.
Finance is another option, but it usually involves more math, spreadsheets, analysis, and comfort with numbers than marketing does. My advice would be: keep marketing as your main path for now, take at least one finance or business class later to test it, and focus on raising your GPA so you have more choices when it’s time for college, internships, or jobs. Best of luck! (SKOL, former Minnesotan here :) )
Finance is another option, but it usually involves more math, spreadsheets, analysis, and comfort with numbers than marketing does. My advice would be: keep marketing as your main path for now, take at least one finance or business class later to test it, and focus on raising your GPA so you have more choices when it’s time for college, internships, or jobs. Best of luck! (SKOL, former Minnesotan here :) )
Thank you so much and i just want to ask my dad says that marketing and half the stuff i wanted to do is going to be taken over by ai and back then i wanted me a non sugical orthopedic or a athletic physician so i dont know if im going to get a degree in marketing my question is that will amrketing be taken over by ai with the stuff i wanted to do?
Bilal
Rachel Poon
Account Management
4
Answers
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Updated
Rachel’s Answer
Those are really great questions and it's great to see you thinking about your future. I agree with what the others shared, so I won't labour those points.
I do, however, want to share a piece of advice I received early on in my career and still find relevant. "In every job, you learn or you earn; ideally both." To add to this advice with my own experience, you will benefit greatly from focusing on learning AND considering what you can contribute; the recognition and reward will follow! With about 15 years of working experience under my belt, I would still say learning outweighs a job that only pays well.
In light of AI playing a larger role in our world, one of the most valuable skills you can develop starting today is building human relationships. Make sure you're spending time with friends and family in person, be empathetic and forgiving, develop self-awareness, communicate well, learn how to resolve conflicts and be kind to yourself. They translate into professional skills like problem-solving and stakeholder management, and will help you find more fulfilment in whatever career path you end up taking. These are core skills that you won't learn from a text book or lecture, but will likely take you further than others.
Good luck and stay curious!
I do, however, want to share a piece of advice I received early on in my career and still find relevant. "In every job, you learn or you earn; ideally both." To add to this advice with my own experience, you will benefit greatly from focusing on learning AND considering what you can contribute; the recognition and reward will follow! With about 15 years of working experience under my belt, I would still say learning outweighs a job that only pays well.
In light of AI playing a larger role in our world, one of the most valuable skills you can develop starting today is building human relationships. Make sure you're spending time with friends and family in person, be empathetic and forgiving, develop self-awareness, communicate well, learn how to resolve conflicts and be kind to yourself. They translate into professional skills like problem-solving and stakeholder management, and will help you find more fulfilment in whatever career path you end up taking. These are core skills that you won't learn from a text book or lecture, but will likely take you further than others.
Good luck and stay curious!
Sara Lighthall
Marketing
3
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Sara’s Answer
Completely agree with the other responders here so far - as I hiring manager in marketing, I never look at high school GPAs, or even college GPAs for that matter. It's all about experience and the skillset someone brings to the team.
And to echo Curt's point, it's never too early to get started. Content creation and running social media for a local business are both great suggestions and tangible ways you can show potential future employers what you're capable of. And it's also a great opportunity to learn whether marketing is actually of interest to you.
I also saw your follow up question about AI taking the role of the marketer. While I believe strongly that the role of the human marketer is will always be critical (creativity, storytelling, understanding human nuances), there's no question that AI is changing the way we work. What's going to separate the next generation of marketers are those who are AI-fluent, and those who are not. To keep pace, try using AI in your everyday life. If start creating your own content or helping a local business, see how you can use AI within that work. Tell ChatGPT about the marketing project you're working on and ask it how it can support you. We're all learning together, but now is a good time to get ahead of the curve. :)
It's great that you're thinking about all of this while you're in 9th grade! There's plenty of time to explore a number of career paths to figure out what gets you most excited and energized.
And to echo Curt's point, it's never too early to get started. Content creation and running social media for a local business are both great suggestions and tangible ways you can show potential future employers what you're capable of. And it's also a great opportunity to learn whether marketing is actually of interest to you.
I also saw your follow up question about AI taking the role of the marketer. While I believe strongly that the role of the human marketer is will always be critical (creativity, storytelling, understanding human nuances), there's no question that AI is changing the way we work. What's going to separate the next generation of marketers are those who are AI-fluent, and those who are not. To keep pace, try using AI in your everyday life. If start creating your own content or helping a local business, see how you can use AI within that work. Tell ChatGPT about the marketing project you're working on and ask it how it can support you. We're all learning together, but now is a good time to get ahead of the curve. :)
It's great that you're thinking about all of this while you're in 9th grade! There's plenty of time to explore a number of career paths to figure out what gets you most excited and energized.
Thank you for giving me advice.
Bilal
Yuritza G Nino de Daall
Quality Assurance / Process Improvement / Project Manager
57
Answers
Flowery Branch, Georgia
Updated
Yuritza G’s Answer
Hi!!!! Well, one thing I would focus on is learning what you're good at and what you enjoy, rather than worrying too much about your GPA right now. You're only in 9th grade, and a lot can change over the next few years. Many successful people were average students but became successful because they were reliable, hardworking, and willing to keep learning, so do not worry about that right now. :)
Since you love soccer, pay attention to the business side of sports. Professional teams, sports brands, and event companies need people who can communicate well, build relationships, work with sponsors, and help create great experiences for fans. Those skills are often more important than being the best at math or science. Try talking to coaches, team managers, or local sports organizations to learn about the different jobs that exist behind the scenes.
As for making $75,000 right away, that's possible in some careers, but it usually comes after gaining skills and experience. Instead of asking, "What job pays the most?" ask, "What skills are companies willing to pay for?" If you become really good at something that businesses need, the money tends to follow. Right now, your biggest job is to stay curious, keep improving, and explore different career paths before deciding between marketing, finance, or something else.
Enjoy your journey and have fun!!!!!
Since you love soccer, pay attention to the business side of sports. Professional teams, sports brands, and event companies need people who can communicate well, build relationships, work with sponsors, and help create great experiences for fans. Those skills are often more important than being the best at math or science. Try talking to coaches, team managers, or local sports organizations to learn about the different jobs that exist behind the scenes.
As for making $75,000 right away, that's possible in some careers, but it usually comes after gaining skills and experience. Instead of asking, "What job pays the most?" ask, "What skills are companies willing to pay for?" If you become really good at something that businesses need, the money tends to follow. Right now, your biggest job is to stay curious, keep improving, and explore different career paths before deciding between marketing, finance, or something else.
Enjoy your journey and have fun!!!!!