Marketing

Marketing graduates understand key marketing principles and can contribute to the success of businesses with their analytical, planning and presentation skills.

Marketing is focused on the research and promotion of products, services and social issues across a wide range of areas. It concerns understanding consumer behaviour, creating marketing plans online and offline, managing relationships and risk, monitoring sales and analysing data.

Roles and career pathways

Marketing graduates gain specialised knowledge about marketing practices and skills in market research, analysis and business communication. Complementary study in Psychology, Design Innovation, Media Studies, Commercial Law, Management or Information Systems can open up career options.

Early roles for Marketing graduates

Marketing  graduates entering the marketing field may start in administrative assistant, office coordination, advisory or sales support roles before moving into a generalist marketing adviser role. Some graduates use their quantitative skills as data analysts or market researchers.

In-house marketing roles

Graduates may work in-house  in roles such as:

  • web content adviser
  • social media manager
  • communications adviser
  • media adviser
  • events manager

Working for small to medium businesses or agencies

Marketing graduates also work for communications, marketing, market research, public relations or advertising agencies, often contracted to larger organisations to work on  campaigns or events.

As well as the above, roles can also include:

  • account manager
  • art director
  • copywriter

Graduates may also work in roles with a sales component such as tech account managers, recruitment consultants and real estate agents.

Postgraduate study can add to employability

Postgraduate qualifications in areas such as business, business analysis, user experience design, international trade or global marketing can open up  further career opportunities in these areas or in academic teaching or research.

Graduate career stories

A smiling woman with long dark hair, glasses, and a black top, posed against a dark grey background.

Chloe Narain

Studying Marketing and Management deepened Chloe’s confidence, intellectual curiosity, and entrepreneurial drive.
Moses Fruean photo

Moses Fruean

Moses combined a lifelong love of computers with studies in Marketing to build a career in technology and leadership.

Where Marketing graduates work

Marketing graduates work across all industries and in a range of roles, as all businesses are involved in marketing in some form. Graduates who work in marketing specific roles tend to work in medium to large organisations that employ specific marketing staff. These include large Government departments, non-profit organisations or private businesses such as professional services firms or advertising agencies.

Marketing graduates have worked in organisations including:

Build relevant skills and experience

Relevant part-time work and volunteering during study all help to increase your job prospects when you graduate.

Many employers offer internship roles, where you can gain valuable work experience and connections before completing your studies. You can explore internships on the NZUni Talent job board and check our our Internships pages for more information about finding and making the most of internships.

The FHSS Internship course run by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences helps develop skills and practical workplace experience.

Business Consulting Club offers real-word opportunities to work on business problems with local employers during competition events.

Ignite Consultants, a student-led group who offer solutions for not-for-profit organisations,  will enrich your entreprenurial  and interpersonal skills.

Build career connections

There are a range of marketing related groups where you can connect with others interested or working in the marketing field, and learn more about career opportunities.

The Marketing Association offers student memberships with a range of networking opportunities and you can apply to become a student ambassador at events or a student representative on campus.

The Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) offers discounted student memberships, networking events and resources.

VicCom is a student-led group that offers a range of business networking and social events for Commerce students.

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