First, some facts. Of the Marketing graduates from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 17 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 51%, Marketing graduates from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale have a much lower likelihood (-16%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, only 29% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Marketing graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.
See the details:
Relevance score: 18%We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2012 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale with a Bachelors Degree in Marketing. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONDistributorFidelis Enterprises, Inc Sep 2012 - Dec 2012 Account Executive Fidelis Enterprises, Inc Dec 2012 - Oct 2013 Merchandise Manager Sports Authority Nov 2013 - Nov 2014 Sales Manager Sports Authority Nov 2014 - Jul 2016 Project Manager/Estimator Shoreline Electric Aug 2016 - Jan 2021 President Shoreline Electric Jan 2021 - Present ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
From looking at the jobs of graduates with a Marketing degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, it seems like there’s a mix of roles out there. A fair amount of people ended up in jobs that are only loosely connected to marketing, like administrative positions, teaching roles, or customer support jobs, which don’t fully utilize the marketing skills you’d expect from one of these degrees. For example, roles like Library Clerk or Telephone Interviewer involve skills useful in various environments but aren’t directly tied to marketing principles or strategies. On the flip side, there are definitely those who landed in more traditional marketing roles such as Marketing Specialist or Marketing Manager, where the skills learned in their degree came into play strongly.
It’s worth noting that while some roles are clearly connected to marketing, like Marketing Assistant or Graduate Assistant of Marketing, many others seem to stray into different fields like sales, customer service, or administration. Even in these cases, alumni may have used some marketing principles, but they might not be applying their education to the fullest. So, in a nutshell, while there are some graduates who have embraced their marketing backgrounds in a direct way, many others have found themselves in jobs where marketing is just a part of their overall skill set rather than the main focus. This means that their careers often take paths that don’t reflect the specialized knowledge gained during their studies in marketing.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Marketing graduates (this is across all Marketing graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Southern Illinois University, Carbondale):
Looking at the career paths of Southern Illinois University marketing graduates, it seems like they've had a mixed bag of experiences. Many of the early jobs following graduation are in related fields like sales, marketing assistance, and administrative roles, which is pretty typical for new grads trying to find their footing. For example, some folks started off as marketing assistants or in various sales roles, which can lay a good foundation in understanding how businesses operate. However, there are also a noticeable number of graduates ending up in jobs that don’t strongly relate to marketing, such as education, banking, or more general administrative positions. This suggests that while they began with the intent to pursue marketing careers, the transition can sometimes lead them away from the field.
Fast forward five to ten years, and it seems like some graduates manage to climb the ladder in marketing or business roles, with titles like Marketing Specialist or Manager popping up. Others, unfortunately, drift into positions that feel less connected to their initial degree, focusing on different areas like finance or operations management. Overall, while there are success stories, it doesn't appear that all graduates are landing lucrative or marketing-focused careers soon after graduation, leading to a mix of outcomes. It's important for current students to network, gain experience, and stay flexible, as landing that dream marketing job can sometimes take a bit of extra effort and luck.
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, or pretty much anywhere else, is generally manageable, but it definitely has its challenges. You’ll dive into both creative and analytical aspects—think everything from consumer behavior to digital marketing strategies. Some courses might feel a bit more advanced if you’re not into numbers or stats, but if you’re passionate about the subject and stay organized, you should be just fine. Overall, it’s about average in terms of difficulty; you’ll have your tough classes and projects, but nothing that’s totally overwhelming if you're willing to put in the effort and keep up with your studies!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Marketing.
So, looking at these Southern Illinois University grads and their job trajectories, it seems like some have done pretty well financially, while others might be scraping by a bit. For instance, those who landed in finance or management roles (like the grads at JPMorgan Chase or Verizon) likely have decent salaries, especially as they moved up in their careers. On the flip side, jobs like teaching assistance or entry-level roles at places like JCPenney probably don't offer the best pay and may require a lot of hustle to make ends meet. Overall, it feels like a mixed bag—some hit the jackpot with good-paying positions, while others are probably still navigating the early stages of their careers and finding their footing financially.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Marketing (this is across all Marketing graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Southern Illinois University, Carbondale). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Marketing (ordered by the average relevance score of their Marketing graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: