Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Global Strategists
Kristan, a Senior Manager of Global Strategy at a fast-food chain, advises aspiring marketing strategists to gain experience at marketing agencies first, stating, "I always recommend...work for an agency first," because agency work offers diverse experience across various industries and clients, preparing individuals for higher-level corporate roles where agency management is a key component.
Marketing, Agency Experience, Strategic Communications, Media Buying, Entry-Level Positions
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kristan Hannigan
Sr. Manager, Global Strategy
Fast Food Chain Company
University of California, San Diego
MBA from UCLA Anderson
Business Management & Admin
Food, Beverages & Alcohol
Business Strategy
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Many entry-level marketing positions are within agencies, not directly at large companies.
2. Agency work provides diverse experience across various industries and marketing areas.
3. Working at an agency can prepare you to manage agencies and marketing efforts in a corporate setting later in your career
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergrad or an early career person might consider if they want to go into something like marketing strategies?
Many undergrads want to immediately jump into a big company, working for a "Big Brand." My advice is that there aren't a ton of entry-level positions within a big brand.
While some exist, most employees on the marketing team have actually come from agencies. I always recommend working for an agency first if you have the opportunity.
You'll gain much more experience and have the ability to work on a lot of different things and industries, likely with different clients. This allows you to test out what marketing is like, as there are many different companies.
You can explore areas from advertising to media. It sounds like working at an agency is similar to working at a consulting firm, purely focused on marketing. You gain diverse experiences and then can choose higher-level roles. Is that right?
Yes, there are specialized agencies too. We work with many different agencies, including those focused on communications. We have agencies for media investment, buying, analytics, and creative concepts.
This gives you the opportunity to be more involved. Especially when working in the corporate field, a significant part of our job is managing agencies. We determine project briefs and how to inspire the best work.
Many entry-level jobs come from within agencies. That makes a lot of sense.