Comments on: This is what’s wrong with young marketers

By: rasakhawaii

rasakhawaii — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:54:12 +0000

What’s wrong with young marketers today? http://is.gd/21ehV …Interesting #PacificAviation

This comment was originally posted on Twitter

By: Satish

Satish — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:07:18 +0000

There’s definitely ways that groups like #genYTO, etc. can facilitate that ‘learn and adapt’ mentality, making the ‘read and remember’ more of an exercise than an adopted lifestyle for these students.

By: Malcolm Bastien

Malcolm Bastien — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:34:59 +0000

Ya, the same goes for almost any other demographic of student. Anyone interested in marketing is especially in trouble because if you look at marketer as being on one of two sides, those that have adopted a new approach and are moving in one direction, versus the old style of marketing that the new is spending a lot of its efforts in trying to bring forward, then students are being trained for the latter group.

Once their education changes from “read and remember” to “learn and adapt” the trend will have already started to change for the better.

By: kevrichard

kevrichard — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:09:24 +0000

All of them would be great in their own way ( really pumped for PodCamp btw!) I think the biggest help would be exposure. Looking at all of my classes the one thing we didn’t have much of was exposure and discussion with practicing marketers. If a student speaks with a few marketers and realizes that they’re pretty easy to talk to and all it takes is making initial contact they’re more likely to go for it. By not having that it seems really daunting . I know in my personal experience I found I would talk myself out of just approaching someone and saying hi.

By: Satish

Satish — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:28:06 +0000

Great points @kevrichard, and good to hear it from the student perspective. What would help you be more prepared for these interactions? Personal branding coaching? Student-focused events? Attending more unconferences?

By: kevrichard

kevrichard — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:48:10 +0000

*raises hand* I’m one of those sorry excuses of a marketing student or at least I’m transitioning out of it ( and trying to drag others with me!) . I think the biggest hold up is negative self talk, being in university and not having a lot of experience you hear of all the experiences and knowledge that marketers in the field have and become overwhelmed. Then the thought process starts to kick in ” why would they have any interest to talk with me?!” and the fear is right out rejection. And I have had that happen to me, I’ve been to an event where its been ” Oh you’re a student…. nice talking to you!” but luckily I’m coming out of that mode and am enjoying talking to people actively involved in marketing. Biggest thing I would say is be brave and be persistent.

By: Satish

Satish — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:35:46 +0000

It’s nothing particular to this year Chris, but just hasn’t hit me this hard until now. In the past I’ve been too busy going at it myself to notice not everybody else was :).

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:23:48 +0000

Agreed.

If you don’t have that drive and determination, and that constant motivation to reach to the top no matter what the top is for you… things aren’t going to happen for you.

Through I do think it’s very easy to lose sight of that fact, and lose sight of the goal. Then to get it back it takes a new low, a new bottom, to make you find the strength of will to fight for what you want.. (or maybe I’m just talking about my own life here?… hmm)

In terms of your marketing event comment… maybe this year was just an off year?
I wish I could’ve attended… I would’ve been all over that :).

By: Satish

Satish — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:04:07 +0000

Personalities is an excuse. You can be any sort of person – A, B, C personality, shy, used-car-salesman, extroverted, etc. but that doesn’t take away from the fundamentals.

Universities don’t teach you those things, that’s not what the professors are there to do. They prop up the pillars that allow you to go and accomplish that. I realize that even attending is a big step for some, but you’re not doing yourself any favours until you take the leap.

What’s the point of getting into the game if you’re not going to play to win?

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:36:46 +0000

It’s true, you can’t stop someone from sheer determination but I think the root of the problem could come from the fact that students just don’t know what they want/working towards and even more prominent is that they just don’t know what to do. It’s not an excuse, it’s just the reality of it.

In university we don’t learn how to network with others, we don’t learn how to pose questions in front of professionals or have intelligent conversations – we are not taught these things unless we “go and get’em” ourselves. How? It’s obvious what mediums are available that offer skill development but even those who proactively attend may already be getting out of their comfort zone, just by being there.

I’m not sure what a viable solution is but at the end of the day, but maybe it just comes down to personalities….?