To work as a marketing manager, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree; and
• have five years or more of work experience in marketing.

Education after high school

Many marketing managers have a bachelor's or master's degree. Business administration and management are common areas of study. However, a degree in marketing is also a common way to prepare. Depending on your employer, you may need a bachelor's degree in a technical area and a master's in business administration (MBA). For example, a marketing manager for a company that sells computer products may have a bachelor's degree in computer science plus an MBA.

Regardless of major, you should take specific college courses. These include marketing, economics, accounting, finance, statistics, and market research. You should also take courses such as international and interactive marketing, information technology, and marketing communication.

Work experience

You must prove yourself as a marketing specialist before you can become a manager. Most marketing managers worked for several years as product or brand specialists.

On-the-job training

You should consider participating in an internship while in college. An internship is usually part of a four-year degree program. It offers you a chance to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a work situation. It also allows you to build skills and make contacts with people in the field.

Some companies have in-house management training programs. They may also pay for college courses you take to improve your skills. The length of on-the-job training varies, but usually lasts two to three months.