Where Should I Start?

Freshman Year

1. Read business publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Fast Company.
2. Meet people in your concentration, network with employers, and get involved to build your resume! Join Cal Poly’s AMA.
3. Find a match with an Orfalea College Executive Partner, local professionals who mentor students on career options.
4. Register for BUS 100: Student Orientation and College Success. Develop a plan of study that incorporates multiple scheduling options. Students who develop a long-term plan of study are able to graduate when they want to. We encourage you to include a study abroad experience before your senior year.

Sophomore Year

1. Continue with activities listed above in 1-3.
2. Register for BUS 346: Introduction to Marketing. This will help you get an idea of what the classes and the concentration are all about.
3. Talk with your Marketing Advisor about your career goals. Ask him or her to help you start thinking about internships, complementary courses, Senior Project options, and an Orfalea College Executive Partner match. Start building a strong portfolio of courses and experiences that will help launch you on the career path you desire.

Junior Year

1. Take BUS 418: Listening to the Customer and BUS 419: Strategic Marketing Measurement.
2. Talk with your Marketing Advisor about Senior Project opportunities. Senior Projects taught and coached by marketing faculty are designed to launch your career in marketing. They help you build the strongest possible career portfolio and differentiate you from graduates from other programs. Check http://www.cob.calpoly.edu/academic/marketing/senior-marketing-projects/
3. Pursue an internship between your junior and senior year.
4. Attend the Marketing Career Conference.
5. Leverage the contacts you’ve made through Cal Poly’s AMA and your Orfalea College Executive Partner, and sell yourself and your unique talents to prospective employers. Meet with Orfalea College career counselor Seth Igarta in Career Services. You have to be proactive in finding an internship. 

Senior Year

1. Complete the remaining marketing curriculum, and take a few electives that complement your intended specialty.
2. Build a portfolio of course and project work. Keep copies of the work you do:  case studies, data analysis, research reports, ad campaigns, etc.  You can show this portfolio to prospective employers as evidence of your abilities.
3. Pursue an entry-level position that will provide the experience and learning you need to achieve your long-term career goals. The process is similar to obtaining an internship outlined above. Also, check into the opportunities available through the AfterCollege™ Marketing Job Board.