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Post Info TOPIC: Grad school advice (long)
kenzie


Chanel

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Grad school advice (long)
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So, I need some advice. I'm feeling very conflicted right now. Here's the deal- I'm halfway through my MFA program in fashion merchandising. I'm concentrating in management and marketing and have approximately 33 credits left to go.

I love this program. I'm doing really well and I'm learning a lot. But, I'm wondering if I'm pigeon-holing myself. I fear that potential employers will see the "fashion" part of fashion merchandising and completely disregard the merchandising part and the management and marketing concentration part.

I wouldn't be concerned about this if I lived in an area where there were a ton of fashion or fashion-related companies, but I don't.  I've come to the conclusion that I'm not very hireable (yet) for a job in California because I'm not high enough on the career food chain (yet). So, we're sticking around the city we currently live and I'm looking for a job where I can get more experience so I am hireable for a marketing management job in California. This is okay with me and I know we'll get to California eventually, but now is not the right time. (I may look for jobs in product management or marketing in NYC right now, too, since that is much closer, but I'm not completely sold on that idea.)

So, I've been sending resumes like crazy (to non-fashion companies) and haven't gotten a single call for an interview. The jobs I'm applying for are marketing (research, strategy, etc). These jobs are directly related to the things I've been doing in class and to the job I had prior to my current job. They are indirectly related to my current job in advertising, which I sort of feel like has set me back light years in my career goals because it turned out to be something completely different than what was originally presented. I have definitely stepped outside of my job description to initiate new programs and get more into the marketing side versus just advertising, but there is only so much I'm allowed to do because of the company structure. (This is probably a separate issue, but it's worth mentioning as background information.)

My ultimate career goal is to open my own fashion-related company, which is why I chose the program I chose. But I also thought it would help in the interim with getting me out of advertising and back over into marketing management. I know the job market is crap right now, so I'm sure that's part of the problem. However, I can't shake this feeling that I'm wasting my time and money in grad school because all employers are going to see is "fashion" (even though the marketing and management skills I'm using and acquiring can apply to just about any company).


But, because of all of this, I'm just really questioning the continued pursuit of this particular grad program, simply because employers aren't going to want to hire me because I have a master's degree that's not in the right field (and why would I be applying to jobs outside of my field?).

So, I'm thinking that maybe I should switch to an M.S. in marketing. I've looked into some programs and it looks like I'd have about 33 credits to take in the ones I've looked at. That's the same amount I have left in my current program. But, I'd be graduating with an MS instead of an MFA (an MFA is a little higher on the grad school ladder than an MS or MA), and I wouldn't have anything to show for the 33 credits I've already taken.

I've looked at the classes I have coming up in my current program and compared them to the potential program, and there are a ton of similarities between the two programs (like financial planning, market research, competitive strategy, branding, business planning, etc.). The differences are things like my textile class and a product sourcing class (these are the "merchandising" part of the program I'm in).

So what would you do? Would you switch just so employers don't screen you out even though the programs have some pretty big similarities? Or would you stick with what you've been doing (so you wouldn't have wasted time and money)?



-- Edited by kenzie on Thursday 27th of May 2010 07:49:18 AM

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pollyjean23


Marc Jacobs

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I don't work in marketing, but my gut tells me that some employers would have trouble seeing past the fashion part. 

Could you, with honesty, list your MFA like one of these on your resume (below)?  Readers might not even make it to the fashion part.  If they did, their heads would be filled with marketing and merchandising. 

School University College Name, Topeka, KS
MFA, Merchandising & Marketing, Conc. Fashion, May 2012

School University College Name, Topeka, KS
Master's Degree, Merchandising & Marketing, Conc. Fashion, May 2012

I've never heard of MFA's being considered as a higher-level/better degree than MS, MA, M.Ed., etc. 

Maybe in visual arts/art direction/design/fashion, yes, but overall?  No. 

To me, the Arts, Fine Arts, Sciences, Educations, Social Works, are all indications of specialization or a distinction of whether the degree is focused on theory or application.  Example: a PhD in psychology is more likely to do research work and/or teach; a PsyD is a degree for those who wish to apply what they learn by being a therapist/practicing psychologist.

Finally, I think it is best to focus on long-term issues.  Yes - it might be more difficult (should not be impossible) to get non-fashion-marketing jobs in the short-run, but the Fashion Merchandising MFA will help you tons with your long-term, final goal.

Good luck with choosing.



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kenzie


Chanel

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Thanks, pollyjean. You definitely confirmed my concerns, but also validated the ideas about my long-term plans.

I don't think I could write it on my resume the way you have it. This is how I have it now:

MFA, Fashion Merchandising, Conc., Marketing and Management
School, May 2012 (expected)

I also list recent projects. Something like:
- Created peak business e-commerce plan
- Designed product and created a product launch business and marketing plan
- Researched and developed marketing plan and strategy for multi-channel retail business

I do this so they see I'm not just focused on clothing design or something (because that's not what merchandising is). I update this every semester with the new projects I've completed.

Maybe I could write it like this: MFA, Merchandising (fashion), Conc., Marketing and Management?

Re: MFAs vs. MA/MS
MFAs actually are higher than MA/MSs. They require more credits (generally twice as many) and are considered a terminal degree. They also require thesis projects, which many MAs or MSs do not. Here's a quote about it:

"The MFA differs from the Master of Arts in that the MFA, while an academic program, centers around practice in the particular field, whereas programs leading to the MA are usually centered on the scholarly, academic, or critical study of the field.

The MFA is seen as a terminal degree, meaning that it is considered to be the highest degree in its field. In the interest of extending the connection between creative production and continued academic research, however, some universities have established competing Ph.D programs in fields such as creative writing, visual arts, and theater."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Fine_Arts

And a link about terminal degrees: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_degree

So I guess another key difference between them is the real-world scenarios and projects done for the MFA versus the more scholarly, critical approach of an MA or MS. MFAs are somewhere between an MA/MS and  PhD. I do have goals to teach at the college level and an MFA would also allow me to do that (with tenure, if I want to go that route), whereas an MA/MS may not.

Plus the MFA thesis will be a complete, researched business and marketing plan for my original business concept. I wouldn't have that coming out of the MS. I guess my concerns are more short-term, but I'm really frustrated with the direction of my career in general (t's always been a pretty rocky road for me), so I'm trying to find something to fix it.







-- Edited by kenzie on Thursday 27th of May 2010 09:27:07 AM

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greendiamond


Marc Jacobs

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I'd say stick with the MFA. It will get you to your end-goal.

In the short term, you could do a Graduate certificate in marketing. They are typically 15 credits and would demonstrate the marketing side. I do agree that a lot of employers may get caught up in the "fashion" part, but that doesn't mean you won't find something. It'll just take a little longer.

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kenzie


Chanel

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greendiamond wrote:

I'd say stick with the MFA. It will get you to your end-goal.

In the short term, you could do a Graduate certificate in marketing. They are typically 15 credits and would demonstrate the marketing side. I do agree that a lot of employers may get caught up in the "fashion" part, but that doesn't mean you won't find something. It'll just take a little longer.



Thanks, GD. I do think I'll stick with the MFA. I've come this far, why stop now?

I looked at few graduate marketing certificates and a lot of the classes seem really redundant to what I'm already doing. If I find one that's not, I will definitely consider that, as opposed to switching my grad program.

In the meantime, I suppose I just have to figure out how to spin my resume and cover letter so they don't get all caught up in "fashion."



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greendiamond


Marc Jacobs

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I recently landed a new job, and the only requests for interviews I had came from one particular style coverletter (it could just be a fluke!) but I think the style will help you play down the fashion aspect.

After my frist intro paragraph, I inserted 2 column table. On the left I listed their requirements, and on the other I listed my qualifications in regard to that specific requirement. So, I was able to illustrate my skills and accomplishments, even though I may have gained them through committe experience or volunteering and not through 'regular' work. Perhaps you can do that with your school experience and the experience you gained that your previous position to gloss over the fact that your current job isn't want you thought it would be and you are studying (gasp!) fashion.

Naturally, they will notice the fashion degree when they see your resume. But, you can play up the artistic side and how that will benefit them.

Keep with it, you only have a year to go!

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-gd
kenzie


Chanel

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Posts: 4919
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Thanks, gd! And congrats on your new job. I don't think it's a fluke that one kind of cover letter garnered a better response.

I'm constantly changing up my cover letter style and I like what you suggested, so that's up next for me to try! Like you said, I can't completely hide the fashion part, but I can try to gloss over it as much as I can. Of course, if applying for a fashion-related company, then I can play it up as much as I want. smile.gif

-- Edited by kenzie on Friday 28th of May 2010 12:00:37 PM

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