u/lotusbunnyflower

I’m trying to plan out my academic path and would love advice from people actually working in marketing, fashion, consumer insights, PMM, merchandising, etc.

I’ll be doing ASU Online with a Marketing major and a Digital Audiences minor, plus certificates and internships. That’s my current plan, but I’m still unsure if it’s the best long‑term move.

I’m honestly stressed about AI and how many people get this degree. I keep seeing people say they’re struggling to get hired even with internships, and it worries me. I don’t know if it’s because their portfolios are weak, if they didn’t specialize, or if the field is just oversaturated. I’m looking for some comfort and real insight from people who’ve been through it.

A bit about me and what I like:

• I love strategy and problem‑solving
• I’m really into consumer insights and understanding why people buy
• I like PMM, brand strategy, and working with a team
• I’m also interested in consumer insights analyst roles, merchandising strategy/analyst, and e‑commerce strategy
• I prefer behind the scenes roles
• I want to build and maintain a brand long‑term and eventually work my way up to leadership
• I’m NOT trying to be a graphic designer or carry full creative burden
• I’m not a “math equations” person, I like interpreting data and trends, not doing heavy calculations
• I get bored easily if the work is repetitive
• I don’t mind a general structure to my day, but I don’t want a job where I’m isolated doing the same task for years
• I want a role where I’m constantly switching between projects, talking to different teams, doing research, being in meetings, and solving new problems
• I like staying busy, working hard, and actually seeing results from what I do
• I want a job that’s recession‑resistant and not easily replaced by AI
• And most importantly: fashion world in some way this is a non‑negotiable. I want to work in the fashion industry specifically, not general marketing. (I think fashion‑tech roles would suit me really well)

I also like the idea of product management, but I’m worried about the whole “doing 10 people’s jobs” thing. PMM feels more realistic for me since it’s more strategy + consumer insight focused.

My main concern is: is it actually possible to stand out and get hired in marketing if you focus on strategy, insights, and a specific industry like fashion? Or is the job market really as bad as people make it sound?

What I’m trying to figure out is what academic path actually makes sense for someone like me. Should I:

• Stick with marketing + digital audiences and add certificates
• Add a minor like data analytics or fashion merchandising
• Or choose a different major entirely that still leads to strategy/data roles in fashion

Basically, what major/minor/certificate combo gives the best ROI, job security, and helps someone stand out in the fashion/marketing world?

If you work in fashion, marketing, consumer insights, PMM, merchandising, e‑commerce, etc., I’d really appreciate your perspective. What majors/minors actually matter? What skills should I be building? And is it realistic to build a stable career in this space if you’re intentional about it?

Thanks in advance I’m trying to make smart choices now so I can build the career I really want. And if I have the wrong idea about anything, please feel free to correct me I don’t have anyone in my life who works in this world, so I’m trying to learn what it’s really like through the internet.

I’m trying to plan out my academic path and would love advice from people actually working in marketing, fashion, consumer insights, PMM, merchandising, etc.

I’ll be doing ASU Online with a Marketing major and a Digital Audiences minor, plus certificates and internships. That’s my current plan, but I’m still unsure if it’s the best long‑term move.

I’m honestly stressed about AI and how many people get this degree. I keep seeing people say they’re struggling to get hired even with internships, and it worries me. I don’t know if it’s because their portfolios are weak, if they didn’t specialize, or if the field is just oversaturated. I’m looking for some comfort and real insight from people who’ve been through it.

A bit about me and what I like:

• I love strategy and problem‑solving
• I’m really into consumer insights and understanding why people buy
• I like PMM, brand strategy, and working with a team
• I’m also interested in consumer insights analyst roles, merchandising strategy/analyst, and e‑commerce strategy
• I prefer behind the scenes roles
• I want to build and maintain a brand long‑term and eventually work my way up to leadership
• I’m NOT trying to be a graphic designer or carry full creative burden
• I’m not a “math equations” person, I like interpreting data and trends, not doing heavy calculations
• I get bored easily if the work is repetitive
• I don’t mind a general structure to my day, but I don’t want a job where I’m isolated doing the same task for years
• I want a role where I’m constantly switching between projects, talking to different teams, doing research, being in meetings, and solving new problems
• I like staying busy, working hard, and actually seeing results from what I do
• I want a job that’s recession‑resistant and not easily replaced by AI
• And most importantly: fashion world in some way this is a non‑negotiable. I want to work in the fashion industry specifically, not general marketing. (I think fashion‑tech roles would suit me really well)

I also like the idea of product management, but I’m worried about the whole “doing 10 people’s jobs” thing. PMM feels more realistic for me since it’s more strategy + consumer insight focused.

My main concern is: is it actually possible to stand out and get hired in marketing if you focus on strategy, insights, and a specific industry like fashion? Or is the job market really as bad as people make it sound?

What I’m trying to figure out is what academic path actually makes sense for someone like me. Should I:

• Stick with marketing + digital audiences and add certificates
• Add a minor like data analytics or fashion merchandising
• Or choose a different major entirely that still leads to strategy/data roles in fashion

Basically, what major/minor/certificate combo gives the best ROI, job security, and helps someone stand out in the fashion/marketing world?

If you work in fashion, marketing, consumer insights, PMM, merchandising, e‑commerce, etc., I’d really appreciate your perspective. What majors/minors actually matter? What skills should I be building? And is it realistic to build a stable career in this space if you’re intentional about it?

Thanks in advance I’m trying to make smart choices now so I can build the career I really want. And if I have the wrong idea about anything, please feel free to correct me I don’t have anyone in my life who works in this world, so I’m trying to learn what it’s really like through the internet.

I’m trying to plan out my academic path and would love advice from people actually working in marketing, fashion, consumer insights, PMM, merchandising, etc.

I’ll be doing ASU Online with a Marketing major and a Digital Audiences minor, plus certificates and internships. That’s my current plan, but I’m still unsure if it’s the best long‑term move.

I’m honestly stressed about AI and how many people get this degree. I keep seeing people say they’re struggling to get hired even with internships, and it worries me. I don’t know if it’s because their portfolios are weak, if they didn’t specialize, or if the field is just oversaturated. I’m looking for some comfort and real insight from people who’ve been through it.

A bit about me and what I like:

• I love strategy and problem‑solving
• I’m really into consumer insights and understanding why people buy
• I like PMM, brand strategy, and working with a team
• I’m also interested in consumer insights analyst roles, merchandising strategy/analyst, and e‑commerce strategy
• I prefer behind the scenes roles
• I want to build and maintain a brand long‑term and eventually work my way up to leadership
• I’m NOT trying to be a graphic designer or carry full creative burden
• I’m not a “math equations” person, I like interpreting data and trends, not doing heavy calculations
• I get bored easily if the work is repetitive
• I don’t mind a general structure to my day, but I don’t want a job where I’m isolated doing the same task for years
• I want a role where I’m constantly switching between projects, talking to different teams, doing research, being in meetings, and solving new problems
• I like staying busy, working hard, and actually seeing results from what I do
• I want a job that’s recession‑resistant and not easily replaced by AI
• And most importantly: fashion world in some way this is a non‑negotiable. I want to work in the fashion industry specifically, not general marketing. (I think fashion‑tech roles would suit me really well)

I also like the idea of product management, but I’m worried about the whole “doing 10 people’s jobs” thing. PMM feels more realistic for me since it’s more strategy + consumer insight focused.

My main concern is: is it actually possible to stand out and get hired in marketing if you focus on strategy, insights, and a specific industry like fashion? Or is the job market really as bad as people make it sound?

What I’m trying to figure out is what academic path actually makes sense for someone like me. Should I:

• Stick with marketing + digital audiences and add certificates
• Add a minor like data analytics or fashion merchandising
• Or choose a different major entirely that still leads to strategy/data roles in fashion

Basically, what major/minor/certificate combo gives the best ROI, job security, and helps someone stand out in the fashion/marketing world?

If you work in fashion, marketing, consumer insights, PMM, merchandising, e‑commerce, etc., I’d really appreciate your perspective. What majors/minors actually matter? What skills should I be building? And is it realistic to build a stable career in this space if you’re intentional about it?

Thanks in advance I’m trying to make smart choices now so I can build the career I really want. And if I have the wrong idea about anything, please feel free to correct me I don’t have anyone in my life who works in this world, so I’m trying to learn what it’s really like through the internet.

I’m trying to plan out my academic path and would love advice from people actually working in marketing, fashion, consumer insights, PMM, merchandising, etc.

I’ll be doing ASU Online with a Marketing major and a Digital Audiences minor, plus certificates and internships. That’s my current plan, but I’m still unsure if it’s the best long‑term move.

I’m honestly stressed about AI and how many people get this degree. I keep seeing people say they’re struggling to get hired even with internships, and it worries me. I don’t know if it’s because their portfolios are weak, if they didn’t specialize, or if the field is just oversaturated. I’m looking for some comfort and real insight from people who’ve been through it.

A bit about me and what I like:

• I love strategy and problem‑solving
• I’m really into consumer insights and understanding why people buy
• I like PMM, brand strategy, and working with a team
• I’m also interested in consumer insights analyst roles, merchandising strategy/analyst, and e‑commerce strategy
• I prefer behind the scenes roles
• I want to build and maintain a brand long‑term and eventually work my way up to leadership
• I’m NOT trying to be a graphic designer or carry full creative burden
• I’m not a “math equations” person, I like interpreting data and trends, not doing heavy calculations
• I get bored easily if the work is repetitive
• I don’t mind a general structure to my day, but I don’t want a job where I’m isolated doing the same task for years
• I want a role where I’m constantly switching between projects, talking to different teams, doing research, being in meetings, and solving new problems
• I like staying busy, working hard, and actually seeing results from what I do
• I want a job that’s recession‑resistant and not easily replaced by AI
• And most importantly: fashion world in some way this is a non‑negotiable. I want to work in the fashion industry specifically, not general marketing. (I think fashion‑tech roles would suit me really well)

I also like the idea of product management, but I’m worried about the whole “doing 10 people’s jobs” thing. PMM feels more realistic for me since it’s more strategy + consumer insight focused.

My main concern is: is it actually possible to stand out and get hired in marketing if you focus on strategy, insights, and a specific industry like fashion? Or is the job market really as bad as people make it sound?

What I’m trying to figure out is what academic path actually makes sense for someone like me. Should I:

• Stick with marketing + digital audiences and add certificates
• Add a minor like data analytics or fashion merchandising
• Or choose a different major entirely that still leads to strategy/data roles in fashion

Basically, what major/minor/certificate combo gives the best ROI, job security, and helps someone stand out in the fashion/marketing world?

If you work in fashion, marketing, consumer insights, PMM, merchandising, e‑commerce, etc., I’d really appreciate your perspective. What majors/minors actually matter? What skills should I be building? And is it realistic to build a stable career in this space if you’re intentional about it?

Thanks in advance I’m trying to make smart choices now so I can build the career I really want. And if I have the wrong idea about anything, please feel free to correct me I don’t have anyone in my life who works in this world, so I’m trying to learn what it’s really like through the internet.