RE: Accounting or Marketing

[JeepWH]

Dear all MWF members and sifus,

I am sure that there are many professionals here who may be able to help enlighten me in order for me to make a choice.

The dilemma is such that now I'm now almost completing my first year in business studies and I have to make a choice whether to specialize in Accounting or Marketing for my degree, and the problem is, I seem to like both subjects. (btw, i have to decide by May)

Therefore, if possible could anyone please explain between the two from experience or otherwise so that it may help me in my decision making. 

Thanks for all the help. 

Jeep

[gapnap]

If you like PAM & Rolex , pick marketing.
If you like GS , JLC and GO , pick accounting.

 

[Dickson Lim]

If you like PAM & Rolex , pick marketing.
If you like GS , JLC and GO , pick accounting.

 

He might like all of them. Mass comm then? 

[dualcarb]

I would say go for accounting. This for the simple reason that you can always move from accounting to banking or anywhere in the financial field. At least this way your "expertise" remains flexible, whereby in Marketing, you can only move within a limited number of companies. I am a very close friend of someone who majored in accounting and went into EY and PWC and then switched to insurance underwriting and now works for credit Suisse. This is a good example of how flexible you can make yourself. And with an accounting degree, you can always add a few more modules to attain your MBA for further flexibility. This is just MHO based on the people that I know. This is coming someone who took marketing when I was younger...hope this helps...

DC

[meoramri]

Accounting can be the base - you can move to marketing from there, if ever you decide to have a change (moving the other direction is harder)

[jacky8888]

I would say go for accounting. This for the simple reason that you can always move from accounting to banking or anywhere in the financial field. At least this way your "expertise" remains flexible, whereby in Marketing, you can only move within a limited number of companies. I am a very close friend of someone who majored in accounting and went into EY and PWC and then switched to insurance underwriting and now works for credit Suisse. This is a good example of how flexible you can make yourself. And with an accounting degree, you can always add a few more modules to attain your MBA for further flexibility. This is just MHO based on the people that I know. This is coming someone who took marketing when I was younger...hope this helps...

DC

  well said.... go for Accounting

[swleong]

Go for accounting, get Chartered Accountant qualification later.

Many of the bosses (in my fields) I know of are from the following fields:-

1) Accounting
2) Engineering
3) Law
4) Quantity Surveyor
5) No degree

As you can see above, all (except for Item 5) are with Professional qualifications.

But the final decision remains with you.

Good luck.

[CKL1213]

Myself as a Marketing graduate however I still recommend you to take accounting

[el118]

I am a Chartered Accountant though not in the practice but in business line. i never regretted a bit in my choice. It equipped me with all the relevant knowledge framework that is necessary for business.

[sshark]

Do you need a degree in marketing to become a "chartered" marketer? most likely not. you do need a degree or equivalent in accounting to become a chartered accountant. when one fine day u decide that you want to go into marketing, you are still not too late and possibly you can leverage on your accounting degree to get you to some good positions. you definitely cannot handle a full account and sign off with a  marketing degree.   

[JeepWH]

Dualcarb, Meoramri, Jacky8888, swleong, CKL1213, el118, sshark.

Thank you very much for your comments and insights. 
 Seems that all are recommending accounting, and what all of you said certainly bears thinking. Well, i will have to decide in June. Will update you guys then on my decision. (moving in the direction of accounting now)

[chrisyen]

accounting? serious....

i will sure go for marketing !

talk cock sing song can also earn money

accounting will be facing computer most of the time!
then mth end, quarterly, half yrly, financial yr end.... prepare to stay back... 

[Calibr]

accounting? serious....

i will sure go for marketing !

talk cock sing song can also earn money

accounting will be facing computer most of the time!
then mth end, quarterly, half yrly, financial yr end.... prepare to stay back... 

The problem with local companies is that marketing and sales are used interchangeably. Young or old, the term "marketing" is more desirable than "sales", even though they are just sales people with very little marketing function. On the other hand, there are people doing some marketing functions - catalogues, events, PR, copy-writing, showroom and merchandising, etc - without a formal marketing education. So a "sales" person disguised as a marketing guy could be "sing song, talk cock, window shopping, yamcha", but be prepared to be "f..ed" if sales targets are not delivered!

But seriously, get an accounting qualification first, then get an MBA or a Masters to move on to marketing for career growth.

[chrisyen]

accounting? serious....

i will sure go for marketing !

talk cock sing song can also earn money

accounting will be facing computer most of the time!
then mth end, quarterly, half yrly, financial yr end.... prepare to stay back... 

The problem with local companies is that marketing and sales are used interchangeably. Young or old, the term "marketing" is more desirable than "sales", even though they are just sales people with very little marketing function. On the other hand, there are people doing some marketing functions - catalogues, events, PR, copy-writing, showroom and merchandising, etc - without a formal marketing education. So a "sales" person disguised as a marketing guy could be "sing song, talk cock, window shopping, yamcha", but be prepared to be "f..ed" if sales targets are not delivered!

But seriously, get an accounting qualification first, then get an MBA or a Masters to move on to marketing for career growth.

Accounts manager could be referring some1 who maintaining the company customer account, opening new account, etc
Yes, jobs like sales man

Marketing cover wider scope from pre product development
From market survey, to product planning, to advertising...

In my opinion - if you wanna do sales, don't waste too much time in formal academic study!
Looking for customer
Building the relationship with customer
Getting know more ppl
Creating the network

All takes time

[Yoda]

I am both

But one day I challenged the accountant I can do what you do, can you do what I do. She stunt a while.

That's a turning point for the lady accountant where she now is the top salesperson.

So start as an accountant and branch out to sales or marketing you have both world.