Advertising / Public Relations / Marketing

If you are interested in a fast paced, dynamic, hard-working, demanding, interesting, occasionally glamorous, and challenging career, and if helping shape the way people think about issues, products, outcomes, and experiences is interesting to you, then this community might be a good place to start exploring.

Professionals in these fields come from a diverse background of skills and education, which makes this an excellent option for SBS majors to pursue.  Whether you are working for a firm, a brand, a candidate, or an organization, there are lots of opportunities to help shape public opinion waiting for you.

UMass Amherst Journalism Dept. Public Relations Concentration

Public relations is a dynamic, complex and fast-paced industry with multiple career opportunities. The Public Relations concentration at UMass Amherst is designed to help you become a better communicator and strategic thinker, preparing you for professionally oriented careers working in …

By Carol Sharick
Carol Sharick Exec. Director of Career and Professional Development, SBS
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Why You Can’t Get a Job Without Solid Writing Skills

Learn these six kinds of writing, and employers/clients will be knocking down your door

https://www.mediabistro.com/climb-the-ladder/skills-expertise/solid-writing-skills/

By Carol Sharick
Carol Sharick Exec. Director of Career and Professional Development, SBS
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10 Tips to Help You Land Your First Marketing Job

So you want to get into marketing. Perhaps you studied marketing in college and are ready to apply what you’ve learned in the real world. Or you had a different major but have been leaning toward marketing as a career …

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Explore occupations by career categories and pathways and use real time labor market data to power your decision making.

Type in a keyword to select a relevant occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Explore Outcomes

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans.  The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation.  Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students. The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2025 was 71%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans.  The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation.  Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students. The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2025 was 71%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

  • First Destination
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  • Top Universities
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  • Fields of Study

First Destination

SBS graduates pursue a range of plans after graduation, including employment, continuing education, and volunteering/service, among others.  This graph depicts what recent SBS graduates tell us they are doing within six months after graduation.

Skill-Building With Linkedin Learning Classes

See below for skill-building classes – visit LinkedIn Learning for more.

The Core Competencies All Employers Seek

Some skills are universally sought by employers and are essential to a well functioning team.  Stand out from the crowd…

Build a Successful Career in Project Management

Taught by Oliver Yarbrough
Do you want to get into project management? Maybe you’re already in project management, but you want to grow. Either…

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Essential Training (2021)

Taught by Corey Koberg
Google Analytics 4 provides the means to track, analyze, and report on the visitors to your site and app—who they…

Media Relations Foundations

Taught by Jessica Chen
View Jessica’s LinkedIn Newsletter If you want your business to succeed, you need as much brand recognition as you can…

Learning Infographic Design

Taught by Amy Balliett
To create a truly successful infographic, you must understand the power of visual communication. Properly executed visuals can connect with…

Emerging Leader Foundations

Taught by Dan Schawbel
View Dan’s LinkedIn Newsletter Taking on a leadership role in the diverse, ever-changing modern workplace can feel both exhilarating and…

Social Media Marketing Strategy: TikTok and Instagram Reels

Taught by Ashley Kennedy
If you’re in marketing, the only thing worse than not having a social media marketing strategy is having a bad…

Learning Data Analytics: 1 Foundations

Taught by Robin Hunt
Are you interested in pursuing a career in data analytics? In this course, instructor Robin Hunt brings you into the…

Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365) (2018)

Taught by Dennis Taylor
Get up to speed with Microsoft Excel, the world’s most popular spreadsheet program. Follow along with Excel expert Dennis Taylor…

Nonprofit Management Foundations

Taught by Leslie Crutchfield
Thinking about leading a nonprofit organization? Internationally renowned author Leslie Crutchfield provides a primer on nonprofit management and leadership. She…

Outlook Quick Tips (2017)

Taught by Nick Brazzi
Get quick answers to your most urgent Outlook questions. These short tutorials help users work faster and smarter with Outlook,…

Public Speaking Foundations

Taught by Laura Bergells
Develop the skills you need to prepare and deliver an outstanding speech or presentation. In this course, Laura Bergells offers…

Cryptocurrency Foundations (2018)

Taught by Jonathan Reichental
View Jonathan’s LinkedIn Newsletter The digital revolution has impacted almost every aspect of our lives, including the way money is…

Financial Modeling Foundations (2018)

Taught by Michael McDonald
By distilling key information regarding cash flow levels and risks, financial modeling helps decision-makers make informed choices based on data…

Learning Canva

Taught by Marley Jaxx
Canva is an easy way—without any graphic design experience—to create professional graphics for social media, presentations, newsletters, business cards, brochures,…

Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Essential Training

Taught by Adam Wilbert
Master the fundamentals of SQL Server 2019, the industry-leading database management platform from Microsoft. In this course, instructor Adam Wilbert…

LinkedIn Quick Tips (2019)

Taught by Oliver Schinkten
This collection of LinkedIn quick tip videos is designed to demonstrate helpful tricks, explain useful features, and provide quick answers…

Understanding Capital Markets (2019)

Taught by Michael McDonald
Capital markets are a crucial area of finance—and investors aren’t the only ones impacted. Retirement, buying a house, and long-term…

Marketing on LinkedIn: The Sophisticated Marketer’s Guide

Taught by Alex Rynne
It’s a great time to be on LinkedIn. Businesses are seeing better engagement and ROI on LinkedIn than ever. So…

Social Media Marketing Foundations (2020)

Taught by Brian Honigman
Social media dramatically altered marketing by allowing businesses to directly engage with customers and vice versa. Brands that stand the…
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FirstHand Vault Industry & Career Guides

Vault Guide to Advertising Jobs, Third Edition

Vault Guide to Advertising Jobs, Third Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Guide to Public Relations Jobs, Third Edition

Vault Guide to Public Relations Jobs, Third Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Guide to Marketing Jobs, Second Edition

Vault Guide to Marketing Jobs, Second Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

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Student Success Stories

SBS in DC Shermarie Hyppolite: “In my days at the office, I saw my future…”

SBS in Boston Student Spotlight: UMass SBS Economics major Megan Harvey’23

Congratulations to the Inaugural Class of PR Concentration Graduates!

A Look Back at My SBS in DC Experience: Lizette Sta. Maria

SBS in Boston Student Spotlight: UMass Communication sophomore Mia Ransom Yance

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Featured Resources

How to Navigate a Career Fair

Having a successful career fair experience requires forethought and follow through.  There is more to it than just knowing what …

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