To be a marketer or do what marketers do? Using a mixed method approach to explore the aspiring marketer mindset

Woodall, T. ORCID: 0000-0002-8949-5577, Pich, C. ORCID: 0000-0003-1259-2827, Armannsdottir, G. ORCID: 0000-0001-5458-8434, Allison, S. ORCID: 0000-0002-7509-9979, Howarth, R. ORCID: 0000-0001-5857-6641 and Poorrezaei, M. ORCID: 0000-0002-0725-3209, 2022. To be a marketer or do what marketers do? Using a mixed method approach to explore the aspiring marketer mindset. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 135: 103716. ISSN 0001-8791

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Abstract

Both anecdotal and evidential testimonies posit marketing as a “wicked” endeavor, in thrall to sales and profit and at odds with society’s needs. Using social identity theory as our primary frame of reference we therefore look to obtain some foreground understanding of those flowing through the educational/occupational transition system and towards this occupation. We explore how aspiring marketers perceive both marketing and marketing practitioners and evaluate how those perceptions contribute to a sense of social-self at an early-stage of career formulation. Our aim is to evaluate the potential for a link between observed marketer behavior, occupational perceptions and group character. A qualitative/quantitative mixed-model research approach is adopted combining both projective techniques and personality testing. Results, derived from UK university cohorts spanning three levels of study, suggest respondents focus primarily on externally oriented aspects of marketing work, with occupational aesthetics and conspicuous representation seen as both object and subject of a marketer role. Respondents self-report as strong on traits associated with promotion and persuasiveness but less on those related to an espoused creativity. We conclude there is evidence suggesting the study group perceives being a marketer at least as important as doing what marketers do and discuss the implications this might have for how and why marketing is practiced as it is.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Vocational Behavior
Creators:	Woodall, T., Pich, C., Armannsdottir, G., Allison, S., Howarth, R. and Poorrezaei, M.
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date:	June 2022
Volume:	135
ISSN:	0001-8791
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.jvb.2022.103716 DOI 1525217 Other S0001879122000276 Publisher Item Identifier
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham Business School
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	14 Mar 2022 13:50
Last Modified:	07 Apr 2022 07:59
URI:	http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/45883

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