Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
As far as majors go, operations, logistics, and e-commerce is like the porridge that Goldilocks ate: It's not as specialized as some majors, but it's also not as vague as many others. It's right in the middle. You're learning an entire field of commerce—one that continues to grow and change as new technologies become available and access to the Internet expands. But within this realm, there's a huge variety.
Think about it. All commerce means is that you're selling something. This could be cattle or designer sunglasses, though, and you can find yourself working at nearly any point along the chain between being a manufacturer and a customer. The other key component is that "e" in there. Whatever you're selling, you'll be doing it online.
Beyond this, though, there's room for you to invest in other interests of yours simultaneously. So if you're a beach bum, maybe you'll sell surfboards. If you're a kitten fanatic, maybe you'll sell organic catnip-growing kits.
Common Career Fields
Advertising and Marketing. You won't sell a thing unless people look at your product, and the only reason they're going to look at it is because you get it in front of them via an advertisement or some other form of marketing. More than anything, online retailers want people to look at their websites. If you pursue a career in advertising and marketing, you'll be responsible for making this happen. Think Mad Men with a futuristic twist.
Merchandising. Everyone loves Iron Man. Okay, except for that one grumpy person who doesn't. After Iron Man hit it big, everyone wanted his golden face on a shirt or a mug or a decorative throw pillow. Merchandisers are the ones who figure this out. They take something recognizable and popular, and think up ways to help people get their hands on it in any way, shape, or form.
Web Design. As a web designer, you can choose to work for one company or freelance, picking up projects you're interested in instead as they come along. The important part is that you know the most coveted skill: How to work the "back end." It sounds weird, but all that means is working behind the scenes online, or helping a store that present itself in a way that appeals to customers. This includes making sure orders and such are processed reliably and efficiently. If you're computer-savvy and creative, this might be the perfect career for you since it combines design with tech skills.
Entrepreneur. "Entrepreneur" is just a fancy term for a person who sells stuff. In this case, you'll be doing it online. (Kitten mittens, perhaps?) This is a chance to blend passions by engaging with online retail while pulling in other interests of yours. So if you have a great idea for something that could be sold online (maybe hats for squirrels are more your thing), or have a brilliant idea for innovating online sales, becoming an entrepreneur might be a good fit for you.
Customer Service. Without customers, a business is, well, not really a business. And while marketing and advertising can help bring customers in, once they're hanging out at a website, it's customer service that keeps them coming back for more. Ever ordered something online and had it not meet your expectations when it arrived? If the customer service rep you spoke with was helpful and kind, you probably weren't too mad at the company. Maybe you even bought something from them again. If the customer service was horrible, though, chances are good you're never going back to that website. So if you like solving problems and interacting with different people all the time, customer service departments will be happy to have you.
Accounts. This isn't about accounting (although accountants are useful, too), so take deep breaths if you're not a math wiz. Working in accounts is all about repeat customers. Sometimes this means cultivating relationships with individual customers, and sometimes it means wooing companies or corporations. In either case, working in accounts involves holding hands with clients and making sure they're getting what they need so they can keep coming back. Since the Internet can be kind of impersonal, think of this as a chance to add a very human touch. Because of this, you should probably be a people-person to begin with.
Inventory Management. Inventory is arguably the most important part of any kind of commerce. If you don't have any inventory, you're limited to selling handshakes, high-fives, or hugs, and most people will give those out for free. (We've seen the shirts.) On the flipside, you also don't want to have too much inventory; otherwise, you risk having warehouses filled with stuff you can't sell. So you need to learn to strike the delicate balance between having enough inventory on-hand to fill orders but not so much that you're drowning in piles of product. That said, if you have a practical mind and aren't super into people, this might be right up your alley.
Current unemployment of the major
4.7%Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
24%Stats obtained from this source.