Careers in Strategy

By Willy Franzen

Looking for an entry level job or internship in strategy? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

Photo Credit: Flickr user U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District

Strategy deals with creating a plan of action to achieve a goal. In the business world there are two major arms of strategy that usually go together: business strategy and marketing strategy.

Business strategy involves creating and executing plans that are designed to achieve a business’s mission. Marketing strategy involves understanding the current market and coming up with a plan that will address a business’s current marketing objective.

A lot of jobs in marketing strategy are in marketing and advertising agencies, while jobs in business and marketing strategy are in the business management and marketing departments of large businesses. If you’re interested in working in strategy, you need to be a creative thinker and great communicator. You also need a bachelor’s degree in a related field for most positions.

Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Strategy

SheKnows - SheKnows is a Scottsdale, AZ based “women’s lifestyle media platform” that “allows brands to distribute authentic content and integrated advertising at scale.”

See the complete SheKnows profile

Haberman - Haberman is a Minneapolis, MN based agency of “modern storytellers for pioneers.” They work with "the leading entrepreneurs, innovators, healers and heroes of our day."

See the complete Haberman profile

Targeted Victory - Targeted Victory is an Alexandria, VA based agency that has “anchored digital campaigns on the local, state, and presidential level.”

See the complete Targeted Victory profile

GoPro - GoPro is a San Mateo, CA based company that has built a huge business by offering “the world’s most versatile camera.”

See the complete GoPro profile

Digital Intent - Digital Intent is a Chicago, IL based company that helps clients "create and grow digital businesses."

See the complete Digital Intent profile

Doorways to Dreams Fund - D2D Fund is an Allston, MA non-profit that is using innovative ideas to "increase the financial security and opportunity of low- and moderate-income households."

See the complete Doorways to Dreams Fund profile

Reformation - Reformation is an LA based “environmentally sustainable fashion brand that repurposes vintage and surplus materials to create a chic, limited edition collection.”

See the complete Reformation profile

Pure Branding - Pure Branding is a Northampton, MA based consultancy that “builds leading brands for values-based companies in the natural products industry.”

See the complete Pure Branding profile

Kelton - Kelton is an NYC and LA based consulting firm that is “passionate about listening to your customers and translating their stories into innovative solutions.”

See the complete Kelton profile

Column Five - Column Five is a Newport Beach, CA based infographic design, social PR, and content strategy agency that landed at #291 on the Inc. 5000

See the complete Column Five profile

NerdWallet - NerdWallet is based in San Francisco, CA and “empowers consumers to make better decisions about their personal finances, travel plans, health bills, or higher education.”

See the complete NerdWallet profile

Sterling-Rice Group - Sterling-Rice Group is a Boulder, CO based, food-focused “strategy, innovation, and communications firm that grows businesses and builds brands in considerable ways.”

See the complete Sterling-Rice Group profile

Arnold Worldwide - Arnold Worldwide is the Boston, MA based ad agency behind Progressive’s Flo campaign. They've also done work for Jack Daniels, New Balance, and Volvo.

See the complete Arnold Worldwide profile

The Rockefeller Foundation - The Rockefeller Foundation is based in New York, NY and is putting its $3+ billion endowment to work promoting "the well-being of humanity throughout the world.”

See the complete The Rockefeller Foundation profile

G2 - G2 is a marketing communications agency that helps its clients sell more. They have offices in NYC, San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

See the complete G2 profile

Demandware - Demandware is a Burlington, MA based company that offers an “enterprise-class cloud commerce platform” that powers “more than 150 retail brands across more than 575 sites."

See the complete Demandware profile

LockerDome - LockerDome is a St. Louis, MO based startup that offers a social media platform to help professional athletes, brands, and other sports properties” reach fans.

See the complete LockerDome profile

Trailer Park - Trailer Park is a Hollywood, CA based full-service entertainment marketing agency that serves “a broad spectrum of clients."

See the complete Trailer Park profile

Continuum - Continuum is a Boston based "innovation and design consultancy” that helps “organizations drive business innovation through design."

See the complete Continuum profile

Percolate - Percolate is a New York, NY based company that provides software to “help brands create content at social scale.”

See the complete Percolate profile

Leo Burnett - Leo Burnett is a Chicago, IL based advertising agency that was founded in 1935 and has one of the most impressive client lists of any agency out there.

See the complete Leo Burnett profile

Mullen - Mullen is a Boston, MA based agency that is “on a mission to work with the world’s most innovative marketers.”

See the complete Mullen profile

Morpheus Media - Morpheus Media is a New York, NY based “full-service provider of interactive marketing solutions to Fortune 500 companies and those aspiring to land on that list.”

See the complete Morpheus Media profile

AdRoll - AdRoll is a San Francisco, CA based advertising startup that specializes in retargeting (showing advertising to people who have already indicated interest).

See the complete AdRoll profile

FSG - FSG is a "consulting firm specializing in strategy, evaluation, and research" with offices in Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and DC.

See the complete FSG profile

Captain Lucas Inc. - If you're constantly in search of what's cool, then you need to check out the jobs at Captain Lucas Inc.'s Cool Hunting and Largetail.

See the complete Captain Lucas Inc. profile

GREE - GREE is a Japanese mobile social game developer that is expanding rapidly in the U.S, and that means that they're hiring a ton of new grads.

See the complete GREE profile

The Marketing Arm - The Marketing Arm is a Dallas, TX based marketing agency that focuses on building brand experiences through promotions, and they're hiring.

See the complete The Marketing Arm profile

mcgarrybowen - mcgarrybowen is based in Chicago and New York, and they were just named Agency of the Year by AdAge. Sounds like a good place to land a job.

See the complete mcgarrybowen profile

Hill Holliday - If you’re digging Hill Holliday’s portfolio, then you’re in luck, because they also appear to be an awesome place to work.

See the complete Hill Holliday profile

Ahkun - Ahkun is a New York based non-profit that connects micro-funded entrepreneurs with the U.S. market so that they can sell their goods and grow their businesses.

See the complete Ahkun profile

Better Place - If you want to be part of the transition to sustainable transportation, then it’s time to take a look at Better Place’s jobs.

See the complete Better Place profile

Vodori - Vodori is a Chicago, IL based full-service digital agency, and they do some killer work. The best example of Vodori's work is their own website.

See the complete Vodori profile

Corporate Executive Board - If you’re fascinated by large corporations and how they work, then The Corporate Executive Board would be an excellent place to start your career.

See the complete Corporate Executive Board profile

iContact - Groupon and Gilt Groupe have built huge businesses by leveraging e-mail. If you want to get into the e-mail game, then you should check out jobs at iContact.

See the complete iContact profile

Lloyd’s of London - It’s not often that we feature international companies (mostly because it’s hard to say whether they’ll hire US students), but Lloyd’s of London is just so cool

See the complete Lloyd’s of London profile

IGT - IGT is really big on campus recruiting, and they seem to put a lot of effort into their University Relations presence.

See the complete IGT profile

Upward Strategy - Upward Strategy’s clients include Equinox, Daylife, TopGuest, The Aspen Institute, and quite a few more, and they're hiring to keep up with all the business.

See the complete Upward Strategy profile

Aruliden - Usually with these kinds of firms you’d want to have a product design background to apply for a job, but I think at Aruliden that may not be necessary.

See the complete Aruliden profile

Trumpet - If you’re intrigued by the story and you like the work, then you’ll probably want to consider a career with Trumpet.

See the complete Trumpet profile

Visa - If you’re intrigued by payment processing or just think that Visa is a great brand, you should check out Visa's Careers page and Campus Recruiting page.

See the complete Visa profile

ExactTarget - ExactTarget has done a fantastic job with their entry level recruiting program, and I bet that reflects how much they value young talent.

See the complete ExactTarget profile

Revel Consulting - Revel’s Careers page has information on Culture, Consultant Experiences, and Campus Recruiting. The latter means they're likely hiring new grads.

See the complete Revel Consulting profile