SEO and Digital Marketing: Popular Fields Without Dedicated Academic Majors
Explore why SEO and digital marketing thrive without formal academic programs amid growing demand in Iran's workforce.
A recent report by JobVision, titled "A Guide to Choosing Majors Based on Job Market Conditions," published alongside the announcement of university entrance exam results, highlights a significant gap between higher education and the actual needs of Iran's job market.
According to the findings, which analyzed data from over 500,000 university graduates, six out of ten graduates are dissatisfied with their chosen field or institution. The primary reasons for this discontent include the lack of job opportunities aligned with their academic studies and universities' failure to adequately prepare students for the workforce.
The Job Market: A Key Factor in Graduate Satisfaction
JobVision’s statistics reveal that individuals working in unrelated fields due to limited job opportunities are 2.5 times more likely to be unhappy with their education compared to others. Even when graduates secure jobs, the mismatch between their academic background and employment often leads to feelings of failure and wasted years of study. In such scenarios, a university degree becomes less of an asset and more of a missed opportunity.
Unemployed individuals reported the highest levels of dissatisfaction, underscoring the critical role job market conditions play in shaping graduates' perceptions about their educational choices.
In-Demand Fields Without Specialized Academic Programs
The report indicates that a significant proportion of workers in Iran are employed in sectors unrelated to their academic background. A prime example is digital marketing and SEO, which exhibits one of the highest rates of workers with unrelated degrees:
- Digital Marketing & SEO: 83% non-related degrees
- Customer Support & Services: 80%
- Procurement & Logistics: 71%
- Administrative Staff: 59%
- Product Management: 56%
- Translation & Content Creation: 56%
These professions represent some of the most in-demand fields for which universities lack dedicated majors or practical training programs. Even when certain courses touch upon these areas, they tend to be theoretical rather than skill-oriented.
Top Majors and Universities According to Graduates
Majors such as Computer Engineering & IT, Industrial Engineering, Finance, and Accounting ranked highest in graduate satisfaction across metrics like income levels, job satisfaction, and career opportunities.
Business Management emerged as the most lucrative field for graduates, followed closely by Industrial Engineering and Computer Engineering & IT. Other high-income fields include Electrical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering.
In terms of overall satisfaction, Computer Engineering & IT secured the top spot. Graduates from Industrial Engineering and Finance & Accounting also expressed high levels of contentment with their career trajectories.
When evaluating employment in related fields, majors such as Finance & Accounting, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business Management, and Computer Engineering & IT occupied the top five positions.
These findings suggest that fields like Industrial Engineering and Computer Engineering & IT not only offer competitive salaries but also provide greater career satisfaction for graduates.
Furthermore, majors such as Computer Engineering & IT, Industrial Engineering, Finance & Accounting, and Business Management consistently rank among top-performing disciplines across all criteria, income potential, satisfaction levels, and job opportunities. Aspiring students can consider these areas as reliable investments for their future careers.
In conclusion, combining factors like strong earning potential, high graduate satisfaction rates, and employment opportunities within related industries positions majors such as Computer Engineering & IT, Industrial Engineering, and Finance & Accounting as leading choices for long-term career success.