MARS is a self-funded non-profit market research agency. MARS exists solely to serve clients while providing hands-on experience to selected junior and senior-level Bemidji State University marketing students, who are compensated for their work.
All projects are completed under the coordinated daily direction of the director, who reviews work to ensure that clients receive the most comprehensive marketing research possible.
Hands-On Experience
The words of former MARS students express what their experience has meant to them and their future careers:
“Working at MARS as a student gave me the ‘real-world’ experience that I didn’t know I needed. Having the opportunity to work with industry professionals among various fields in a professional setting put my mind into perspective of what could possibly be the future. As a recent graduate, I greatly value my experiences working at MARS because it gave me something to show employers and boosted my professional performance. At one of my job interviews, I was able to use the projects from MARS to show my experience and knowledge. The interview last twice as long and I was offered the position just 22 hours later. I am now a Market Research Analyst at a Marketing Research firm in the Twin Cities area. If you like a variety in your work, challenges and great reward, marketing research may just be an excellent fit for you; there’s no harm in trying it out.”
Lisa Kittleson, 2016 graduate, Marketing Communications Major and Business Administration minor. Employed as Market Research Analyst for Q Market Research, a professional marketing research and consulting firm in Eagan, MN.
“I want to pursue a career in marketing and sales. Thanks to my work with MARS, I know what to do, where to look and how to look for information on businesses.”
MahRyan Ronquist, 2016 graduate, Business Administration – marketing emphasis. Employed as Assistant Manager, Tradehome Shoes.
“I really appreciated the chance to step out of the classroom, meet real clients, be able to network. It’s a great opportunity not only for us as students but also the community and local businesses. It gave me experiences that are relevant to the workforce.”
Lindsay West, 2015 graduate, Business Administration – marketing emphasis. Employed as account manager for Pinnacle, a multimedia advertising company in Bemidji.