Careers in Consumer Studies

Graduates are employed in a wide range of organizations, including for-profit businesses, trade associations, non-profit organizations, and government. Employment positions in business are often concerned with customer service, sales, manufacturing, marketing, savings, investments, housing, insurance, credit, and/or public relations. Typical job titles include customer service manager, consumer information specialist, complaint mediator, sales representative, product development and promotion specialist, and public information officer. 

Sample Employers and Job Titles (where available) of Recent Consumer Studies Undergraduate Majors

  • American College of Gastroenterology
  • Cintas – Accounting
  • Cintas – Human Resources
  • Consumer Product Safety Commission
  • Enterprise – Everyone starts as a sales rep, but they quickly move up
  • Event Planners, Inc. – Manager
  • First Market Bank
  • John Hancock Insurance and Investments
  • MCIWorldCom – Project Manager
  • Newport News Shipbuilding Employees Credit Union
  • NorthWestern Insurance
  • Property Management – small residential property in NOVA
  • Ryan Homes – Sales and Financing
  • Shelor Motor Mile – Sales
  • State Farm Insurance
  • The Executive Board – Associate
  • Virginia Manufacturer’s Association
  • Vista Volunteer in Africa

 

Sample Internship Employers of Recent Consumer Studies Undergraduate Majors

  • Cintas
  • Consumer Federation of America
  • Enterprise
  • Event Planners, Inc.
  • Fairfax County Office of Consumer Affairs
  • Federal Citizens (Consumers) Information Center
  • Financial Advisors
  • First Market Bank
  • Gannett Publications
  • Hotel sales/ marketing
  • NASCAR Marketing for Ernie Sadler
  • Newport News Shipbuilding Employees Credit Union
  • Project Management and Research for several different “Beltway Bandits”
(Companies made from people who once worked in federal government and now have a company that gets federal contracts and grants.)
  • Radio Station Sales
  • Restaurant Management
  • Ryan Homes Sales
  • Smart Road
  • Sports Marketing for arena football, baseball, and soccer teams
  • State Farm Insurance
  • Total Action against Poverty
  • TCRS Property Management
  • Virginia Manufacturer’s Association
  • Virginia Tech Employee Benefits Office
  • WalMart