Does the idea of working in advertising interest your? Advertising careers can be creative, rewarding and lucrative. However the advertising industry operates on several different levels. It’s important to consider what part of the picture you would best fit into.
Account management and account planning are two very important jobs in the world of an advertising agency. Account managers operate as a sort of liaison between the client and the agency, making sure the agency represents what the client wants and that the client properly compensates the agency for their work.
Account planners represent the consumer’s view of the campaign. Their job is to remind the agency of the consumer’s point of view and make sure the agency takes it well into account in the creation and execution of the campaign.
The creative department of an advertising agency are the people who are actually responsible for creating the words, images and ideas that make up an advertisement or ad campaign. Members of the creative team can include copywriters, art directors and graphic designers.
The media department of an ad agency are the people whose job it is to place ads either on television, the Internet, billboards, radio or in the print media. Part of their job is to ascertain what markets will be most open to the product and campaign at hand. Essentially they try and make sure advertisers get the most bang for their buck.
As you can see, there are many options when it comes to advertising careers. However it’s important to remember that advertising is a popular field. This can lead to stiff competition in the job market. Most entry-level advertising jobs require college degrees, as well as an internship of some kind.
Mentoring programs are an excellent way to gain the kind of experience agencies look for when hiring entry-level personnel. Mentorships offer students the opportunity to learn advertising while working in an actual ad agency environment under the tutelage of ad agency professionals.
Not only that, but mentorship programs provide students with the chance to make the contacts and connections that are so important to gaining a foothold in the advertising industry.
If you’re interested in working in advertising, attending art, design or business school is a good place to start. Many art schools offer advertising programs.
However a mentoring program can prove invaluable in gaining an edge over the job competition. Careers in advertising can be lucrative and rewarding. Don’t sell yourself short on your road to success. You owe it to yourself to do everything you can to make yourself marketable for advertising careers.
This article was added on Sunday 07 March, 2010.
