Advertising

Area

Employer

Information/Strategies

Area:

Account Management

Sub-Area:

Sales
Development
Marketing
Administration
Planning

Employers:

Advertising agencies
Digital/interactive agencies
Corporate advertising departments
Specialty advertising firms
Consulting firms
Marketing firms
Self employed/Freelance

Strategies & Information:

Cultivate an eye for detail, strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to handle multiple clients with various demands.
Learn to think strategically and to mediate between company and client.
Gain experience in sales by working at a campus or local newspaper or radio station.
Develop budgeting and scheduling skills and be prepared to enforce deadlines.

Area:

Creative Services

Sub-Area:

Art
Copywriting
Print Production
Broadcast Production
Publishing
Technical Writing
Web Design
Product Design
Graphic Design
Casting

Employers:

Advertising agencies
Digital/interactive agencies
Consulting firms
Publishers including:
- Trade books
- Paperback
- Educational materials
- Technical, scientific, and medical
Internet sites

Strategies & Information:

Develop and strengthen art skills. This is the creative side of advertising.
Compile a portfolio of writing, graphics, and ideas.
Gain knowledge of production and printing.
Work with college or regional magazines, publications, or radio and television stations.
Take technical writing courses to enhance writing skills.
Learn how to sell your ideas and abilities.
Seek experience in the field, even if unpaid.

Area:

Media

Sub-Area:

Advertising Sales
Planning/Buying
Public Relations/Promotion
Research
Design, Art, and Production
Traffic
Direct Marketing
- Direct marketers advertise directly to the customer through mail, magazines, radio, or TV to get an immediate response by telephone, mail, or fax

Employers:

Advertising agencies
Digital/interactive agencies
Business corporations
Publishers
Television
Radio
Newspapers
Magazines
Government agencies
Internet marketers

Strategies & Information:

Gain practical experience through internships, part-time, or summer positions.
Join a campus or local newspaper or radio advertising staff.
Create a portfolio demonstrationg strong creativity and marketing ability.
Develop strong communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills. Learn to take initiative.

Area:

Research

Sub-Area:

Product Analysis
Statistical Analysis
Focus Group Moderation
Interviewing
Project Management
Supervision

Employers:

Advertising firms
Corporate advertising departments
Specialty advertising firms
Market research companies
Consulting firms

Strategies & Information:

A Master’s or Ph.D. may be required for advanced statistical analysis.
Gain experience with statistics, data interpretation, and writing.
Complete a co-op program or internship at a market research firm.
Obtain additional computer, math, and data analysis skills since research tends to involve "number crunching."

Area:

Sales

Sub-Area:

Advertising Sales
Industrial Sales
Consumer Product Sales
Financial Services Sales
Services Sales
Retail Sales
Online Sales
Operations Management

Employers:

Television sole practitioners
Radio
Newspapers
Magazines
Internet marketers
Manufacturers
Consumer product companies
Pharmaceutical companies
Banks and other financial institutions
Service providers
Department stores and other retail establishments

Strategies & Information:

Obtain sales and marketing experience in specific area of interest.
Develop excellent communication and negotiation skills.
Demonstrate high energy, confidence, assertiveness, outgoing personality, tact, and diplomacy.
Seek leadership roles in campus organizations or work settings.
Develop a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.

Area:

Public Relations

Sub-Area:

Special Events
Media Relations
Risk and Crisis
Communication
Health Communication
Fundraising
Marketing Communication
Labor Relations
Consulting

Employers:

Public relations firms
Corporate in-house public relations departments
Trade associations
Government agencies
Colleges and universities
Non-profit organizations
Labor unions
Hospitals

Strategies & Information:

Get relevant experience through internships, part-time, or summer jobs.
Perfect public speaking ability and writing skills.
Demonstrate enthusiasm, interpersonal skills, persuasion, teamwork, integrity, good judgment, and intelligence.
Gain administrative and event planning skills.
Join a public relations student organization and seek leadership roles.

General Information and Strategies

For advertising management positions, courses should include marketing, consumer behavior, and market research.
Obtain as much relevant experience while in school as possible, paid or unpaid.
A portfolio is a must have in this industry and should include work that demonstrates writing and design ability, as well as marketing sense. Save work throughout the course of your studies and employment to be used for a portfolio. It is better to have too much to choose from instead of too little.
Overall, individuals in the advertising area need to be excellent communicators, good listeners, team players, professional, hard working, creative, flexible, and enthusiastic.
Start exploring and analyzing a variety of ad campaigns you like and be able to explain what is good about them and how they target a particular audience.
Most advertising positions are filled by promoting experienced staff. Be willing to start in an entry-level position in order to get your foot in the door.
Be willing to relocate to larger markets such as New York, Chicago or Los Angeles for more job opportunities.
Try various routes to find a job in this field: apply directly to an agency, join an in-house advertising department, take a job in a separate department while learning company procedures and advertising department staff, join a support resource group or take a chance and freelance.
When choosing an employer consider the size of the firm, location, client list, and type of advertising involved.
You may need additional areas of expertise for newspaper or television, such as printing and photography.

* Original content provided by The University of Tennessee