How to Become an Advertising Executive

by Sarah Clark
sarah.clark@careertrainingdirectory.com
Career Training Directory Columnist

Have you ever fantasized about becoming an advertising executive? Learn how some traverse the path from Madison Avenue wanna-be to high-flying ad world heavy weight.

Getting into the glamorous business of advertising isn’t always easy. It’s a very competitive field—in fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that “the industry traditionally attracts more job seekers than there are job openings.”

That’s probably because advertising is an exciting field that values creativity and rewards it richly. General and operations managers in advertising and public relations services firms earned an average of $55.06 per hour in 2004, according to the BLS. That works out to earnings of more than $100,000 a year.

But how do people enter the field of advertising? And beyond that, how do they get from low-level administrative assistant to a position that fetches six figures annually?

Your Advertising Education

Start with a bachelor’s degree. Degrees in marketing or business will be regarded most favorably by advertising firm hiring managers.

Next, the BLS recommends getting an internship. More and more these days, you need an internship to get a decent entry-level, paid position in an advertising firm (or just about any job in a competitive field).

To get that corner office, however, you might need more education, such as a master’s degree in business administration. The BLS says that some more prestigious firms may even require an MBA for some entry-level positions. Check out job postings on websites of companies you’d like to work for to learn what their education requirements are.

Once you’ve got a degree and internship completed, and have landed a job at an advertising firm, you can start doing the hard work required to make it to the top. It may mean working long hours and making other sacrifices such as traveling often. You’ll also need to learn to work well with clients, selling them on ideas and keeping them engaged and satisfied over the course of a long-term business relationship.

You’ll also benefit from picking up good management skills. Showing you are skillful in managing teams can help you stand out from others—take an interest not only in the performance of your team, but their morale too. Keep top performers engaged and happy, and reward their hard work.

Finally, talk to others in the field who’ve made it to the top. Learn their secrets and emulate their success.

Source

Bureau of Labor Statistics

About the Author

Sarah Clark is a freelance writer who specializes in postsecondary education and career development.