Launch Your Advertising Career

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

Advertising jobs are creative, interesting, and exciting. Such glamorous jobs are usually competitive, and advertising jobs are no exception. What can you do to set yourself apart in your pursuit of an advertising career?

Start with your education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most jobs in the managerial area of advertising require a bachelor’s degree. However, those entering as a copywriter or designer may be able to break in with an associate’s degree.

However, if you want to work for one of the really large, prestigious firms, you may need a higher degree or a rigorous education in business, advertising or marketing. As with most careers, the better your education, the better chance you’ll likely have of standing out among your job-hunting peers.

You’ll want to study one of a few disciplines—the liberal arts, business, marketing or advertising. Many degrees in marketing and advertising may be granted through a college or university’s business school. Liberal arts degrees, of course, will give you a very well-rounded education that touches on literature, art, political science, history, and philosophy.

Choosing Your Advertising Career Path

Which educational path you take depends on the type of advertising career you’re interested in. If you’re more interested in the business side of advertising, such as managing accounts or focusing on advertising strategy, a degree in advertising, business, or marketing might make sense for you. On the other hand, if you consider yourself more creative, you might prefer a degree in design, English, or journalism. You could also get a dual degree in advertising and English to prepare for a career developing advertising campaigns.

Where Are the Advertising Jobs?

The majority of advertising jobs are within advertising agencies, businesses that devise advertising strategies and marketing campaigns for companies. Some are big, and work on large campaigns like the recent campaign that advertised Gap’s new black skinny pant. They employ creative people who create and produce commercials. And they employ those who understand the business aspect of advertising, such as the return on investment and how ads support an overall marketing and sales strategy.

Advertising careers may be tough to land, but they are well worth the effort once you find yourself working on the next high profile campaign that broadcasts into millions of homes across the country.

Source

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics

About the Author

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