Do you enjoy persuading others to buy certain things? If so you will like working in advertising. Advertising encompasses several subcategories of jobs and you can specialize in a certain style of it. For example, if you are an Internet whiz you can work as a social media manager for a media company or start your own social media management company where you would have your own clients. In advertising you’ll need persistence because not all of your clients will easily accept or understand the marketing strategy you have in mind. It also helps to have an understanding of the latest advertising trends.
How to Prepare for Advertising Careers
You can train for this career even while you’re in high school. If your school has a newspaper or yearbook, join the staff as an advertising director. Meet with local businesses and inquire about having them advertise their businesses in the newspaper for a decent rate. When you go to college repeat the same process and apply for internships at advertising firms in your town and in other cities. During the internship ask lots of questions about the advertising field and complete your tasks with enthusiasm.
Types of Advertising Jobs
If you’re into collecting data about public opinion, seek out employment as a marketing researcher. A marketing researcher gathers information about potential customers and uses this to help companies better serve their customers. The account executive handles the financial aspect of advertising because he is the one who recruits new clients and sets rates at which the clients can buy ads. Social media managers are responsible for handling companies’ social media webpages and using them to attract new customers.
What About The Salary?
Keep in mind that salaries in advertising depend on several factors which include your level of education, type of advertising career, where you live, size of the company, years of experience and necessary skills that you have. For example, account executives might start off with a salary of $28,000 and this is even for those without a degree. And advertising coordinators can earn up to $51,000 per year. If you hold a bachelors degree you can earn up to $200,000 and those with masters degrees earn about the same amount.
Where Are the Best Cities for Advertising Careers?
If you live in a small town and are interested in an advertising career, here are some good cities to check out. Not surprisingly New York City is at the top of the list for advertising careers since hundreds of media companies are based here. If you prefer the Midwest, Chicago is another neat city for advertising jobs. Chicago has plenty of SEO jobs and there is no shortage of tech startups in this city. Other cool cities include Seattle and Boston.
In conclusion, if you work hard and build important connections, you will thrive in the advertising industry. You’ll need to become your own brand since the competition for advertising jobs is strong and cutthroat at times. Finally, maintain a positive attitude during your job search.