Advertising: What Can I Do With This Degree?

Account Management Sales Development Marketing Administration

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

Information & Strategies Gain sales experience. Work in sales at campus newspaper or radio station. Develop organizational and communication skills. Learn to think strategically

Creative Services Art Copywriting Print production Publishing Technical Writing

Employers Advertising agencies Consulting firms Internet sites Publishers, including trade books, paperback, educational materials; technical, scientific, and medical

Information & Strategies Gain sales experience. Work in sales at campus newspaper or radio station. Develop organizational and communication skills. Learn to think strategically

Media Advertising sales Planning/Buying Public relations/Promotion Research Design, art, and production Direct Marketing: advertise directly to the customer through mail, magazines, radio, or TV to get an immediate response by telephone, mail, or fax.

Employers Advertising agencies Business corporations Publishers Television Radio Newspapers Magazines Government agencies Internet marketers

Information & Strategies Secure internships. Get practical experience through part-time or summer positions. Develop creativity and learn to take initiative. Join campus or local newspaper or radio advertising staff. Create a portfolio

Research Statistics Focus group moderation Interviewing Project management Supervision

Employers Advertising firms Corporate advertising departments Specialty advertising firms Research laboratories Consulting firms

Information & Strategies A master's degree of PhD may be required for advanced statistical analysis. Need experience with statistics, data interpretation, and writing. Complete a co-op program or internship at a market research firm. It is critical to be computer literate and somewhat mathematically adept since research tends to involve "number crunching."

Sales Advertising sales Industrial sales Consumer product sales Financial services sales Services sales Retail sales

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

Information & Strategies Obtain sales and marketing experience in specific area of interest. Develop excellent communication skills and high energy level. Demonstrate curiosity, confidence, assertiveness, outgoing personality, tact, and diplomacy. Proven leadership ability is desirable. Develop a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.

Public Relations Special events Media relations Risk and crisis communication Health communication Fundraising

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

Information & Strategies Get practical experience, even if unpaid. Perfect public speaking ability. Demonstrate enthusiasm, interpersonal skills, persuasion, teamwork, integrity, good judgement, and intelligence. Develop creativity and initiative. Secure internships, even if unpaid.

General Information

• For advertising management positions, courses should include marketing, consumer behavior, and market research.
• Promoting experienced staff fills most advertising positions. 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.
• Obtain experience through a summer job, part-time job, or internship.
• Save work along 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.
• You may need additional areas of expertise for newspaper or television, such as printing and photography.
• Overall, individuals in the advertising area need to be excellent communicators, good listeners, team players, professional, hard working, creative, flexible, and enthusiastic.

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