A Career in Advertising Combines Creativity and Business Sense
By BJ Fairfax
bj.fairfax@careerschooldirectory.com
Career School Directory Columnist
Creativity, communication and computer skills are all requirements for a successful career in advertising. Although a few of these characteristics may come naturally, it takes education to break into this competitive field and make a name for yourself.
Career training in advertising will provide you with the skills--and the portfolio--you need to interview with an advertising agency and get started on a demanding, but rewarding, career.
A Career Education in Advertising
A bachelor's degree is usually necessary to earn an entry-level position in advertising. However, your training doesn't have to focus specifically on advertising. Degree programs in journalism,
psychology, marketing, mathematics and statistics, are all relevant to the realm of advertising.
The type of training you choose will steer the course of your advertising career, at least at first, so choose wisely. For instance, if you hope to be part of a creative team that comes up with concepts for slogans, jingles, commercials, and logos, then a degree in advertising would be a good bet. However, if you see yourself on the marketing or more business-related side of advertising, then education in mathematics, statistics or psychology could be a great advantage for you. A
master's degree is a smart move for those who wish to move into high-level or managerial advertising positions.
Working in Advertising
With the right career training, chances are you will break into the field of advertising and begin to work your way up the competitive career ladder. Keep in mind that this creative field is deadline-driven and demanding, so long hours, travel, nights, and weekend work are often part of the job. In return, you can expect outstanding compensation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual earnings of advertising managers were around $63,600 in May 2004.
Source
About the Author
BJ Fairfax holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She writes for a variety of print and online publications.
Posted on January 24, 2007 at 12:08 PM
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