Guide to careers in advertising.

As with any career it's not always easy getting started. A career in advertising is just the same, it takes hard work, dedication and determination in order to succeed. If you're just getting started in deciding what career path to take and you're set on advertising. You must decide on what path in advertising interests you most. It is very advantageous to get a degree in advertising and take additional courses in your interest area. For example if you are most interested in the creative side of advertising, building advertising campaigns, a degree in advertising with core courses in copywriting or graphic design would be your best bet. Now on the other hand if you more interested in the selling side of the advertising business you may want to consider getting experience in sales before applying for a position with an agency. It is important to have the knowledge and experience in order to break into the advertising industry.

After you are educated in the field you must now gain the necessary experience in order to obtain a position at an advertising agency. One way to gain experience is to volunteer your time to non profits for free. Working on advertising campaigns for them will build your portfolio and experience if you are a copywriter or graphic designer. If you are considering sales, gain experience by obtaining a sales position. There is no better way than an outside sales position to gain valuable experience. In outside sales you can “thicken your skin” and sharpen your skills very quickly. Once you have sharpened your skills and/or built your portfolio, put together your resume and begin seeking out a position at an advertising agency. Remember this can sometimes be a long process, consider doing freelance work in the meantime, to gain more experience, build your portfolio and add a supplemental income.