If you’re wondering how to land your dream advertising job and thrive in the industry, then keep reading. I know I benefited from the words of these advertisers, and I’m certain you will, too.
Is a Job in Advertising Truly What You Want?
Account Supervisor at The Miller Group: Jay Matsueda
“Make sure you understand not only the academic requirements of the industry you believe you are interested in, but also the real-world nature of the business. Try to get a sense for what other kinds of people gravitate toward jobs in the field. Determine what your ideal work-life balance is — in other words, the quality of life you desire for the things that matter to you most — so you can balance your need for free time against your desire for materialistic success.”
Art Director at McKee Wallwork Cleveland: John Reams
“You have to really want it. This stuff does not get handed to you. Study people — you'll rely on your gut about how people decide things on almost a daily basis. Use your ego to push yourself and your humility to keep [your ego] in check.”
An Advertiser’s Education: What Does a Would-Be Advertiser Need to Know?
Partner and Creative Director at Off Madison Ave: Roger Hurni
“It’s always good to have a strong liberal arts background. Understanding the human condition and how we relate to one another is far more effective for your career than knowing every key command in inDesign.”
Copywriter at GSD&M: J.C. Abbruzzi
“Work hard, study the award books constantly, and keep up with as much new music, movies, and pop culture as possible.”
How to Break Into the Advertising Industry
President of Online Ad Agency Minyanville Publishing and Multimedia: Kevin Wassong
“Start in media. Media drives the creative process today. Ideas must be synergistic with the channels where the message lives. It will also give you an understanding of how the process works. The worst thing that ever happened to the agency world was the uncoupling of media from the creative process. I think we’ll see the two come back together again, but media will be the lead horse over the creative agencies in the next few years.”
Loving Your Advertising Career
Media Buyer at McKee Wallwork Cleveland: Amy Rounds
“I would tell anyone getting into any career to make sure it’s what they love. It seems obvious enough, but it always surprises me how many people are in careers they hate. If you’re passionate about something, people will notice. The converse is also true.”
Experience That Helps: What Backgrounds Can Lead to an Advertising Job?
Partner and Copywriter at Zig: Kevin Lynch
“It’s a great time to get into advertising. Seriously. Because advertising is spilling over into so many different areas — entertainment, video games, psychology, architecture, product development…So come on in — it’ll be fun. Just know that the more broad your experience or interests are, the better off you’ll do.”
Account Executive at McKee Wallwork Cleveland: Deena Crawley
“My best advice for those who are looking to get into advertising is to seek out an internship at an ad agency, even if it’s unpaid. It’s one thing to learn how advertising works from reading [about] it in a textbook and another to learn it in real life. The experience you can gain in an internship is priceless. Do whatever it takes to get your foot in the door. When I did my internship I was also taking 18 hours in school and working 40+ hours. It wasn’t easy, but it was well worth it.”
To Work in Advertising You Must…
Copywriter at McKee Wallwork Cleveland: Brandon English
“…Be a masochist. Otherwise, turn around and run. If you really want to be in this crazy business, tenacity will be your best asset. If you can handle having someone kill your ideas at will, and turn right around and come back with something better again and again, you will succeed.”
President at Brownstein Group: Marc Brownstein
“…Be battle-ready. Advertising is not for the thin-skinned. It’s dynamic and is changing every day. If you’re open to new thinking, then advertising might be right for you. But if you’re set in your ways, you should not consider the field. If you can think on the fly, you will have a better shot at success in the industry.”
