The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says that approximately six hundred thousand people worked in the advertising sector in 2006. This figure includes all types of professionals including public relations managers, marketing managers and sales managers among others. By 2016 the advertising job market is likely to grow by approximately 12%, which is not very high when compared to other fields. The market is still very competitive and will remain this way in the near future.
Creative Jobs
If you have an artistically oriented mind you will love to have the opportunity to work in a creative advertising job. The actual task of creating advertising art work like designing ads, brochures, logos, business stationery, etc. is the responsibility of the creative department. The artistic team is coordinated by art directors who also develop the overall idea for the campaign. Advertising content and headlines are written by copywriters whereas the layout is prepared by graphic designers. To succeed in the creative fields, you need are strong visual communication skills as well as problem solving skills.
Electronic Media Advertising jobs
Your job options include being a model, fashion photographer, camera person, media director, media planner, video editor, and more. Each job has its own requirements.
Research Jobs
If you are interested in an advertising research career you will be working as research executives and will be studying target audiences and other areas collecting statistics.
Education Requirements
Most public relations and advertising companies expect candidates to hold at least a Bachelor's degree in advertising, journalism or marketing degrees. With that said, you will find exceptions everywhere and experienced people who have produced results will always be preferred, regardless of the type of degree a person new to the business may hold.
Apart from experience and education, advertising companies look for people comfortable with computers and the Internet. If designing is your field then you need to well-versed with designing software and basic concepts. Copywriters need to have a degree in English or mass communication. They also need to have good communication skills and must be innovative and creative. A model needs no formal qualification and he/she needs to be photogenic and must be able to face the camera well. The industry is extremely competitive, so you should know how to handle criticism as well as rejection.
Salary
The average salary of an advertising professional is between $73,000 and $119,000. Those who hold a marketing degree are likely to earn a higher salary compared to other applicants who do not have a degree. Salary level varies depending on responsibilities, location, company size, seniority. New college graduates who have just entered the industry will obviously be offered comparatively lower salaries.
