Securing a related internship is one way to get a leg up on your career in advertising. In fact, many advertising firms consider candidates who have completed advertising internships far more attractive than those who have not.
If you are planning to begin your career in advertising in the creative department of an advertising firm, a bachelor’s degree may not be as essential. Many firms hire assistant art directors with two-year degrees from art or design schools. You can earn an advertising degree at public and private colleges and universities, as well dedicated technical schools that offer career specific programs. Specialty schools often offer two-year degree or certificate programs in advertising.
Generally, assistant copywriters do not need degrees. However, obtaining one cannot hurt your chances of landing a job and may help you acquire the type of skills necessary for a career in advertising. It is also worth noting that some advertising firms may require more advanced degrees.
Consider your people skills as you prepare for a career in advertising. Advertising jobs typically require excellent communication skills, a good deal of common sense, the ability to solve problems, and a healthy dose of creativity. If you hope to pursue your career in advertising abroad, foreign language skills are important as well. In many cases, firms consider foreign language skills a plus, regardless of whether or not you choose to work abroad.
Your preparation for a career in advertising should also include boning up on your job-market knowledge. Perform an Internet search to learn where most advertising jobs are located. For example, in the United States, a large portion of the advertising firms and jobs are in Chicago and New York, followed by other large cities. With this information in mind, you may be able to sniff out less popular advertising job markets, getting your foot in the door in a state in which competition is less fierce.
As a beginning Internet marketer you have a variety of specialties to choose from such as article writing, forum posting, commentating, webpage designing, video editing, and blog management. The list goes on and on. You must assess your talents and skills to see where you can best apply your capabilities as an Internet marketer.
