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Careers in an Advertising Agency
by Contributing Writer
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Overview
U.S. advertising agencies offer a variety of career opportunities, from analytical and managerial to creative. An ad agency advises, plans and executes the marketing of its clients' products and services. Marketing is essential, even when the economy slows. When revenues increase, career opportunities in advertising agencies grow with the economy.
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Careers
Marketing, public relations, creative and interactive directors are the top jobs in an agency. Account managers interact with clients and oversee projects. Advertising media planners direct broadcast, print and interactive ad campaigns. Media traffic managers purchase media space and time. Copywriters and graphic designers do the creative work. Execution of the ads is overseen by production managers. Other agency positions include specialists in website development and digital media, HTML programmers and Flash developers.
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Compensation
Entry-level jobs at advertising agencies pay between $25,000 and $40,000, depending on the position, experience, market location and the agency's size. Advertising marketing managers average $84,000; public relations managers $57,000. Creative directors earn $68,000 and interactive directors $72,000. Account managers average $75,000 and planners earn an average of $69,000. Media traffic manager salaries average $60,000. In the creative services, copywriters, on average, make $66,000 and graphic designers average $50,000.
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Environment
The work environment at ad agencies is usually comfortable and teamwork-oriented, but fast-paced. Hours can be long and working evenings and weekends is common. Frequent meetings with clients add pressure to the work week. Time management is stressed, with the goal of working a high percentage of billable hours. To help manage stress levels, many of the larger agencies offer health club membership or provide onsite facilities.
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Requirements
For most ad agency careers, a bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, communications or business is needed, although creative positions do not always require a degree. Public relations professionals with a bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English or business are preferred. Some agencies require a master's degree in business administration, depending on the position. Agencies look for individuals with good people and communications skills, creativity and a knack for problem-solving.
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Outlook
The advertising industry attracts more applicants than there are job openings. As the economy fluctuates, so does the number of agency jobs. When clients are lost or cut budgets, personnel layoffs often follow. The Bureau of Labor estimates that from 2006 to 2016, jobs in the advertising and public relations industry will expand by 14 percent, while all other industries combined are expected to grow by 11 percent.
