Starting a Career in Advertising

If you have a passion for promotion and a desire to help others succeed, you may do well with a career in advertising. There are many careers to choose from within this field, and any one of them could turn out to be the perfect option for you. Whether you want to work in internet marketing or some other field related to advertising, you should be able to find success in this industry. Here is an overview of the work available in advertising so you can determine if this is the right path for you.

Positions in Advertising

There are many positions available in the advertising world, and they all have a slightly different impact on the industry. The job duties for these positions vary considerably, so you need to make sure you select the right one for you. Possible careers within this profession include:

• Account Executive
• Account Manager
• Art Director
• Copywriter
• Creative Advertising Director
• Graphic Artist
• Project Coordinator

Employers for Advertising Experts

When you work in advertising, you have the opportunity to work under a number of employers. These employers all need help with their promotional campaigns in one way or another. Before you sign up for a job that you don't like, you may want to explore some of the people you could work for. Options may include:

• Companies
• Contracts
• Foundations
• Franchises
• Government Offices
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Private Practice
• Universities

Degrees for Advertising Careers

If you think you really want to pursue a career in advertising, you need to make sure you have the education you need to support this career. There are many options to choose from, and they can all lead to the same basic positions in the end. You can go to school online or through a traditional classroom, depending on what you want to do. Possible educational programs include:

• Bachelor of Arts in Advertising
• Bachelor of Arts in Communications
• Bachelor of Arts in Economics
• Bachelor of Arts in English
• Bachelor of Arts in Film, Video & Media Studies
• Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Mass Communication
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication
• Bachelor of Science in Business & Marketing
• Bachelor of Science in Business Management
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Computer Science

Certifications for Advertising Experts

On top of a college degree, you may also want to consider getting a certification related to the advertising field. That way your employers know that you are capable of doing whatever it is you need to do. Common certifications for advertising professionals include:

• Business Certificate
• Certified Public Accountant
• Cisco Certified Network Associate
• Comptia A+ Service Technician
• Human Resources Concepts
• Microsoft Certified Professional
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
• Professional in Human Resources
• Project Management Certificate
• Sun Certified Java Programmer

Pay Rates for Advertisers

Once you start your career in advertising, you should be pleased to know that you can make a lot of money. This all depends on the circumstances surrounding your career though. If you have a good employer and a good education behind you, you will have a better chance of making good money. You just have to hope for the best. Here is a look at the salaries you may experience as an advertiser, just to make sure you know that this is the career for you:

Salary by Experience

• Less than 1 year of experience: $32,835 per year
• 1-4 years of experience: $38,927 per year
• 5-9 years of experience: $55,188 per year
• 10-19 years of experience: $72,096 per year
• 20 years or more of experience: $82,626 per year

Salary by Company Size

• 1-9 staff members: $40,445 per year
• 10-49 staff members: $48,026 per year
• 50-199 staff members: $56,395 per year
• 200-599 staff members: $56,861 per year
• 600-1999 staff members: $59,968 per year
• 2000-4999 staff members: $60,323 per year
• 5000-19999 staff members: $63,977 per year
• 20000-49999 staff members: $76,444 per year
• 50000+ staff members: $68,489 per year

Keep all of this information in mind, and you should be well on your way to an exciting career in advertising.