I Want to Work in ... Advertising

The Advertising Industry
It may not really be quite as glamourous as Mad Men but the contemporary advertising industry can provide interesting and rewarding careers for graduates from all disciplines. Our links for advertising include job profiles, career information and employers, and are a good starting point for learning about careers in the industry.
There have recently been many changes to the way that advertising works, mainly due to the increased value in internet advertising compared with in other media. There are advertising jobs being recruited for now that didn’t even exist two years ago and areas of digital media advertising are growing rapidly. Social media planning is such a role, it includes client reputation management on web discussion forums, blogging, tweeting and working on Facebook and Bebo. Search marketing is another growth area with many agencies offering services like search engine optimisation (SEO). There are many digital media agencies in Brighton and Hove that have recruited for these kinds of positions. Check out our Researching Employers and Working in Sussex web pages for more.

Who Works in Advertising?
Although there is a variety of roles within the industry there are many shared skills and characteristics amongst those who are successful. The IPA have a useful section on their website about how to find out whether or not you are suited to advertising here. This includes information on their copy test for aspiring copy writers, and the diagonal thinking assessment which tests your ability to think in both linear and lateral ways. This blend of the creative and analytical is valued by various types of agency and the test has been designed to encourage applicants to the industry from a wider range of academic backgrounds. Skills and aptitudes being more important than subjects studied at degree.

Getting Work Experience
As advertising is highly competitive to get into, work experience will be especially useful. There are a number of paid schemes with graduate employers as well as the possibility of organising your own experience. Pick up the booklet Getting Work Experience in Advertising and Marketing from the Careers and Employability Centre and have a look at the IPA’s work experience section.

Graduate Schemes
Good sources of vacancies for graduate jobs in advertising include the Media Guardian on Mondays. We have copies in Careers and Employability Centre and you can also search for vacancies online. The IPA list many jobs and have details of graduate schemes and closing dates here. Many graduates working in advertising recommend the AdGrads blog, it has up to date information on schemes and deadlines. You may have to act fast as many graduate schemes have early deadlines with several closing before the end of October.
It is also recommended that you use social media in your job search. Following graduates working in roles that interest you on twitter, joining relevant groups on facebook and subscribing to industry blogs will help demonstrate your proficiency in social media as well as exposing you to more vacancies and opportunities.

Remember that our careers advisers are available every afternoon to help with job applications, finding work experience and general careers advice. You can book a same day appointment by calling us on 01273 678429.