How to get a job in advertising

How to get a job in advertising How to get a job in advertisingPosted October 13, 2011, by Josie Chun The advertising industry has always had a reputation for glamour and big bucks an image which may or may not be entirely accurate but with recent shows likeThe Gruen Transfer, 30 Secondsand Mad Menall centring on the ad world, its looking sexier than ever and interest in this industry has never been greater. So what does it take to get your foot in the door of this alluring but competitive industry? The reality all fun and glamour? So is working in advertising as fun and glamorous as its image makes it out to be? According to Lachlan Brahe, managing director of emitch, a digital advertising and online marketing agency it is. Naturally Its the people who make it that way. Maybe Im just blessed by having a pretty dynamic team that ensures my day is always fun. Siimon Reynolds, one of Australias most well-known advertising gurus and former creative director of ad agency Love, first became enamoured with the advertising world at age 15, during a work experience stint with an ad agency the jeans-and-T-shirts culture landlandbinnenseemed pretty cool. The day-to-day reality of agency life, however, can be a little more mundane not to mention a little frantic. Reynolds says You get in about 730 am and leave about 630 pm, and its much more intense because its very deadline-oriented, and you feel like an air traffic controller. One planes on the way but you can see the other three coming in. Also, your time is not entirely your own because you have clients, and youve got to respond to those clients. Maybe three-quarters of the day would be meetings. Brahe certainly concurs with the frenetic nature of daily advertising life It can be frantic at times Suffice to say there is rarely a dull moment or the opportunity to ask, Is there anything else youd like me to do? That said, the entry-level roles usually come with a pretty balanced plan of tasks and responsibiliti es, and clarity on where career progression can take an individual. The highs and lows of the job At its best, advertising is an incredibly creative, stimulating business, and produces a buzz on which its proponents thrive. For Reynolds, its all about creativity and producing good quality work. I like time to do creative work, and also when you or your agency have come up with a big idea and it actually comes off. There are so many ways, times, situations, when people say no to you in advertising so when something actually gets up and gets in the press because its good, thats really satisfying. Like any industry, advertising has its downsides. The ups and downs balance one another out. Sure, there are long hours and pressure, but this is tempered with some great social opportunities and the opportunity to see the results of that hard work in action, says Brahe. For Reynolds, The main downside is the enormous amount of stuff not going through. I think advertising is a terrific ca reer if youre doing high-quality work that you and the agency can be proud of but its a pretty average, soul-destroying career if youre doing poor work. The essentials persistence and passion The two qualities youll need to make it in this business are persistence and passion qualities that should get you far in whatever profession you choose. The importance of persistence cant be emphasised enough. Its hard to get in and hard to master, and its hard to rise to the top. So at every level beginning, middle and senior youve got to be up against yourself, practising, getting better. Its really important to be alert. Be persistent, but be alert throughout your career, not just at the start, says Reynolds. Passion is also essential. We look for people who are passionate about their interests and good at articulating that passion. I see those traits as being transferable to their career, says Brahe. Its also important to be well-rounded and have a broad perspective. Model yoursel f on the best agencies around the world how they think, what they do, even how they dress. Dont just judge yourself on Australian standards. And dont just learn advertising, but learn marketing. Learn the client side, learn business. Become a business advisor, not just an ad creator, advises Reynolds. Other important qualities which Brahe cites as essential are Good communication skills, good strategic thinking skills, and an eye for opportunities both in terms of creative flair and spotting the next big thing. How to get your foot in the door dont be boring As you would expect, the quickest way to kill your career in advertising is to be boring. The first mistake people make is they apply in a very boring way, and no one takes any notice of their application. The resume has to be different. It cant just look like every other resume. It has to have energy and life and humanity to it, it cant just be a cold document it just needs to be a bit different to separate it from the rest, says Reynolds. Qualifications arent enough, the worlds full of unemployed people with university degrees thats not what gets you a job. What gets you a job is standing out and looking good. Once again, persistence is the key to getting your foot in the door. The failure to stay in touch with employers is the primary reason that people dont make it into advertising. Someone may not have a job for you now, but they may have one in a week but no one ever stays around or keeps persisting to find out if thats true, says Reynolds. Its all about establishing relationships. Every time people come in to me saying theyd like a job as a writer, I tell them to keep in touch. But only one in every 30 people would come back to you again, even though I explain why thats the only way theyre likely to ever get a job with me or any other ad agency. And what happens? They dont get jobs and have to move into another industry. Words of advice Reynolds offers three key pieces of advice for anyon e intent on pursuing a career in advertising. The first thing is, dont give up. The second is, become an expert. And the third is, learn time management. There are so many people in the industry who are intelligent but dont get much done during the day because their time management techniques poor. You also have to be prepared to take any role in an agency that you can get. Youll see how the business works, learn a lot from observation, meet the key players and be well-positioned to move into other roles when they come up. Consider doing work experience, network and get tips and advice from as many people as you can, and do your research so youll be well-informed about the business and any agencies you approach. And dont forget that passion and enthusiasm will get you far. As Brahe advises, Approach even the most mundane task with passion and vigour. This is definitely the kind of career in which you want to be labelled as The Passionate One.Bachelor of Business (Marketing)Study modeangeschlossenPayment optionsHECS-HELPUpfront paymentCourse guide+ FREE eBrochureEnquire Online Nadim ElRahi - Marketing MangerRahul Chauhan - Head of StrategyInterested in becoming a?AccountantOffice AdministratorManagement ConsultantMarketing ManagerMarketing OfficerPopular Career Searchesjob advert for security guardshairdressing job interview questionsadvertising office managertax accountant job descriptionadministrator job advert sampleMarketing CoursesBachelor of Applied Business (Marketing)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Digital MediaEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of CommunicationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMaster of CommunicationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJosie ChunRelated ArticlesBrowse moreAdvertisingMarketingMarketing gone wrong epic failsPity the poor marketing hack, trying to tap into the zeitgeist and produce a marketing campaign that will grab the public imagination and see a product take off.Marketing6 Reasons Why Marketing Could Be Your Dream CareerIf youve got a way with words, images, people and strategy, and are plugged into whats now, you could have what it takes to enjoy a successful and stimulating career in marketing.MarketingMarketing career fact sheetTheres more to being a marketing professional than you think. 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