Advertising account executive

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• specialist courses run by professional bodies

University

You can get into advertising with a degree in any subject.

Some employers may prefer it if you have a degree in a subject like:

• advertising and marketing
• statistics or operational research
• communication and media studies
• business or management
• psychology

With your degree you can apply for graduate training schemes in advertising companies.

Work experience during university

Employers value work experience so it's important to get as much as you can during your studies.

Your university careers service can help you find work experience, internship and placement opportunities.

Entry requirements:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

There is no set route to become an advertising account executive.

You might find it useful to do a Foundation Certificate in Professional Marketing.

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You may be able to get into this job by doing an advertising and media executive advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Work

You might be able to start in a junior position at a small advertising agency in a position like admin assistant .

You can then work your way up as your experience in advertising grows.

Volunteering

Experience will help you understand advertising and allow you to meet new people who may help you find paid work.

You could try:

• work experience
• internships
• temporary jobs

You could contact agencies directly to ask about volunteering opportunities. You could also make contacts on social networking sites like Twitter or LinkedIn.

OtherRoutes

You could take the advertising Foundation Certificate to get some of the skills you need to get a paid job in advertising.

The course is offered by by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising and is open to anyone with less than one year of experience in an advertising, marketing or communications role.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• the ability to sell products and services
• customer service skills
• persistence and determination
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• persuading and negotiating skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to work well with others
• knowledge of English language
• administration skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• a desire to help people
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• knowledge of media production and communication
• the ability to read English
• maths skills

What you'll do:

Advertising account executives manage clients for an advertising agency.

You could:

• meet with clients to discuss their needs
• present ideas and how much it costs to clients
• explain what the client needs to the creative team
• check and report on an ad campaign's progress
• keep in contact with the client at all stages of an ad campaign
• manage budgets and send bills to the client
• try to find new business for the agency

Location : You could work in an office or at a client's business.

Salary:

Starter : £19,000
Experienced : £36,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

37 - 39 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings occasionally

Career Path:

With experience, you could:

• get a job as an advertising account manager
• become an advertising director
• set up your own advertising agency