A career in advertising can encompass many diverse skills, from advertising design for the creatively inclined through advertising sales managers to account executives, account planners, website designers and much more. Its heart is marketing, supported by public relations and promotions. Creative, media and account departments, usually small, all have their specific roles to play in advertising, with executive managers in each department liaising for greater effectivity.
Design department jobs include graphic designers for both online and offline advertising campaigns as well as art directors and copywriters. Media departments employ professionals to select suitable media outlets for each campaign, while promotion departments deal with purchasing incentives in close content with dealers and distributors, and advertising account specialists deal with the client companies to whom they are contracted. Great communication skills, written and verbal, an artistic and innovative bent and a willingness to work long and sometimes anti-social hours are important.
Salaries in advertising vary hugely, with a degree in mass communications a great help. At entry level, wages are low, at around C
$22,000, but can rise significantly for those who are successful.