Tips for Finding a Job in Advertising that is Right for You

The advertising industry has been growing, and jobs are abundant. As a new graduate or someone else breaking into the industry, you have a unique opportunity to find the job best suited for you. You don't necessarily want to flood the industry with resumes and jump at the first offer. Figure out what you want and take the right steps to get the job that will start you on that journey.

Advertising is a large industry encompassing many areas. Advertising agencies, marketing consulting firms, internet media companies, and the advertising departments of large companies are a few places where you might find suitable employment. Your first thought should be where would you fit in best. Do you have special skills that would be useful in one type of company but not another? Visit companies that you are interested in to learn more about the environment. Ask people you know in the industry where they see you flourishing. Choosing the right type of company is the foundation of your search.

After you have an idea of the type of company that you would like to work in, pick a specialty. Obviously as a newcomer to the industry, you will probably not get your dream job to begin with, but it is a good idea to know which direction you want to go in. Are you a people person? Do you see yourself directly interacting with clients? An account executive position might be perfect for you. If you have a love of statistics, perhaps research will be your niche. Maybe you are more the creative type and would enjoy working as an art director. If you are a creative and concise writer, copywriting might be a good place to start, and if you have chosen to seek employment with an internet company, you might want to choose one of the many specialties applying to that market such as affiliate marketing or search engine optimization. Knowing what you are best at and where you want to end up on the career ladder will help you to target those areas on your resume and during your job search.

Now that you have decided on a specialty and have tailored your resume to highlight your skills in relation to your ideal job, you have one more decision to make before you start your search in earnest. Do you want a job with a big company or a small business? There are benefits to both. In a larger company, it is easier to specialize and in a smaller company, you will have more flexibility and the chance to learn a lot of different things. A larger company will most likely pay more to begin with and have better benefits, but a smaller company will have more room for growth including a better chance at promotions earlier in your career. It is not uncommon for people to stay with the same company for twenty years or more. The choice of large company or small can have an influence on your career for years to come.

Congratulations! You know what kind of company you want to work for, what you want to specialize in, and whether you prefer big business, or small and personal. Now comes the easy part. Check with the placement office at your school. Check job listings on the internet and in other media including local and national newspapers and industry magazines. Compare available jobs to the choices you have made and target your job search with those points in mind. Don't forget to send resumes and cover letters to companies that meet your criteria and catch your eye even if they don't seem to be hiring. Before you know it, you will have the perfect job to start you on your career path.