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What is an Advertising Degree?
A Master of Advertising gives you the know-how and experience to move up the corporate ladder in the world of advertising. The advertising industry is set to grow about 18% through 2018, but keep in mind the number of management and executive positions may be limited, as people in these positions tend to stay at their jobs for a long time. Advertising is a very competitive business, so you’ll need a combination of education, experience and networking skill to land a dream job.
There are many Master of Advertising online programs. Look for an accredited program that will be recognized in your state, allowing you to gain employment with many advertising firms or in the advertising department of high profile companies. Master of Advertising part-time online and distance learning programs are available through many major universities and colleges.
The exponential increase in computer power has sparked a revolution, and digital technology now pervades every industry. All of advertising depends heavily on technology, computer programs, social networking, viral campaigns and using the Internet to get and keep your target consumer’s attention. There is also a focus on international marketing, advertising management and strategy. You can expect to take extensive writing courses and expand on the fundamental parts of advertising you may already be familiar with such as ethics, practices of advertising, marketing and communication. Those with a background in digital communication and technology will be needed in great numbers as print journalism dwindles and venues for printed advertising disappear one by one. International opportunities, and jobs for people who speak more than one language, are many in the advertising world because companies in the global superpowers are looking to expand their selling power in growing markets in the developing world.
Job Opportunities for Those with a Master of Advertising?
Job titles mean a lot in the advertising world, and getting a leadership role such as project manager or executive director usually comes with a fat paycheck and a lot of respect in the company. These jobs aren’t easy to come by, though, and if you got into advertising because you want to make art or write copy, aiming for the corner office might not be for you. Below is a list of common job titles in advertising firms, and the requirements that come with them.
Project Manager
A project manager works to plan, oversee and execute a project by coordinating with the art department, copywriters, and sales representatives. Project managers work as the team leader to ensure all guidelines for a project are being followed and that the team is consistently on the right track until it is time to deliver the finished product or campaign. It is important for project managers to be flexible, as projects in the advertising change all of the time, whether it’s budget or time constraints. Project managers typically work hectic and unpredictable schedules, driven by deadlines and short-notice needs. A project manager knows how to delegate tasks to capable individuals to keep the team running effectively. It is usually the project manager that takes meetings with a client and keeps in close communication with the client, showing progress reports of the project, when and if requested. Some clients want to hear a project manager and team’s vision and see them carry that out with autonomy, while others like to be updated as the project progresses. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, advertising and promotion managers had a median annual income of $80,220 in May of 2008. A project manager’s income may also include a substantial bonus for job performance, and large raises during windfall years are common.
In-House Marketing Executive
With work experience and a Master of Advertising, you are in a prime position to work in-house as a marketing executive. This means you are on payroll for a company and work to market the company’s own products or even just one division of their products. Large companies with many products have marketing executives for nearly all sectors of their company. If a company makes dolls and bedding, there is usually a marketing executive over toys and a separate for lifestyle or home items. An in-house marketing executive should have ample experience in the position they’re applying for and be familiar with the brand they will be marketing. A marketing executive should have strong leadership qualities and the ability to oversee many projects going on at once. You may have to change a business plan or model, evaluate progress on a project or create new strategies to make a project work. A marketing executive typically works beyond the normal work hours of 9-5 and can also work at the office on holidays or weekends. Many marketing executives also travel extensively to see progress on products or campaigns. Marketing managers earned a median annual income of $97,260 as of May, 2008, which can be bolstered substantially by performance based bonuses and annual raises.
In-House Public Relations Manager
Public relations workers don’t usually market products as much as they work to maintain a company’s image and establish contact between the company and the community in which it participates and markets its products. Public relations managers are nearly always on-call and expected to report to the office or create a press release addressing a situation when needed. Public relations managers work with project managers and marketing teams to maintain brand image and try to keep the public perceiving the company in positive light. Public relations managers must excel in communicating, writing and networking. It is all about networking and getting your brand or company’s name out there. This puts a public relations manager on duty around the clock. You are working to build relationships that will help your brand or company more visible. A public relations manager should be very comfortable speaking to new people and able to make decisions quickly. You will work with marketing and advertising departments, as well as upper level management and executives. Those with experience in online PR will find the most job opportunities in the coming decade. Public relations managers can expect to make about $89,430 per year.
Production Jobs in Advertising
Another major aspect of the advertising industry is the production of ads themselves. Companies spend billions to make sure their advertisements are perfect, and they hire professional artists, photographers and photo editors, copywriters, printmakers, film producers, and all manner of other audiovisual artists to produce the glossy, high-impact ads that appear on TV, in magazines, and on the internet. Several of the production positions in advertising include:
- “Creative”: The workers that people in the ad industry call “creatives” are usually the people who draws up initial ad concepts, which are then critiqued, cut up, remixed, and generally worked over brainstorm-style until they fit the message the executives want to send about the company. If you want to make art, but you’re ok with other people having a lot of input into it, this could be for you.
- Sales Representative: Ad space is expensive, so companies that make advertisements have to be sure they’re getting their money’s worth when they pay thousands of dollars for a small color ad in a prestigious paper or magazine. Ad sales representatives call potential clients and ask if they’d like to have an ad placed in a particular publication.
- Copywriter: You know the slogans for major companies: “I’m Lovin’ It,” “Think Different,” “Once You Pop, You Can’t Stop;” You can probably name the three major brands that use those phrases to make their products memorable. Somebody has to write those and then argue that they’ll do the best job of getting a brand to stick in a consumer’s mind. That someone is a copywriter. In this position, you’ll write everything from three word taglines to paragaphs
If you’re interested in a master’s degree in advertising or another marketing related field, getting in touch with a few schools that offer those degrees is the best way to get details on how you can get started. The links below can help you contact accredited schools that offer these degrees, so you can find out more about course schedules, enrollment requirements, financial aid offerings, and other important info.
Looking for an advertising or marketing degree?
Use the degree finder below, and we'll help you find an advertising degree.
