The account executive manages accounts and serves as a liaison between the client and the agency's creative department.
The advertising world is competitive and getting a job as an account executive requires agency experience, creative thinking and the ability to communicate to others and work as part of a team. In advertising, the account executive may search out new clients for the agency and may serve as a go between for the client and the creative department. Advertising account executives often work long hours to deliver results for their clients.
Instructions
1. Account executives need to know good advertising. Watch a lot of television and don't skip through the commercials. Devour the current culture by going to movies, attending concerts, reading books, magazines and newspapers and surfing the Internet. Know what's out there and understand what constitutes successful advertising and what doesn't. Study the industry. Many advertising executives have degrees in communications, advertising, marketing or public relations.
2. Research different agencies and media companies to decide which organizations you want to target in your job search. Many agencies specialize in different areas of the media. Small ad agencies may specialize in specific clients, such as creating websites and public relations campaigns for rock groups, while big agencies may handle multimillion dollar accounts for large corporations. Knowing what interests you and what you're passionate about in the advertising realm can help you narrow down your job search.
3. Get agency experience. Because the advertising field is so competitive, it helps to get your foot in the door. If you're just starting out in the field cast a wide net and apply to as many agencies as possible. You may not land your dream job on your first try, but taking an entry-level job as a receptionist or administrative assistant can help you get a feel for agency life and make contacts in the field. Advertising positions often require dues-paying with low level jobs before you can make it big.
4. Be able to think creatively and strategically. Advertising account executives are often required to solve problems and find solutions on limited budgets on tight deadlines.
5. Learn to be diplomatic and have a good understanding of people and their motivations. Advertising account executives must work with a number of clients and knowing finesse and communicate with different working styles and points of view is imperative. .
6. Advertising is not just about creating catchy ads and winning creative awards. Agencies are businesses and it helps to have a strong understanding of making profits and running a business. Many advertising execs study business and others earn MBAs. Knowing statistcs, math and business principles is imperative.
7. Understand people. Good advertising executives have insight into what motivates people to buy products. Taking psychology courses to gain an understanding of the human mind and what drives people to make purchases can help you develop effective ads for your clients.
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