Mastering the Hunt: Your Route to a Career in Advertising

Indeed, you’ve determined your career path and you’re now exploring job opportunities in advertising. You’ve polished your resume, dispatched numerous applications, and even secured several interviews, but somehow you remain on the outer edge of this career.

Here are some strategies to navigate through the obstacles and secure your dream job in this dynamic field.

Make a killer resume

To ensure your resume doesn’t land in the recycle bin, it’s worth investing your time and creativity into crafting a standout one. You only have a brief window to differentiate yourself among hundreds of resumes, so seize this opportunity.

You could consider developing your own social media campaign or even creating a viral video. Find a format that resonates with you, be mindful of your content’s tone, and maintain a balance between professionalism and enthusiasm. Craft your resume to compellingly communicate, “I am eager to work with you and I’m the ideal candidate you’re seeking”.

Become an intern

Numerous advertising agencies are available, and to make your resume stand out, you’ll need hands-on experience. Therefore, be receptive to internship opportunities, even if they are outside your immediate geographical area.

Dive into unique internship opportunities to gain multifaceted experience within different areas of a company. This not only gives you an edge over other candidates, but also exposes you to invaluable experiences that you might not encounter otherwise.

Explore the roles within an agency

In any advertising agency, numerous departments coexist, each offering a wealth of opportunities to explore diverse roles. As you immerse yourself in these distinct areas, strive to understand their objectives, operations, and interdepartmental collaborations. This broad exposure will illuminate your ideal position within the agency and help you develop focused long-term career goals.

The importance of proper education

Advertising offers a diversity of roles, each demanding a unique set of skills. Possessing these skills can be your ticket to many prestigious agencies. One such pathway is through rigorous academic preparation like the renowned course in Milan, epitomizing a forward-thinking advertising curriculum.

As stated by Pasquale Volpe, Director of RM Istituto, “Our innovative master’s program in advertising is designed to inspire global talents, expand their educational horizons through a cutting-edge curriculum, and equip them for thriving careers in this dynamic industry.”

The program cultivates students capable of working across diverse international companies and NGOs. It further enriches their experience by organizing collaborative projects with top-tier firms such as Adidas, HSBC, and Louis Vuitton, to name a few.

Keep knocking

Now that you’ve sent your resume to every agency you could possibly think of, the journey can begin. You will be knocking on many doors and they won’t immediately open, but don’t let that discourage you.

The good news is that agencies like persistence, so feel free to knock twice, stick around and remind them that you are still out there ready to jump in. Enthusiasm is contagious! Once interned at one or more agencies, you may find that they want to keep you on in full employment, so be sure to treat internships with respect as if they were your occupation.

Tailor yourself to be the ‘right fit’

You don’t need a diploma to get into the advertising industry but if you’re serious about working in an agency, you can learn a lot by taking a course. So what is it that the agencies are attracted to? Who would be “the right fit”?

It takes only a few minutes to spot a fabulous communicator, and a determined personality who is passionate about the field, however, the biggest shine dulls away at the moment when they realize you don’t know enough about what is going on in the communication world. With that said, be sure to keep up with industry trends and get some education.

“To put things into perspective, Google receives an average of 2 resumes per minute or 20,000 resumes per week, according to The New York Times (which works out to 2 resumes per minute). So, even if your resume is in tip-top shape and you have the perfect qualifications for the job, there’s a chance that your resume may never even get looked at. That’s where networking comes in. You just may end up shaking hands with a person who can help you land a job.” – Expanding Your Job Search Network

Network, network, network

There is one clear rule in the advertisement industry, “it’s not just what you know, it’s WHO you know. Get out there and start networking. Explore the events, seminars, and workshops that are sponsored by advertising clubs and start talking to people who actively work in the industry. Be professional and create a memorable impression, the people you talk to could very well be your future employers. Make sure to also carry professional business cards with you, maybe you’ll be the one that they have on their mind when an opportunity arises.

If you’ve decided that advertising is the right career for you, be fearless and go for it. Your genuine passion and enthusiasm will definitely lead you toward the right door – just don’t forget to knock more than once. Don’t be afraid to take a basic job in an agency for a start, you will find your way to shine and onto bigger and better prospects.

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