Advertising Account Executive

Typical Salary

£18,000 To £60,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

evenings occasionally

How To Become a Advertising Account Executive

You can get into this job through:

a university course
a college course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
applying for a graduate training scheme

College / University

You could get into advertising with any degree subject, although some employers may prefer a relevant subject like:

advertising and marketing
statistics or operational research
communication and media studies
business or management
psychology

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

There is no set entry route to become an advertising account executive but it may be useful to do a relevant subject like a Foundation Certificate in Marketing.

Apprenticeship

You may be able to get into this job through an advertising and media executive advanced apprenticeship.

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

In smaller advertising agencies you may be able to start in a junior position like administrator, and work your way up as your experience in the industry grows.

Other Routes

You could apply for a graduate training scheme if you have a degree.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

the ability to sell products and services
customer service skills
persistence and determination
ambition and a desire to succeed
the ability to use your initiative
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
excellent verbal communication skills
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day duties may include:

meeting clients to discuss their needs
working with account planners
coming up with campaigns that meet the client's needs and budget
presenting campaign ideas and costs to clients
briefing the creative team that produces the words and artwork
checking and reporting on the campaign’s progress
keeping in contact with the client at all stages of the campaign
managing the account’s budget and invoicing the client
trying to win new business for the agency

Working Environment

You could work in an office.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Experience will help you understand the industry and allow you to meet new people who may help you find paid work in advertising. You could try:

work experience
internships
temporary employment

You could contact agencies directly to ask about placements, and make industry contacts through social networking sites like Twitter or LinkedIn.

Tips & Information

Career tips

It's a good idea to have a presence on social networking sites. You could also show your creative and communication skills to employers through your own blog or website.

Further information

You can find out more about a career in advertising from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.