One of the things which will make a person an especially attractive candidate for an entry-level advertising position or marketing firm is having had some internship experience in a similar area during his or her college years. Recent graduates are the most likely to have had this kind of experience — others may choose to take on part-time internship positions with these companies to gain the requisite work experience, especially if their degree is unrelated to the advertising field.
As an entry-level employee in a marketing agency, your position will likely be that of a junior level employee or assistant in your area of specialty. These can include entry-level sales jobs if this is your area of expertise, or education or anything else in which you have some skill. For example, if you happen to have a degree in commercial art, then your first entry-level job in the world of marketing is likely to be in a layout capacity or in the production department assisting in the creation of marketing and advertising materials produced by the company. If your educational background is in English or journalism, then you would be a natural for a copy editor or staff copywriter position (although copy editor would be a more likely entry-level job for a new graduate).
Those who have public relations backgrounds will be placed in junior level roles in these departments, and those with business management skills or experience will fit well into the traffic department or junior/assistant project manager positions. These entry-level marketing jobs allow you to demonstrate your skills and will permit you to eventually move up within the agency if that is your desired career path. Alternately, the skills and experience you acquire will make you well-suited for a more senior level position at another marketing or advertising firm in the future — as many trying to break into the industry know well, one of the most commonly cited qualifications for positions in marketing is experience working in a marketing agency, even in entry-level positions. This means that getting your foot in the door at an advertising or marketing agency is essential to securing higher paying and more challenging positions in the industry in the future.
Although entry-level jobs in marketing and advertising may not in and of themselves be the most desirable jobs out there, remember that these positions are a stepping stone to achieving greater things in the future. If you want to become a senior art director or graphics department head, you will have to start somewhere. Even if this beginning is in entry-level sales jobs trying to secure advertising placements, you’ll be on your way up if you show the determination and competence needed to move forward.
If you have an interest in working in the marketing field, the time to prepare to get into the industry is now. Even entry-level jobs in marketing and advertising require some level of experience and educational prerequisites. If you are still in school, you will want to begin taking classes which will prepare you for the challenges ahead. Pursuing a marketing or advertising internship is an excellent idea and will greatly increase your chances of landing entry-level sales jobs and other entry-level jobs within marketing agencies. If you have applicable work experience, now is the time to get your portfolio together. For instance, if you have done some advertising or marketing work for your current employer, put together a collection of the best of your work to show potential employers in the future — anything you have that demonstrates your talent and your potential will be a big help in getting yourself into the marketing industry.
Entry-level jobs in marketing are a great opportunity to move towards your career goals in the world of marketing. While these entry-level jobs may not be exactly what you had in mind, these jobs offer you the opportunity to prove yourself and work your way up towards the position you’d like to see yourself in — a job where you are allowed to exercise your creative vision and produce the sort of award-winning marketing and advertising content that you can point to proudly and say ''that was all me.''
