Job Responsibilities
50% New Business Development
15% managing Managers
25% Writing
10% Thinking-Learning-Inventing
|
Job Requirements
I earned a BS in Architecture. This traing was superb for the
combination of conceptual traning, graphic arts, planning,
project management and presentation, selling and client interface
skills. Learn about communications and practice it. Study
composition and visual perception. Our media overload is mostly
visual. Meet professionals in practice. The professors are crap
when it comes to really teaching advertising. Learn constantly.
Your workload does not have to be tough if you are smart,
disciplined and connected to excellent accounts at executive
levels. It is the peons that are always scrambling. Learn about
database management and statistics. That's where the real money
is going. Pretty pictures and witty lines are just the front.
Steal ideas from everybody.
|
Uppers
Freedom to move. Commission based income that leads the agency. Working with
Fortune 100 clients that by definition have the most talented and ambitious
employees keeping everyone at the top of their games constantly. Dinners in NYC,
LA, and Peoria.
The best are always in demand.
|
Downers
Lots of people impact my success. Surprises are usually bad.
Others have cost me $50K this year alone. Stress to hit numbers
is always present. Are always at risk of termination because the
qualities that make "best of class" salesmen rub people
eventually. Flying out of La Guardia during a snowstorm at 6:30
Friday night.
|
Lifestyle
I work about 50 hours a week, except when traveling and doing events. Those
dayys are 14 -15 hours. I travel 8-10 days a month around the US. This is an
advantage. I know people well in 10 major cities. You gain geat insights and
perspective by seeing as much of the world as possible continually. My travel is
in great places where Fortune 500 dwell. NYC, Chicago, Dallas, LA, SF, Miami, DC
and others. We don't entertain that much. Dinners mostly some confernce events.
Was just invited to the Ryder Cup by a client. Going to Vegas and Tucson next
week. Dress code is casual/hip in this business. Style is definitely important.
Executive dress when meeting Presidents. Lots of cute 20 somethings marketing
chicks in the office always! A visual delight. Diversity is not an issue.
Creative expression is. Few racists are ad people. Learn about all sorts of
topics. Learn how to assimilate diverse images and ideas and events. They all
contribute. Learn about digital integration of all media and formats. Support
free speech and privacy loudly. Thsi scene parties. Radio and Film lead in rehab
dummies.
|
Compensation
I make $100K base. Will add another $100-120 in commissions in
the fiscal year. Expensive benefits. No options in this private
firm.
I've done start-ups and had stock ownership and vesting.
Sometimes it pays other times it's a bust. Hard to measure.
Agencies fire people at will. Don not lose sight of this fact.
Future commissions sometimes evaporatea long with your job. Learn
how to measure worth and negotiate contracts. Do not trust any
employer to care about your future. Ever.
|
Advice to Jobseekers
Great future here. The best ad people and Interactive media
people make good dough. You can be entreprenurial and create your
own business without huge capital investment. You get to do much
more fun day to day activities than accountants, lawyers and
engineers.
Less threat of being outsourced. Concepts do not translate across
borders very well. Tons of cute artist and account service chicks.
|
