Advertising Sales Agents
By: Samantha Hirshberg
Job Description
Quick Facts
Number of Jobs, 2012: 154,600
Job Outlook, 2012-22: -1% (little or no change)
Employment Change, 2012-22: -1000
Skills and Personality Qualities Needed for This Job
Skills
- familiarity with modern technology and computer data programs
- high school diploma
- no prior experience in the field but a passionate desire to learn
- ability to persuade a buyer to entrust you with his/her company's advertising
Personality Qualities
- persistent; strong work ethic; organized
- persuasive; effective communicator
- likeable; humble; self-confident
Training
Work Setting and Pay
Work Setting
- office cubicles; 40+ hours per week; irregular hours
- large amount of travel to maintain relationships with current clients and obtain new ones with potential customers
- New York, California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas have the highest employment level of advertising sales agents
Pay
- national hourly mean wage is $29.28
- national annual mean wage is $60,910
- in Georgia, hourly mean wage is $34.77 and annual mean wage is $72,320
- based on 2012 statistics
Networking Opportunities
- These groups/programs allow an agent to meet potential customers as well as other agents who possess a vast amount of knowledge in the field.
- Interorganizational Special Interest Group (IOSIG)
- SIG Leaders Page
- Summer Marketing Educators' Conference
- AMA Special Interest Groups
- From Creativity to Content Program
- LinkedIn (offers professional profiles; can talk with other agents)
- Twitter (send out tweets and connect with others in the advertising sector)
- Facebook (pay to advertise; could request a meeting with another agent in a similar field)
- Instagram (post pictures related to the field)
- Pintrest (pin topics/subjects you find interesting, such as other agents' stories, work)
Job Opportunities in Georgia
- 2,897 jobs available
- majority are in Atlanta
- most request a bachelor's degree and at least two years of experience in sales
- pay is not included on many employment descriptions as companies do not want to detract potential job seekers
- based on current openings in market
Potenial Internships and Job Opportunities Overseas
Potential Internships
- most internships allow a person to serve as an aid to the seasoned advertising manger of the company
- they require a large amount of dedication and time as one must work for little to no pay and focus on the future rather than the present
- an example of one is a "virtual Advertising Manager Internship Opportunity" at Vision House Publishers (quarterly Christian publication who publishes books and periodicals)
Job Opportunities Overseas
- many exist; hold their agents to higher standards
- value honesty and relationships more than actual sales numbers
- have same goal as U.S. agents, but tend to be more honest and straightforward when negotiating
- Less education is required as the graduation from college is undervalued