Career Profiles Advertising Manager
Advertising managers typically direct a small staff comprised of advertising professionals. Depending on the size of the company, the advertising team may either coordinate the work of a third party advertising consultant, or it may oversee the development of internal advertising campaigns. The median salary for advertising managers in 2008, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov), was $94,720. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that approximately 47,000 advertising and promotions managers held U.S. position in 2006, and advertising managers are seen across almost all industries, due to the nature of the position. Average job growth for advertising manager positions is expected to mirror the average for all industries at approximately 12% through 2016, but may see significant variance from one industry to the next, depending on the performance of the individual industry.
Like any position in the advertising and marketing fields, the advertising manager position is an integral part of the market research, marketing strategy, advertising, and pricing function for its company. Stress levels for advertising and marketing professionals tends to be high due to tight deadlines and unexpected changes in workload demands. Also, like most advertising and marketing professionals, advertising managers can expect to travel frequently and put in a lot of hours. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately two-thirds of advertising and marketing managers worked overtime in 2006.
Promotability for advertising managers is high, and successful individuals in these positions are often considered for advancement into executive management. Competition is very fierce because of the high earnings and visibility associated with these positions. The advertising manager position is an upper-level management position, and candidates are rarely filled with recent college graduates. Most advertising managers are promoted from within, selected from the ranks of advertising and marketing professionals already experienced in the company, or promoted from similar positions in other companies.
The ideal candidate for an advertising manager position demonstrates drive, creativity, and technical aptitude, particularly with computer applications, thanks to the Internet advertising explosion. Because the advertising manager is often responsible for coordinating with a variety of functions and individuals, candidates will also need to demonstrate organization, communication, and leadership skills. A bachelor's degree in advertising or journalism is preferred by most employers in order to qualify for an advertising manager position, and the typical class profile will include both analytical study, such as marketing and market research classes, and creative study, such as classes in art and photography.
