Career opportunities in Advertising Industry: A blend of Creative and Strategic Skills

Introduction  

Advertising is the art of conveying creative messages to audiences. In other words, we can say it’s a paid information blended with innovative ideas to influence the customers with strategic planning. To add on to that once Jef. I. Rechard said, “Creative without strategy is ‘art’. Creative with strategy is called ‘advertising.” Advertisements are an integral part of daily lives, one can skip them but can not ignore them. According to research, an average consumer sees up to three thousand ads per day. Advertising plays a crucial role to promote any business be it a product, service, or disseminating any idea. The several modes of advertising are Newspapers, Magazines, Television, Radio, Mobile Phones, Hoardings, and the most important Internet especially various Social Media Platforms. Through advertising, the seller imparts information about any idea to peruse its customers and target audiences. The various advertising formats are Print ads such as Leaflets, Hoardings (Out of Home ads), Newspaper or magazine prints, and in the electronic format’s live storytelling mode (Feature ads), Audio – Visual ads (TVCs), Audio advertising, GIFs, etc. 

Advertising is one of the important department of any industry or any government or non – governmental initiative that ensures the industry’s competitiveness and spreading awareness in the corporate setup. The main objective of advertising is to encourage the promotion or sales of the advertiser’s product. Advertising creates the framework of audiences’ minds, individual and collective impressions in the favour of the advertiser’s interest.  

Growth in Advertising Industry 

According to a report by ‘Business Today,’ the Indian advertising industry is expected to grow 10.8 percent to reach Rs. 62,577 Crore by the end of this year. The rapid growth of digital advertising witnessed huge growth in 2020 due to pandemic and as per the Dentsu Digital Report, this industry is expected to reach Rs.70,343 Crore by 2022. The Indian advertising industry is all set to provide quality jobs in the fast-growing financial system. The specialization engages the creative and strategic talent in the Industry by providing different types of careers. The growth of the advertising industry is highly dependent on the dispersion of various media platforms such as Print, Electronic, and Digital Media. India, with its developing economy and provides abundant opportunities to new talents and creative minds to promote various campaigns for different products and services. Not only global or national media hubs but regional market and vernacular media markets also generate huge demand for strategic and creative advertising by professionals.  

Skills required to outshine in Advertising Industry  

For any aspirant who wants to pursue advertising as their career option, then one has to be creative to bring up outstanding ideas to disseminate the information to the audience. Working for an advertising concern needs one to have communication skills, the ability to understand customers’ minds, reasonable knowledge of media trends, problem-solving attitude, ability to take criticism, designing, and technical skills. There are many universities, institutes and colleges are offering many degrees, diplomas, and specializations in Advertising and Communication Management. 

Job opportunities in Advertising Industry  

The fast-growing advertising industry creates various job roles. The new-age ad world goes beyond conventional methods. For conventional and non – conventional advertising and planning, the Industry require well-trained professionals. The ad world industry is very highly creative and strategically dynamic. The job opportunities are diverse and specialization-based into various subdivisions. They offer various positions in the field of creative, art, production, media planning, client servicing (accounts), and research. The aspiring candidates of advertising may opt for these positions as per their interest and specialization. The various job titles offered are: 

Copywriter and Illustrator – Copywriters are the creative entities of any advertising concern. They conceptualize the idea from the creative team and write it down aligned with the concept. The illustrator creates the layout (storyboard) of the advertisement concept. The format can be anything like print, audiovisual, radio, or digital ads and this is the person who is responsible for the entire text/ words which will be used for advertisement. When we recall the slogan “Kuch Mitha Ho Jaye” then Cadbury floats in our mind, also like “Dag Ache Hain” for Surf Excel. 

Media Researcher– The research department provides the details of audience demographic and psychographic details to the media planner. The research professionals are from different professional backgrounds such as communication, statistics, sample techniques, psychographics, sociology. The various job titles are Public Opinion Researcher, Executive Research Adviser, Associate Media Research Director, etc. 

Creative Director – The creative director and the subordinating team design and conceptualize the whole idea of the advertisement. The creative department consists of copywriting and art departments. The same way Art Director and team visualize the idea of the campaign.  

Account Planner – The account planner and the Account planning team is involved in strategic planning like selecting clients, budgeting, selecting the right media for advertisement, discussing with clients and the market research team. The positions related to this profile are account service assistant, account executive, senior account executive, and accounts supervisor or accounts manager. 

Adverting Media Planner– Media planning is one of the most important departments, wherein media planners help the ad agencies to choose the best outlet or medium to reach the target audiences. They plan, schedule, purchase the space from print media and OHH (Out of Home) ads, time from electronic media, and slots and positions from digital media (internet). 

Client Service Executive/ Manager – They are the most crucial people between an advertising agency and the client. They act as mediators between external and internal departments in an organization. They analyze the requirement of a client and the delivery of the creative department.  

Apart from the above, many other career avenues enhance the advertising industry such as Digital Marketing, Graphics Designers (Graphics, Photoshop, and Illustrator), Social Media Marketing, Search Engine Optimization experts, business development managers, and so on.  

Media students are mostly looking forward to various print and electronic media channels. The best of creative minds with strategic aspirants seek opportunities in advertising and planning giants such as Leo Burnet, RK Swamy -BBDO, Rediffusion Dy and R, Lintas India Ltd., Ogilvy & Mather Ltd, and Mudra Communications Ltd. The global impact of Indian creativity is noticed and appreciated worldwide. The Indian Advertising agencies are handling national and international brands and are providing numerous opportunities to new talents with a blend of creative skills and strategic thinking. That’s the reason father of modern advertising David Ogilvy said, “In the modern world of business, it is useless to be creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.” 

Opportunities of Career Building in Commerce Domain

Commerce is a branch of business. As per James Stephenson, Commerce is called a very useful organized system mainly meant for exchange of goods & services among all the members of the industry globally. It generally includes all activities which are involved in exchange of goods and services in consideration of money. It becomes the backbone in formation of the market as well as the economy of the organization and the nation. According to one of the Aptitude tests conducted by “The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education” for Secondary School Certificate, it showed that more than 17, 36,100 students throughout the state took the online aptitude test, out of which 21% of students showed interest in commerce education. It is highest in all technical and non-technical courses.  

Some often statements we had come across earlier: 

  • Average students who do not get a seat in Science, go for commerce” 
  • In Commerce stream, limited career scopes is seene.g.:B.Com, M.Com, Chartered Accountant and  Company Secretary” 
  • “Only students who are having family business should go for commerce” 

The above statements are only some ideas that used to prevail in our society that convinced parents, relatives, and friends to believe which was not based on any truth. 

However, in reality, the commerce stream just like science, or humanities opens up many directions and career-building opportunities for a student. Commerce stream is emerging as one of the demanding study options among the students. A commerce student is seen as a significant and valuable asset in an organization due to their knowledge of practical business activities 

Careers for Commerce students: 

Teaching 

  • Teachers have the capability to make leaders of the future in the best possible way for the societies, and to build positive, encouraged, and inspired coming generations and therefore shape society, both locally and globally. 
  • If we consider teaching, we will find that it is a remarkable option for a career aspirant. 
  • After completion of graduation, one has to either pursue a bachelor’s in Education (for school-level teaching) or go for higher studies i.e Masters, and thereafter qualify for the National Eligibility Test for university-level teaching. 

Chartered Accountancy 

  • Commerce students have a beautiful career option in course of Chartered Accountancy. It is a globally recognized professional course run by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). 
  • A Chartered Accountant deals with different sorts of domains of business eg: Audit, Investment, Taxation, Finance, etc. with a view to increasing the profitability of the organization.  
  • Students have to pass the entrance examination i.e., Foundation Course after completion of 12th standard. It will be followed by IPCC, Articleship, and lastly final year examination.   
  • Candidates have the option to go for professional opportunities in government or private organizations. They can also go for private practice after gaining a few years of experience. 

 Company Secretary 

  • The course ‘Company Secretary’ is a professional one governed by the ICSI.  
  • The Company Secretary is taking care of the skilled administrative activities of a company. They ensure legal and statutory compliance by the organization. They also look after governance-related issues like proper implementation of the decisions of the board of directors.  

 Cost and Management Accounting 

  • Cost and Management Accountants are skilled professionals dealing in Cost management, performance evaluation, and asset management, budgeting of an organization.  
  • It is a certificate course conducted by ICAI.  
  • They work together with corporate executives for preparing the financial plan & strategy of the companies. 

 Stockbroking

One of the most trending career options that gives self earning capability to students 

  • Stockbroking is buying and selling of stocks, securities, etc. in the financial markets namely Nifty and Sensex.   
  • Stockbrokers have to manage investments in stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and derivatives on behalf of their clients.  
  • They also advise them about market fluctuations.  
  • Stock Broker can work in any organizations like brokerage firms, investment banks,  insurance companies, etc or and can  work as an independent broker after gaining a sufficient experience 

Entrepreneurship

A student can also set up their own business, referred to as a start-up.  

Banking 

Students who are from a commerce background have good opportunities for jobs  in the banking sector also– clerk, probationary officer, specialist officer, customer relationships officer. 

Insurance

There is also good scope as working as an insurance agent. An insurance agent can get a promotion with good skills of communication, motivation, and connectivity with society. Insurance jobs may be available both in the government as well as the private sector. 

Self Profession/ Business

A commerce student, having knowledge in Accountancy, Costing, Law, Finance, has a better idea in dealing with Business activities such as filing of Income tax returns, GST return, making vouchers, costs calculation and overall idea in the contemporary financial markets. 

However, no stream can help any student to excel in a career if there is a lack of determination, sincerity, and hard work.  

. “AMBITION is the first step towards achieving success, second step is ACTION!”

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