When you're first thinking of a career in advertising, you may wonder if you need a degree. Not everyone agrees on this point, there are many people in the industry that would argue that you don't need a four year education in order to succeed. With or without a formal education in the advertising industry, it can be a ''catch 22'' with a degree it can be hard to obtain a position with no experience, and without a degree it can be hard to obtain a position without and education.
So what do you do? If you are already in the process of obtaining your education by all means continue. Take full advantage of internship programs available to you by the college as well as seek out your own opportunities. Check out the advertising clubs available within the school as well as the programs alumni would be involved in. College Alumni can be a very valuable source of information and may possibly help you obtain a position once you have graduated. The more connections you make now the better off you will be later. Sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know.
If you choose not to obtain a degree or a formal education, don’t rule a career in the advertising industry out. Experience is extrelmy important. You can gain valuable experience by working in the industry mediums (such as TV, radio or print advertising). If it means you need to run a teleprompter for a while, you will learn the ins and outs of the business. Pay close attention to how things are run. If time permits work on building your resume, offer to help on commercial production. You can gain valuable experience and make contacts within the industry, especially with the advertising agencies. Many employers will be receptive to you helping out on additional projects if it’s not costing them any extra in your salary.
Once you have gained experience and knowledge within the industry, your resume will reflect your strength and you are ready to tackle bigger jobs.
