Advertising Account Executive: Duties & Job Market

Advertising account executives play an integral role in the world of media because they bring in much of the media's production revenue by selling ad placements. Advertising account executives -- also known as advertising sales agents or advertising sales representatives -- work to sell advertising space for newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and websites, as well as any other medium in which companies want to advertise their services and products.

Duties of an advertising account executive
Advertising account executives are often assigned a sales quota, or goal, that requires them to meet a certain amount of sales revenue within a given period of time. In order to consistently meet or surpass quotas, advertising account executives often work well beyond the typical 40-hour week, although a flexible schedule is possible, depending on the nature of the clientele.

An advertising executive also spends a considerable amount of time meeting with potential clients; this is where outstanding interpersonal skills will come into play. Depending on the size of a company, an advertising executive may be required to spend a great deal of time traveling within a region or even throughout the entire country.

Where to find advertising account executive jobs
A quick glance at the help wanted ads will show that there are always opportunities for advertising account executives. Advertising sales jobs can be found at newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and websites. Media outlets of any size rely on advertising sales to cover production costs, but larger companies generally offer greater job opportunities, as well as room for career growth.

Advertising programs
Advertising account executives often receive a lot of on-the-job training, with many companies establishing their own sales training programs for new hires. Additionally, many colleges and universities offer certificate and degree programs in marketing, management, communication, business administration, and advertising. A high school degree is often enough for an entry-level job, but some college coursework might be necessary to advance at some companies.

Demand for advertising account executive jobs
The Internet continues to increase the amount of advertising opportunities and, as a result, the demand for advertising account executives will also continue to rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field will increase by 20 percent by 2016, which is faster than the average rate for most occupations. Additionally, individuals who can speak a foreign language (particularly Spanish) will have greater success as advertising account executives because media outlets seek to increase their advertising presence among non-English-speaking populations.

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