By Kate Lambon
To get into advertising you need to sign an oath, in blood, to never tell the truth again for the rest of your life, I’m just kidding.
Working in advertising is not about making up lies in order to get someone to buy a product or service. It’s about empowering consumers to make thoughtful, intelligent purchasing decisions. The advertising world offers many career paths within it. You can choose to suit up as an Account manager or fill the baggy pants of the out-there Creative, or if you have a neck for juggling a million urgent deadlines at the same time, then maybe traffic be your calling.
Here are some of the roles that may suit:
Account Management:
The go-between and often mediator between client and the agency, requires an organized individual able to put together briefs from client, and sell ice to Eskimos.
Strategy:
The brains behind any big campaign must be able to take vital but boring product information and turn it into one strategic thought for Creatives to work on.
Creative:
The fun side of advertising, must be able to think of original thoughts for campaigns on his feet, no two days are the same, one day you’re working on insurance, the next you’re jetting off to shoot high-fashion.
Agency Producer:
The producer holds all the pieces together; they must easily network with suppliers to get the work on billboards, TV, radio wherever people can see it.
Traffic:
As the name states, this person manages the traffic of briefs coming from client to creative, they must be quick on their feet, literally, every hour is rush hour.
There are many schools one can go to study advertising, the most popular being the AAA School of Advertising, VEGA and UNISA, bursaries are available as well. Believe you’ve got what it takes to be creative; The Imagination Lab is always looking to sponsor courses to young unpolished gems for free.
