Expert: Peter Gabany - 9/11/2007

Question
Greetings,

Right to the point: I've just graduated with a general BA from McGill University in Montreal QC, and in a year or so I'm planning to go back to school to acquire a business degree (most hopefully) in advertising. However, I would love to get some experience in the field before my return to the books, but I have no idea where to look for entry level advertising jobs. Do they even exist?

yours,

Lindsay

Answer
Lindsay,

There are a number of positions that you can apply for and assorted paths in education that you can take to reach your goal of working in the advertising marketplace.

But - there are a number of associated industries that you can work in that will also give you great grounding in the ad game while expanding your knowledge in the industry.

For example:

Ad Agency - Account coordinator, media assistant, Jr. copywriter, research assistant

Design Agency: Account coordinator

Marketing Agency: Account coordinator, research assistant

Promotions Agency: Account coordinator, research assistant

Interactive agency: Account coordinator, research assistant, sales person

As for school. I'm unclear as to what you might take in school or where. The best schools for the ad business - meaning the business of advertising vs the creative side of advertising would be Northwestern's Integrated Marketing program and I have also heard great things of University of Texas' Advertising program.

And also - now that you have the academic background you might consider College for an applied course in advertising. I recommend that you avoid Durham College but there are a number of good colleges with extensive ad programs.

And lastly - if you are good, keen and willing to hustle - which requires an out-going spirit - a good agency will take you on and train you. The Intitute of Communications Agencies - www.ica-ad.com - also runs programs that many an agency will pay to have their employees trained through.

I hope and trust that this will help.

Please check Marketing magazine's list of agencies - www.marketingmag.ca for leads on Quebec based agencies or RGD Ontario for a listing of near Quebec based design agencies - www.rgdontario.com

Please let me know what you are going to do and if this has been helpful.

Pete