Entry Level Qualification 

Class 12

Career Fields 

Mass Media, Journalism & Entertainment

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

BHU UET, CUET UG

About Career 

1. As an advertising professional you will create an idea and develop plans to communicate about a product or service and it’s features and benefits to potential buyers of the product or service. Your objective will be to influence the potential buyers’ decision to buy the product or service so that they end up buying it.

2. To communicate about the product or service, you will create, produce and release newspaper advertisement, TV commercials, Facebook adverts, Instagram posts, posters, billboards, radio jingles, etc. You may deal with products ranging from toothpastes to mobile phones or with services ranging from online movie ticketing apps to healthcare services.

3. You will create the idea, plan how the advertisements can be made, what will be the cost, who will act in audio-visual advertisements, where the advertisements will be placed (newspaper, television, Facebook or YouTube, etc.) and when they will be placed. You will coordinate with art directors, actors, designers, camera team, media companies to publicize the advertising.    

Key roles and responsibilities

As an advertising professional, depending on your specialization and area of work, you can be engaged in one or more of the following roles and responsibilities:

1. As an advertising professional, you may work in the creative functions of an advertising agency or a creative agency or in the marketing communication department of a company.

2. If you are working in the creative functions, you will be involved in creating ideas and developing the illustrations of your ideas. You will design layouts of advertisements which are printed in newspapers, magazines, etc.; you will draw the scenes of a commercial television advertisement; you will illustrate the banners to be published on Facebook and so on.

3. In the creative functions, you may also work to write the creative lines that are there in a printed advertisement or the dialogues that are spoken by the characters in a commercial advertisement of television.

4. You may work in the business side of advertising or creative agencies in business development and client servicing. In these functions, your key role will be to find and enlist new clients for your agency and servicing them. You will work as a bridge between the clients and your agency’s creative department.

5. You may work in branding and account planning functions in an advertising agency or creative agency or in the marketing communication department of a company. Branding involves creating a unique identity for a product or service which help customers differentiate the product or service from other similar products or services. For example, Amul is a brand of butter produced by GCMMF (Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation) and customers believe Amul is ‘utterly butterly delicious’. Britannia butter is produced by Britannia industries. It is considered to be different than Amul although the product is same.

6. You may work in the media functions in an advertising or media agency or in the marketing communication agency of a company. Your key role in the media function will be to plan where to place or release an advertisement (in which media – newspaper, television, radio, Facebook, Google ad, Instagram, Youtube, hoardings, billboards, pamphlets, etc.).

7. According to the plans, you will buy media space (in print media), spots (on radio or television), CPC (cost per click on Facebook, Google, etc.), locations (for hoardings), etc.

You may work in the digital marketing functions in an advertising or media agency or in the marketing communication agency of a company. In this, your key role will be to plan how and where to run a campaign over the internet using different digital marketing methods and channels such as search engine optimisation (methods by which your product’s webpage could be listed among the tops by a search engine like google), social media marketing (campaign over Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, etc.), CPC advertising, etc.

8.In research functions, you may conduct research projects to understand the mindset of various groups of people who are potential customers of the product or service about which your agency or company is development an advertising campaign.

9.In the advertising operations, you will work with the internal team consisting of creative, research, media, digital and client servicing and coordinate with various outside agencies for producing and releasing advertisements. For example, you will coordinate with models, photographers, commercial film makers, print publications, television channels, etc.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Communication & Media Studies – PG in Communication & Media Studies

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in a Communication and Media Studies followed by a master’s degree in Communication & Media Studies.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Communication & Media Studies – PG in Business Administration

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in a Communication and Media Studies followed by a master’s degree in Business Administration with specialization in either Marketing or Communications.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies– UG in Engineering – PG in Communication & Media Studies

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Engineering followed by a master’s degree in Communication & Media Studies

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies– UG in Engineering – PG in Business Administration

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Engineering followed by a master’s degree in Business Administration.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Commerce along with any other subject as per scheme of studies– UG in Commerce – PG in Communication & Media Studies

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 Commerce along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Commerce followed by a master’s degree in Communication & Media Studies

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Commerce along with any other subject as per scheme of studies– UG in Commerce – PG in Business Administration

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 Commerce along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Commerce followed by a master’s degree in Business Administration.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Business Administration – PG in Business Administration

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Business Administration followed by a master’s degree in Business Administration

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Business Administration – PG in Communication & Media.

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Business Administration followed by a master’s degree in Communication & Media.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

Undergraduate studies after school:

1. To become an advertising professional, you can study any subject at the undergraduate level. However, you can opt for an undergraduate course in Commerce or Business Management or Communication and Media. These courses have Business Management, Advertising and Brand Management, and Marketing Management as one of the subjects.

2. If you have completed your schooling with Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics), then you can also opt for Engineering in undergraduate.

Post Graduate Studies:

1. Degree or Diploma course of 2 years in Communication and Media or in Advertising. There are a few colleges offering a postgraduate course in Advertising and Public Relations also. Advertising and Design, Advertising & Marketing Communication, Advertising & Mass Communication, etc. are a few specializations that you can take while studying Communication & Media.

2. Alternatively, you can also opt to pursue a Degree or Diploma of 2 years in Business Management with specialisation in Marketing, Digital Marketing, Advertising, or Marketing Communication.

3. If you want to study further, there are many Business schools offering fellowship programs after Masters in Business Administration.

Competencies Required

You should have the following occupational interests:

Enterprising - Enterprising jobs involve frequent new projects and starting them. They also involve taking a leadership role and making key decisions. These jobs involve high risk.

Artistic - Artistic career involves working around design, patterns, shapes, forms, colours, etc. Artistic work need not follow the rules sometimes.

Conventional- Conventional work involves following a general set of rules. Most of the conventional occupations are around data more than new ideas.

Following personality attributes are required:

1. Innovative

2. Problem Solving

3. Entrepreneurial thinking

4. Excellent Brainstormers

5. Quick thinkers

6. Energetic

You should have the following skills and knowledge:

1. Active Listening where you give full attention to what is being told to you. Asking appropriate questions if you have doubt.

2. Critical thinking where you can use logic to deduce problems and solutions.

3. Social Perceptiveness so that you know how people.

4. Speaking

5. Decision making to made the right decision among given options.

6. Sales & Marketing knowledge that involves how to sell, show and promote any product or service.

7. English Language and one Indian language

8. Communications & Media knowledge where you know media production, communication etc.

9. Customer & Personal Service where you know how to provide customer services. You need to know customer needs, meeting quality standards of service, evaluation of customer satisfaction (understand if customers are satisfied).

10. Management knowledge where you understand how to make decisions, plan, allocate resources like funds, using employees to best of their ability, etc.

You should have following aptitudes and abilities:

1. Deductive reasoning – It is an ability to use general ideas and rules to a specific problem and finding a solution.

2. Oral Comprehension – It is an ability to listen to ideas, thoughts, etc. and understands them as they were meant to be.

3. Oral Expression – It is an ability to express yourself through oral (speaking) communication.

4. Speech Clarity – It is an ability to speak clearly. People should understand your language and context of the speech.

5. Written Comprehension – It is an ability to understand ideas and thoughts that are in written format.

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

1. If you are in the creative side of advertising, that is, if you are an Illustrator, Copy Writer or in the Art department, then you may get a job in an advertising agency such as Dentsu, JWT and DDB Mudra as a Creative Trainee or an Executive Trainee at the beginning of your career.

2. If you are in the media or business side of advertising, that is, if you want to work as a Media Planning Executive, Client Servicing or Business Development Executive or Manager, then you can get a job as an Executive Trainee or Management Trainee.

3. If you are in the creative side or in branding, you may also get a job in the Marketing Communication or Brand Management department of a corporate organisation. For example, you may work with the marketing communication department of Café Coffee Day.

4. If you are into numbers, data etc., then you can start the career as a Research Associate with advertising agencies.

5. If you are in digital marketing, you may get a job as a Digital Marketing Executive.

6. Many content and digital marketing agencies also hire creative executives and copywriters.

7. You will get a career opportunity in the following types of organisations:

8. Advertising Agencies like Dentsu, DDB Mudra, McCann, Madison BMB, etc.

9. Creative Agencies like Circuit 9, Litmus Branding, etc.

10. Media Agencies like Madison Media, Mediacom, Hiveminds, Starcom, etc.

11. Corporate Organization like Hindustan Unilever Limited, Colgate Palmolive, etc.

12. Digital Agencies like Webchutney, Quasar Media, and Pinstorm.

Work Environment

Most of you would work close to top executives of the organization. You would need to work on tight deadlines, thus stressful times between your work is normal. You would work in a highly creative environment

Career Growth

1. As an advertising professional, you start as a trainee in the agency.  The duration of the internship can be between 2-6 months or even one year. Depending upon your

performance, you will become a Junior Copywriter / Illustrator / Designer. With experience and performance, you may become a Creative Director or Creative Head in 10-12 years’ time.

2. If you are in business development or client servicing, you may start as an Executive or Management Trainee. With the right career growth, you might be soon become a Senior Manager and then with 10-12 years’ time, you may become an Account Director or a Vice President handling client servicing and account planning.

3. In media functions, you may begin as an Executive / Management Trainee and then with experience, rise through the ranks of Senior Managers, Media Head, etc.

4. In Digital, you start as a Trainee and then rise through the ranks of Digital Marketing Executive, Manager, Senior Manager, Digital Marketing Head, etc.

5. If you start as a Research Associate, soon you can become Research Analyst and then Senior Research Analyst and finally Research Head.

6. In the operations department, you may start as Operation executive and with work and experience may become an Operations Manager.

Salary Offered  

1. At the entry level, advertising agencies hire as creative trainee and your earning will be around Rs. 8,000 to 20,000 per month.

2. At the junior level with 1-3 years of work experience, a copywriter will earn around Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 40,000 per month, and an advertising sales executive will earn anything between Rs. 15,000 to 35,000 INR.

3. At the mid-level with 5-8 years of work experience, you will earn anything between Rs. 50,000 – 60,000 in creative side and Rs. 80,000-1,00,000 per month in the management side.

4. At the senior level of 10-12 years of work experience, based on your profile, you might earn up to Rs. 2,00,000 per month. An art director may earn up to Rs. 4,00,000 per month or even more.

5. At the management level, you might earn in excess of Rs. 10,00,000 per month at the senior level.

Monthly Earnings In Indian Rupee

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience

3. Mid-Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also in the near future, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and in some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job)

Famous Personalities 

Not Available

Work Activities 

Here are few of the common work activities of an Advertising Professional:

Creative thinking - Developing new ideas, concepts, innovative solutions to problems, newer ways of getting things done, designing products and services, creating work of art and craft, etc.

Decision making and problem solving - Analysis of data and information; evaluation of alternative decisions and results of decisions; taking the right decisions and solving problems.

Getting Information and learning - Observing, hearing, reading, using computers, or otherwise obtaining information and learning from it.

Using computers for work - Using computers for day-to-day office work; using computer software for various applications in day-to-day professional work.

Communicating with co-workers and others - Communicating with people in writing, verbally or otherwise inside your workplace and various other people who have professional relationships with your place of work.

Communicating with customers - Communicating with potential and existing customers of your organisation in writing, verbally or otherwise.

Developing and maintaining inter-personal relationships - Developing professional relationships with co-workers and others outside organisations and maintaining good relationships.

Analysis and interpretation of data and information - Analysis of data and information to find facts, trends, reasons behind situations, etc.; interpretation of data to aid in decision making.

Organising, planning and prioritising tasks - Planning and organising tasks in order to achieve work goals; prioritising tasks to achieve goals and making the best use of the time available.

Working in a team - Working in a team of people; developing team; maintaining professional relationships among team members