Careers in Advertising

Advertising is all around us and makes for a very stimulating career choice. The advertising industry makes a significant contribution to the UK economy, with £6 of value generated for every £1 spent on an ad campaign. And that’s not all. Advertising can change society for the better.

Advertising practitioners are a diverse bunch. They have to be if they are going to truly understand the audiences. Whatever background you are from, educational level you’ve achieved, whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, there is the perfect role for you within the industry.

The advertising industry prides itself on being able to take someone of the right character and potential, who has no relevant qualifications, educate them quickly and continue to develop their knowledge and skills throughout their career.

Agency structures may change with some regularity, depending on client needs and the best way to organise the team in response to the changes in the industry. Whatever the structure of an agency, collaboration across the business is key.

This is an industry that takes sustainability seriously, that knows it matters to consumers, to our people and to those looking to join the industry.

Do I need a degree, what is the pay like, what are the hours of work, how diverse is the advertising community and many other questions answered.

Hear from people at the advertising agencies Havas and VCCP London what they enjoy about their work and about their journeys into their job roles.

IPA CPD Adviser Gwyn March busts some common myths about adland and explains the great career opportunities advertising has to offer.

It's hard to imagine a career in any industry without first-hand experience. Why not dip your toe in to get a feel for the environment and the work you’ll produce by attending the annual adland open day, Advertising Unlocked.

Some agencies are offering taster programmes for new and diverse talent to remove barriers for people who want to break into the advertising or communications industry but have not had the support or access to do so.

An apprenticeship is a paid job within an agency where you gain experiences and skills. Alongside on-the-job training, you’ll spend at least 20% of your working hours completing online or classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider.

There are all kinds of ways to secure a job within the ad industry. Here are some helpful external and internal links.

At interview, expect to be asked about your knowledge of the agency you’re applying for, including their recent work and the advertising industry. Here we give tips on how to prepare and commonly asked interview questions.

The IPA Jobs Listing page shows you all the fantastic opportunities available within the IPA member agencies.

A visual dictionary of words and phrases often used in the advertising industry. Helpful when you're just starting out and need to search for a definition of a word you've never heard or just want to learn something new.

This insight features films introducing pupils to some of the job roles across advertising and marketing, demonstrating how they work together to produce campaigns, as well as the pathways into those roles.

Vital information for employers about apprenticeships in the home nations, the role of training providers, the prior learning rule, end point assessment and the role of the Creative Industries Council (CIC).

Why diversity, equality, and inclusion recruitment policies should be pursued, how to reach and recruit talent, and an extensive link list. Greater diversity of thought comes from diversity of people – vital in the creative industries in particular.

This toolkit comprises 21 games and exercises for teachers to show students skills used in the advertising industry, jargon and key concepts such as data analysis, proofreading, listening without agenda and many more.

Discover Creative Careers has developed a lesson plan for secondary school students in years 7-13, tasks can be adapted to suit different year groups. It's designed to be 60-90 minutes depending on the number of tasks and age.

Watch this webinar with the IPA and Grant Thornton on understanding ways to better attract, develop, and retain your talent through optimising apprenticeships and developing high-demand skills.